Colgate University’s ALANA Cultural Center invited students to the fourth annual Social Justice Summit on Saturday, Feb. 1. This year’s Summit promoted the theme “Shaping Equitable Communities and Sustainable, Just Environments” to unite advocacy, education and environmental action. Student leaders from schools across upstate New York connected and collaborated to consider what true change on campus looks like.
The ALANA Cultural Center hosts an annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, leading a series of events to commemorate the life and legacy of MLK. The team’s chosen theme sought to intertwine MLK week and social justice with environmentalism. Director of the ALANA Cultural Center Esther Rosbrook explained the intentional choice to connect these themes.
“In light of ongoing global challenges — rising climate crises, social inequities and systemic injustices — it is more important than ever to ensure that our justice frameworks are actively at work in every aspect of our lives. We only have one planet, and our collective responsibility is safeguarding it for our and future generations,” Rosbrook said. “Dr. King stated, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.’ It’s our time to act.”
Rosbrook pointed to the current events impacting the Colgate community.
“Real-time events, such as the devastating fires in Los Angeles, reinforce the urgency of this issue. Natural disasters continue to remind us of the consequences of environmental negligence. If we fail to take action now, we risk more frequent and severe catastrophes that threaten our communities, homes and livelihoods. This theme urges us to recognize the intersection of social justice and environmental responsibility and to act accordingly,” Rosbrook said.
The Summit drew over 30 students from St. Lawrence University and more than 20 students from Hamilton College. Rosbrook added that even a group of high school students joined. Rosbrook shed light on her hope for students involved in the event activities.
“Beyond simply attending, I want every participant to feel empowered to take action,” Rosbrook said. “Whether through small everyday choices or large-scale initiatives, change starts with collective commitment. If we can harness our shared thoughts, spirits, hopes and actions into meaningful conversations about creating change — no matter how big or small — this Summit will be a success.”
From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., students participated in group workshops, presentations and networking. The topics ranged from “Why You Matter in Elections” and “Justice Through Climate Resilience” to “The Meaning of Sisterhood: Exploring Allyship and Advocacy within a Sorority.” Junior Sabrina Lin both hosted a session and participated in other sessions.
“I had a wonderful experience,” Lin said. “I loved that at the Asian representation in media session that there weren’t only students of an Asian background that attended, but students of other backgrounds were also interested in the information. The structure was mainly presentation-based with some discussion questions, which […] was still incredibly informative and thought provoking.”
A dedicated team of students and staff took on preparation for the event. The planning spanned several months. Rosbrook explained how her team overcame logistical challenges.
“We began planning in early October by selecting the theme and securing a location. This year, due to the ongoing construction at the ALANA Cultural Center following the tree damage, we had to find an alternative venue, which added an extra layer of logistical planning,” Rosbrook said. “Once the location was finalized, we shifted our focus to marketing, outreach and event logistics. We are so proud of our hardworking staff. This year, seven first-year volunteers attended many of our preparation meetings.”
Rosbrook emphasized the importance of her student volunteers.
“We are particularly excited this year because many of our student staff members have returned from their study abroad programs. Their presence will be invaluable in managing the day-of activities, ensuring a smooth and engaging experience for all participants. The collective effort from students, faculty and staff has been instrumental in bringing this event to life.”
Lin also ultimately felt grateful for the way that the Summit allowed her to freely structure her session but supported her from a distance.
“I was nervous while I prepared, because we were allowed so much freedom in how we structured our session and conveyed information,” Lin said. “ALANA gave good guidelines and suggestions though, so it wasn’t completely daunting.”
Sophomore Madeline Theveny co-hosted a session on the topic of reproductive justice, specifically about access to Planned Parenthood clinics and disparities of reproductive resources across different states. Theveny felt that the importance of her session, and of the Summit as a whole, was inextricably linked to the current American political milieu.
“The Summit was incredibly important to me,” Theveny said. “I think many of the presentations that day must be talked about in the wake of the administration change. People should know about the future of this country and be aware of the challenges and complexities that come with this new presidency.”
Rosbrook spoke to her ultimate goal for the event, which dovetailed perfectly with Theveny’s experience.
“Ultimately, the goal is for this Summit to serve as both a space of learning and a catalyst for action. If participants leave feeling motivated and equipped with new perspectives and strategies, then we will have achieved what we set out to do.”
Junior Harshitha Talasila both presented and attended other sessions, and mused about what the experience of the Summit meant to her.
“The Summit as a whole is an opportunity for me to engage with topics that I may not engage with regularly. It helps with gaining a better understanding of what is happening in our world, what solutions are possible and creating connections,” Talasila said. “The presentation went great. Every seat was filled, which was exciting since we had people from the local community, Colgate and other institutions join us. It was a very productive session.”
