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Literary Reading by Guest Author Neema Avashia on Thursday, April 3, 7–8:30 pm. at the Cleveland E. and Phyllis B. Dodge Room, Flynn Campus Union.

Neema Avashia is the daughter of Indian immigrants, and was born and raised in southern West Virginia. She has been an educator and activist in the Boston Public Schools since 2003, and was named a City of Boston Educator of the Year in 2013. Her first book, Another Appalachia: Coming Up Queer and Indian in a Mountain Place, was published by West Virginia University Press in March 2022. It has been called “A timely collection that begins to fill the gap in literature focused mainly on the white male experience” by Ms. magazine, and “A graceful exploration of identity, community, and contradictions,” by Scalawag. The book was named Best LGBTQ Memoir of 2022 by BookRiot, was one of the New York Public Library’s Best Books of 2022, and was a finalist for the New England Book Award, the Weatherford Award, and a Lambda Literary Award. She lives in Boston with her partner, Laura, and her daughter, Kahani.

This event is free and open to the Springfield College community and the public.

#AuthorReading #SpringfieldCollege

THE 8TH ANNUAL SPORTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE SYMPOSIUM AT SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE

Lasting Impact: A Celebration of the Partnership Between Springfield College Athletics and the Team IMPACT Program, on Friday, April 5, 2024, 1:30 pm. at the Cleveland E. and Phyllis B. Dodge Room, Flynn Campus Union.

Two of the great traditions of Springfield College—sports and social justice—are threaded together each spring with the Sports and Social Justice Symposium. This year's event will celebrate the College's robust relationship with Team IMPACT, a nonprofit organization that pairs children with life-threatening illnesses with a college sports team. Springfield College has been a leading participant in this organization for more than a decade.

Speakers at this year's program will include one of the organization's co-founders, Kris Herman of Williams College; Amy VanRyn, G'05, a Springfield College graduate who is the organization's national director of programs; and Springfield College student-athlete Chris Rouleau, Class of 2025, who has spearheaded a powerful partnership with a Team IMPACT child and the men's volleyball team.

Following the panel discussion, a current Springfield College student-athlete will be recognized with the Tom Waddell Leveling the Playing Field Award. Waddell ’59, a Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame member, devoted his life to issues of social justice. This annual award goes to a student-athlete who has worked diligently to build a fairer and more just world.

This event, presented by the Division of Inclusion and Community Engagement, is free and open to the Springfield College community and the public.
For more information, please contact the Division of Inclusion and Community Engagement staff at inclusion@springfield.edu.

Supported by the Dr. Tom Waddell ’59 Fund.
For more information on the fund or to make a gift, visit springfield.edu/giving.

#GameChangers #TeamIMPACT #SpringfieldCollege 🔻