Distinguished Speaker Series Concludes April 4

Helen Ho is the third and final speaker in the 2016-2017 Distinguished Speaker Series sponsored by Cottey College’s Serenbetz Institute for Women’s Leadership, Social Responsibility, and Global Awareness. She will speak on Tuesday, April 4, at 6:30 p.m. in the Missouri Recital Hall inside the Haidee and Allen Wild Center for the Arts. Her topic is “Asian Americans and the New Era of Civil Rights.” Members of the community are encouraged to take advantage of this free event. A reception with light refreshments will follow the address.

Asians are the fastest growing racial group in the country with the fastest rates of growth in the American South. While immigrant and refugee populations are a relatively new demographic, both are introducing new paradigms in the standard conceptions and discussions of racism and social justice. Ms. Ho will address issues related to ongoing struggles for human rights and her own journey to leadership and starting a nonprofit – including opportunities, growth, self-doubts and challenges.

Helen Ho is the founder and former executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta, the largest Asian civil rights legal organization in the South. She led Advancing Justice Atlanta’s public policy, legal education, community organizing and leadership development work to further its goal of increasing the civic participation of Asian Americans in the South. Advancing Justice – Atlanta was formed in April 2010 after Helen successfully organized Asian immigrant and refugee-led groups to take collective action against a proposed English-only drivers license bill that violated the 14th Amendment. Helen is a graduate of Rice University and a 1999 Honors graduate of Emory University School of Law. Helen is married to Rodney Ho, entertainment columnist for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and is the mother of two adorable dogs.

Funding for this event was provided by the Alice Virginia Coffin Enrichment Fund for Cottey College. This fund was presented to the Cottey College Board of Trustees by Massachusetts P.E.O. members in recognition of the Coffin family origin on Nantucket Island Massachusetts.

The Center for the Arts is on the northeast corner of Austin and Tower streets in Nevada, Missouri.