GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) – Scholars from Innovation Central High School and Grand Rapids Montessori Middle High School attended an event to hear from local leaders about the impact of attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
The panel was moderated by State Representative Kristian Grant and Zion Belcher-Arill, a student leader at Campbell Hall.
Panelists included:
- Dr. Leadriane Roby – Superintendent, GRPS
- Jash’d Belcher – Partner, HBCU Power
- Valissa Armstead - Senior Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Corewell Health
- Eric Brown - President & CEO, Urban League of West Michigan
- Dr. Keli Christopher – Founder & CEO, STEM Greenhouse
- Shannon Harris – Executive Director, Our Children’s Community
“We're excited to host this event because we believe that representation matters,” Innovation Central High School Principal Derrick Martin told scholars.
“When I went to Hampton, it was the first time that I saw people who looked like me, from professors to other students, to the president of the college,” Dr. Roby said. “That was transformative because I started to look at myself differently and had a different sense of pride around what I would like to be in the future.”
“I hope that you guys are taking these last few years at GRPS seriously and you're taking advantage of every opportunity,” State Representative Kristian Grant said.
The event was made possible by Corewell Health, Innovation Central High School, HBCU Power, Amway Hotel Collection, Mercantile Bank, Muse, The Grand Rapids Urban League, STEM Greenhouse, Urban Core Collective, Lifequest Ministries, and Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc.
