Penn Spectrum Weekend, a conference focused on the cultural and intersectional issues faced by minority groups, was held on campus from Oct. 13 to 15.
The triannual conference, first held in 2010, features formal discussions, social events, and networking opportunities, celebrating Penn members from Black, Latinx, Native, Asian, LGBTQ, Muslim, and FGLI communities.
“The purpose of [the event] is to bring together all of our multicultural alumni from all different types of backgrounds back onto campus, celebrate with each other, and have hard conversations together,” Penn Spectrum Committee Chair Carlos Hernandez (C '08) said.
Director of Penn Spectrum Programs & Shared Interest Groups Daina Richie-Troy (W '98) and Assistant Director Toyce Holmes, and Committee Chairs Ben Huynh (W '14), Jacqui Jenkins (WG '96), and Hernandez organized this year's conference.
This year's Penn Spectrum Weekend theme was "Manifesting Change, Strengthening Our World."
“Manifesting Change came about because of our response to life post-COVID, our social justice movement of 2020, and addressing all of the changes that our alumni felt were happening all around them,” Richie-Troy said.
Angela Duckworth, the New York Times best-selling author and Penn professor, delivered this year's keynote address. President Liz McGill, Provost John Jackson Jr., and 1980 College graduate and former Mayor of New Orleans Marc Morial spoke at the event.
Jenkins said that the conference was able to happen because of partnerships with Penn's cultural resource centers and academic departments.
"The different diverse organizations throughout Penn are a part of the effort, and we have also been actively engaged through the Alumni Relations group in identifying organizations on campus to be involved in the process,” Jenkins said.
Penn Spectrum Weekend is focused on fostering connections and building a sense of community by providing a platform for alumni to share their experiences, Richie-Troy said.
"The magic happens when people open themselves up to conversation with Penn alumni they don't know," Richie-Troy said.
During the event, Penn parent and employee Kyle Williams led an anti-racism activation experience event titled "A Long Talk about The Uncomfortable Truth," designed to help participants discuss how to address social justice and dismantle systematic oppression.
The Penn Spectrum Weekend also helped participants develop professional networks, featuring a panel titled "Career Pivot: Options and Opportunities.”
“What do I want to be when I grow up? The career track part of Penn Spectrum Weekend is to reinvigorate that for some of our alumni to come in and ask themselves, 'Well, what do I want to be in this next phase of my career and really open up the possibilities there?'” Hernandez said.
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