Exploring identity, one voice at a time

A public college campus is a place designed to bring together every type of identity under one roof, and the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) is no different. People of all races, sexual orientations, genders, religions and socioeconomic classes come together in search of knowledge and opportunity. While college is a place for people to learn about their dream career or lifelong passion, it is also a place where people can learn about themselves and each other.

Hana Zewdie, assistant director of Student Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (SDEI), realized that there was not a particular space dedicated to talking about identities in a laid-back safe setting and decided to create the series, Voice It.

“The intention of the Voice It series is so that students and any other member of the community have an opportunity to practice talking about identities in a space that is low risk,” Zewdie said.

The series focuses on the things that make people the same, but also the things that make people unique, allowing students and other community members to open up about their struggles and experiences in a safe and welcoming atmosphere.

“I think that it’s important for everybody to think about those things, and it will affect how you see yourself and how you see the world and, therefore, how you move in the world,” Zewdie said.

The series focuses on specific topics each week and allows for open conversations to explore, discuss and connect over snacks and hot drinks. Each session is set up as an informal, drop-in experience to deliberately make it easy for anyone to stop by to engage in conversation or just listen and learn.

“The intention is that you need no background information to participate in this conversation,” Zewdie said. “You don’t need any knowledge. You don’t need to have come to any sessions before. You can just come to one session and not go to any of the other ones, so that it’s really easy to access, and everybody feels comfortable with the level of knowledge that they have.”

The Voice It series will be held in the library to allow for a common ground for all identities. Vivienne McClendon, executive director of the Alfred R. Neumann Library, did not hesitate when asked if the series could be held in the library, knowing that it is a location and space where students can know it is a safe place to go. McClendon believes that as students attend college, it can be their first time for experiencing a broader world. She would like for all students to become engaged.

“We, as a library, completely support students as they explore their own lived experience, and they also take in and absorb the rest of the world,” McClendon said. “Creating a space where you can talk about these things and others at the university is powerful because, I hope, what we’re modeling is respect and admiration for people.”

The sessions are held every other Tuesday afternoon from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Hawk’s Nest at the Neumann Library. The upcoming session Tuesday, Feb. 25, will be Race & Ethnicity. Students of all races are encouraged to drop by to join in on the conversation and to learn about one another. The Race & Ethnicity session will be followed by Religion on March 17, Sexual Orientation on March 31, Nationality & Citizenship on April 14, and ending with Socioeconomic Class on April 28. No pre-existing knowledge is required, and all identities are welcome to every session.

“You owe it to yourself and the community to know yourself better and to take time to get to know the other members of your community,” Zewdie said.