Grand Valley State University encourages the campus to embrace a social justice and intersectional identity approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion work. Get connected through each center's programming.
The Social Justice Centers collaborates with partners across the university and beyond to cultivate a campus community in which historically oppressed communities can succeed and thrive at GVSU. We work to ensure that students, faculty, and staff can find a deep sense of belonging on our campus. In our work, we center those who are oppressed including Indigenous people. We are committed to unlearning settler colonial frameworks and learning wise practices that center Indigenous knowledge and culture. We are committed to allocating resources, both financial and staff / student positions, for Indigenous programming, furthering Indigenous student support, fostering community partnerships, and developing intersectional events that cultivate Indigenous allyship.
Today, we would like to recognize the People of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Bodawademi peoples on whose land we are gathered on today. The Three Fires People are Indigenous to this land which means that this is their ancestral territory. Every university in this country was built on Indigenous land. We conduct land acknowledgments as a reminder of the histories, teachings, traditions, and the first people who originated here and who tend to Mshkiikii (land/earth) always.
We conduct these acknowledgments to be good visitors, as these were always done before colonial contact. To continue to be good visitors, we have the responsibility to learn about the history of settler colonialism and its impact on Indigenous people.
Visit the Land Acknowledge page at the Office of Multicultural Affair's website for more information and resources.
The project was part of the Heart of West Michigan United Way's Operation United, an annual event that mobilizes volunteers to assist veterans and active military families with house or yard projects.
May 10, 2024
Hosted by the Meijer Honors College and Office of Multicultural Affairs, students from Kentwood's Endeavor Elementary experienced a morning of exploration and discovery on the Allendale Campus, which included stations of activities headed by geology professor Peter Wampler.
May 2, 2024
Friends, family, faculty and staff gathered at the Kirkhof Center on April 22 to honor and celebrate 19 Laker veterans and service members who will be graduating during commencement ceremonies this weekend.
Apr 24, 2024
Keynote speakers and featured presenters are announced for the June 12-14 symposium, held at the Amway Grand Plaza.
Apr 22, 2024
There is more behind this campus collaboration than offering free haircuts to students.
Apr 16, 2024
