Dear Campus Community,
It was a moment where many of us accepted the invitation—to grow, to connect, to see ourselves and each other more fully, a delicate reframe of our narratives around professional development.
On behalf of the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging and the Women’s Advancement Initiative, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for joining us on Wednesday, Oct. 8 for our professional development program, “Voice, Values, Visibility.”
Your presence and engagement made this event truly special. Whether you joined the opening Mix and Mingle, listened to our President and student speaker, heard from environmental advocate Céline Cousteau, or engaged in meaningful dialogue during the V3 Pods, you were part of something transformative—we know, because you told us!
Céline’s powerful message about shifting our perspective and learning from our past in purposeful ways resonated throughout Wilde Auditorium. Her reflections on interconnectivity—between ourselves, our communities, and the natural world—reminded us that growth is not a solo act but a shared journey. One attendee described a moment in her small group when a colleague’s story “unlocked something” in her, a realization that professional development is, at its heart, about connection and courage.
We are also deeply grateful for the thoughtful contributions from our President, who reminded us to be the LIGHT, and from student speaker Rhoddean Opinya, who spoke so eloquently about the power of community. These moments of genuine connection are the heartbeat of what we do.
Thank you as well to everyone who supported the bake sale with the Women’s Advancement Initiative—your participation helped further our mission of advancing equity and belonging on our campus and beyond.
As we move forward, we hope this experience has empowered you to embrace your voice, honor your values, and step into greater visibility in your communities. May we continue to see “professional development” not as a task, but as a space for transformation where each of us, together, flourishes into the fullness of our shared light!
With deep appreciation,
The Office of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging &
The Women’s Advancement Initiative
For questions or feedback about this program, please reach out to us at OIEB@hartford.edu.