UE student establishes panel series to push for cultural awareness in Evansville
Originally published December 2019
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Summer El-Khodary, a first generation immigrant student at the University of Evansville, said she's often felt segregated from other students attending the predominantly white institution.
The long-time Tri-State resident, El-Khodary said she has witnessed other minorities have similar experiences.
El-Khodary established Cultural Communications, a panel discussion series designed to have deeper conversations about the experiences of minorities living in Evansville.
"I see what happens to a lot of marginalized communities," she said. "I want to give voices to those people that don't really have it."
The bimonthly event will allow panelists, who vary in age and cultural background, to share their personal experiences. The first event is 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday at Innovation Pointe, 318 Main St., with other programs to follow on Feb. 20 and April 9, 2020.
During the organization's first event, panelists will discuss topics related to the theme "Living in America." They will talk about their adjustment to American culture while maintaining their native traditions and how they've endured prejudice.
Zuha Adeel, who helps with the organization's promotion, said the goal of the series is to encourage community members to engage in diverse topics and inform them on the struggles many minorities face.
Having these open forums, Adeel said, is important for the growth of Evansville communities.
"I think spaces where people's stories can be heard are always necessary, and they'll continue to be necessary as we move forward," Adeel said. "In Evansville, we're a relatively homogeneous community compared to other places.
"I think it's important in a community like ours to bring stories that many people aren't really exposed to. It makes people's struggles seem more real when they're actually telling you what happens, rather than reading a tweet or opening up a group message."
The idea for Cultural Communications, El-Khodary said, spawned from a pitch she submitted for UE's Community Changemaker Challenge last spring.
At the competition, a series of teams pitched ideas or concepts that align with the theme "Making Evansville More Fun and Exciting."
El-Khodary said she and her team members pitched an event called "Culture Fest" to celebrate all the nationalities that make up the Tri-State and would deviate from other programs typically focusing on one culture.
Though her team wasn't selected for funding, El-Khodary recognized the community's interest in an event centered on conversations about diversity.
"I really wanted to dive into different issues, so I felt a discussion panel would be a good way to do that," El-Khodary said. "That's where I got started with (the idea)."
Months following the pitch competition in June, El-Khodary reshaped her initial pitch, eventually forming the panel discussion series.
"It was always my dream to start a nonprofit, and I felt like this gave me the opportunity to do something like that," El-Khodary said. "So, I evaluated what I wanted. I felt we needed to get a conversation going about diversity and marginalized communities."
Though the program was mainly an independent initiative, other organizations have recently given their support. Along with El-Khodary's friends' efforts, sponsors HOLA and UE's Center for Innovation & Change provided a venue and printing for Thursday's program.
Adeel said after talking with community members and interacting with them on social media, many are excited about the series' first event.
"I haven't noticed any negative feedback," Adeel said. "Everyone that has been critical has done it in a way that's been helpful to us. I think people are enthusiastic about the event, and I'm optimistic that the execution will be very fulfilling."
Outside of the discussion series, El-Khodary said she hopes to continue drawing attention to marginalized communities, especially as she pursues a career in public health.
In time, she hopes to diminish any signs of "blissful ignorance," ensuring people are aware of minorities' experiences.