Belonging and Being Othered: Representation, Liberation, Power and the Struggle for Justice

Belonging and Being Othered: Representation, Liberation, Power, and the Struggle for Justice

Together, we will wrestle with the question: “Who gets to belong in America, and who is kept at the margins?”

This panel will explore the deep tensions between belonging and othering in American life. We’ll look at how representation, systemic power, and racial justice shape who is seen, valued, and free. The conversation will confront hard truths about exclusion and oppression while envisioning a future grounded in liberation, equity, and collective healing.

Panelists

• Vanessa Neal – VP Diversity Equity Inclusion, Clark College
• Vanessa Gaston – Director, Community Services, Clark County
• Siobhana McEwen – Executive Director, SWEC
• Paul Speer – Retired VP of Development, Hewlett-Packard
• Rev. Michael Jones Jr. – VP & Chair, Legal Redress and Civil Rights, NAACP
• Frank So – Executive Director, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon

Event at a Glance

• 6:00 PM: Doors open and dinner served
• 6:30 PM: Program begins with panel discussion and community dialogue
• 8:30 PM: Closing remarks