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Note: The 2013 Respecting Differences event has concluded. Please check back in early 2014 for details about next year's event.

Respecting Differences 2013: Expanding Ourselves, Embracing Differences

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Kinetic Affect to address diversity

At first Gabriel Giron and Kirk Latimer fiercely competed against each other on stage, later joining their voices to create an entirely new spoken word poetry experience...a bond that would prove to be more powerful than either one had ever expected. Gabriel Giron's Latino background and hip-hop influences collide on stage with Kirk Latimer's Native American heritage and academic nature in a way never seen before. Giron and Latimer are committed to challenging beliefs, pushing boundaries, and embracing differences as they seek to drive deeper into the human condition.

Kinetic Affect has appeared on the Apollo stage in New York and participated in a taping of the show, America’s Got Talent. The group has consulted with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, United Way, and several other local organizations. Giron and Latimer also established a non-profit organization called Speak It Forward, Inc. in 2009.

Dates, times and location

Kinetic Affect will give two presentations, both in Kalamazoo Public School's Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Avenue.

• Tuesday, March 19, 1:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 20, 9 a.m.

Tickets

Admission is free; however, a ticket will be required. Every WMU employee will receive a ticket via campus mail before the presentation. The ticket may be used at either presentation.

Parking

Limited parking will be available in the parking lot behind Chenery Auditorium and along surrounding streets.

Our sponsors

The "Respecting Differences" series is sponsored by the following Kalamazoo area employers:  City of Kalamazoo, City of Portage, Kalamazoo County, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and Western Michigan University.  The program is also being supported by the Kalamazoo Human Resources Management Association (KHRMA).

Questions?

For more information about the event, please contact one of WMU's representatives to the "Respecting Differences" steering committee: Nichele Moses, Human Resources, or Cathryn Bailey, College of Arts and Sciences.

You may also download the Respecting Differences poster (PDF).