The Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity (CWGE) is home to a variety of resources, events, and support. Whether or not you identify as a woman, you can still find a home in the CWGE. 

Assistant Director Lariesha Lee describes the CWGE as  “a place to support students to live their authentic lives. Whether it’s overcoming barriers so that students can access basic needs or providing social or emotional support, we try to provide it for our students.” 

The Center For Women and Gender Equity provides various forms of support for students. The campus victim advocate, Kaylee Wolff, is an important part of the CWGE support system. If you have ever been a victim of sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic abuse, or stalking, Kaylee is an anonymous source here to support you. You can make an appointment at the CWGE and meet with Kaylee in her office, where your appointment and meeting will stay 100% confidential. 

In addition to their victim advocate support, CWGE also has tailored resources for student parents and supporters. Whether it’s needing guidance on how to apply for a childcare subsidy or getting connected to a community of other student parents and supporters, CWGE is dedicated to making sure that everyone feels informed and supported.

In addition to these resources, CWGE is home to many groups. NIARA is one of the groups that Lariesha hosts. NIARA is a group dedicated to increasing a sense of community and bonding on Grand Valley’s campus that centers on the experiences of Women of Color.

The CWGE also hosts events like Femme Film Friday, a monthly showing of films centered around themes of feminism, gender justice, and intersectionality. There are also Talkback Tuesdays, which are monthly events open for students who want to discuss various topics within gender justice and intersectional topics of gender equity. 

An event that Lee is especially fond of is the Girls of Color Summit (GOCS). GOCS is an event that happens once a year during the winter semester where sixth through twelfth grade students of color and their supporters are invited to Grand Valley to participate in workshops or attend talks led by other women of color about their different careers, leadership, and self-care. “When I think about our youth and I think about our future, the youth are our future,” Lee says. “Especially with Grand Valley starting to become diverse, our initiatives have to cater to our students as well.” 

One misconception that Lee wants to dismantle is that CWGE is only for women. “I’ve worked with a lot of international students to find housing, a lot of men, a lot of non-binary people, etc. All I want is for people to be safe,” Lee says.

If you are ever in need of resources or a community, visit CWGE in Kirkhof around the corner from Java City.

The Center for Women and Gender Equity