Norco College hosted its inaugural Equity Summit on Friday, April 4. This event was designed to promote authentic storytelling, cultural awareness, and courageous conversations around diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). Organized by the college’s DEIA Committee, the summit aimed to engage participants in thoughtful dialogue and reflection through a series of interactive and emotionally resonant experiences.
The event featured keynote speaker Reyna Grande, a nationally recognized author whose story of resilience, identity, and the immigrant experience set a powerful tone for the day. Her message emphasized the importance of vulnerability and truth in fostering equity and inclusion.
Among the summit’s featured activities was “Ink & Closure,” a reflective exercise where attendees wrote anonymous letters expressing thoughts or feelings they had not previously voiced. The letters were then symbolically crumpled and placed on stage, allowing participants to release their emotions. Others responded with handwritten notes of support, creating a shared moment of healing and connection.
Another key activity, “Pieces of Me,” encouraged participants to explore identity through art. Individuals created visual representations of their personal, cultural, or emotional experiences using canvas and paint. The creative exercise offered space for self-expression and community building beyond traditional discussion formats.
Together, these elements contributed to a transformative experience centered on equity, storytelling, and collective growth. Organizers plan to make the summit an annual event.