NWC to host conference for multicultural high school students

Northwestern College, in collaboration with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will host the NWIA Cultural GRIT Conference on Friday, March 31, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The conference is designed for multicultural students in grades 8–12 to “Get Real Together” through leadership activities, academic exploration and cultural awareness. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in team-building and leadership exercises before attending a chapel service led by award-winning author Chigozie Obioma.

“The conference is a beautiful opportunity for us to explore the unity and strength in diversity,” says Rahn Franklin, director of multicultural student development at Northwestern. “Nurturing future leaders of society who have passion and persistence toward making the world a better place can be done through rigorous academic engagement and increasing social responsibility, which is a primary focus of this conference.”

For almost two hours, attendees will be encouraged to attend experiential education labs throughout campus. They can choose to attend workshops in four areas: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), where they’ll engage in a hands-on lab-based science experience; creative arts, like theatre, music and visual arts; healthy living, which includes kinesiology, dance and athletics; and English language learning through a Spanish immersion college experience. After eating lunch with Northwestern intercultural students, they’ll attend a leadership development seminar and a mini-cultural fair.

“The goals of the conference speak directly to the mission and purposes of NWC, and we are blessed to partner with Iowa State Extension and the northwest regional 4-H Clubs to host this event,” says Franklin. “The conference also exposes students to the college environment, providing them the opportunity to see themselves as college students and demonstrate promise as academic achievers, intercultural ambassadors and leaders for reconciliation.”