Members of the Doane community gathered in Heckman Auditorium on April 13th to attend the 11th Annual Polk Lecture. This lecture is not just where a bunch of students and faculty come and listen to someone for an hour; instead, it honors the Rev. Dr. Robert Polk ‘52, while also focusing on topics pertaining to leadership, service and justice. Rev. Polk joined this year’s lecture via Zoom.
Juniors Kya Caddy and Myridean Lehman introduced this year’s speakers. This year’s lecture featured Myeisha Essex, a Chief Operating Officer of Young Women Christian Association (YWCA), and Jacob A. Mason, a Robert W. Woodruff Fellow and Master of Divinity student at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. Also in attendance were several visitors from Nebraska Wesleyan University, of which Mason is a graduate.
Throughout the event, Essex and Mason shared their personal experiences along with their insights on the importance of advocacy and accountability.
“We understand that effective communication and intentional conversation issues that affect our quality of life,” Essex said. “They are essential to solving problems, collaborating, understanding, and validating ultimate feelings.” Essex provided the audience with five tips for approaching challenging conversations.
After this lecture, many faculty and students discussed their own thoughts about how individuals can contribute to positive social change on both campus and in their normal everyday lives.
The Polk Lecture is more than just a lecture, but it creates a space for reflection and connection, all within the community.
