Blogger, Activist Kat Blaque Keynotes Women’s Month

International Women's Day is observed on March 8.Social justice activist Kat Blaque, a children’s illustrator and opinion vlogger who uses her platforms to address race, gender and other cultural topics, will deliver the Women’s Month keynote address at Alma College.

She will speak on “Living in Your Truth: Coming Out and Being Authentic with Myself and My Career” at 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 13 in the Dunning Memorial Chapel. Admission is free and open to the public.

“We are so excited to have Ms. Blaque visit because her talks can touch on a wide variety of important issues related to race, gender, sexuality, feminism, equity and many more,” says Angela Kelleher, access services librarian and chair of the Women’s Issues Advisory Board at Alma College. “Kat is smart and witty, soft and strong. She communicates challenging issues in a way that is accessible and relatable for most everyone.”

The film “No Mas Bebes” addresses forced sterilization.Blaque started video blogging in 2010, and her popular YouTube channel Kat Blaque has more than 133,000 subscribers. She addresses topics that “cultivate conversation and encourage education across intersections,” based on her identities and experiences as a survivor of rape and sexual assault, an outspoken feminist who has been the target of online harassment, a black woman who confronts white supremacy, and a trans woman who speaks about her growth and acceptance of self.

“Kat’s work is so important because she is giving a voice to marginalized groups as well as modeling how to have difficult conversations in an often-polarized environment,” says Kelleher.

Other Women’s Month events at Alma College include screenings of films that address forced sterilization and human trafficking, a gender and mass media student symposium, a fundraiser for Women’s Resource Center of Mid-Michigan, and a self-care workshop.

Alma College Women’s Month Events
All Events Free and Open to the Public

March 5/The film “No Mas Bebes” explores the forced sterilization of Mexican-American women in the late 1960s and ’70. The film screening takes place at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 5 in the Clack Art Center Auditorium at Alma College.

March 9/A potluck/fundraiser to benefit the Women’s Resource Center of Mid-Michigan takes place at 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 9 in the MacCurdy House on the Alma College campus. The event is co-sponsored by the Women’s Issues Advisory Board, MacCurdy House and International Club.

March 13/Social justice activist Kat Blaque delivers the Alma College Women’s Month keynote address at 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 13 in Dunning Memorial Chapel. She speaks on “Living in Your Truth: Coming Out and Being Authentic with Myself and My Career.”

The film “Break the Chain” addresses human trafficking.March 27/The award-winning feature-length documentary “Break the Chain” addresses the often “hidden-in-plain-sight” issue of human trafficking within Michigan communities. The film screening, co-sponsored by the Alma Police Department and the Women’s Issues Advisory Board, takes place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 27 in Swanson Academic Center Room 113. Jane White of the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force also will speak.

March 28/A “Self-Care in Higher Education” workshop takes place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 28 in the Remick Heritage Center Dance Studio at Alma College. Faculty member Rosely Conz and friends share strategies and activities to help students and faculty reduce stress and improve overall health.

March 29/A Gender and Mass Media Symposium features student posters and walk-through displays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 29 in the Hamilton Commons Thistle Room at Alma College.

Story published on February 20, 2018