Student Government Association’s (SGA) first-ever Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Town Hall Meeting was hosted by them in partnership with the Office of DEI. The event, held in the Wojcik Conference Center on Mar. 19th from 1 to 3 pm, featured intimate small group Q&As, a whole room share-out and reflection, and free lunch.
The event was set up with several tables in the Dining Room of the Wojcik Conference Center, Building W (W116), having various QR codes. These QR codes included a list of the questions asked at the event, Harper College resources, and a code to check in to the event through the Harper College Mobile app. Centerpieces displayed the event’s general rules of engagement, and each table had a card with a link to vote for the 2025-2026 SGA election as well.
The event was created to provide students of all backgrounds with an opportunity to speak out about their experiences and suggest ways Harper can better support them.
Each table consisted of students and a group facilitator who asked questions and took notes. Student attendees had the opportunity to reflect on their personal experiences while at Harper and what they would like to see more of from the college.
Some examples included offering courses exploring diverse cultural perspectives, increasing awareness of available academic paths, and expanding support services such as the H.E.A.T. program and other campus resources.
Harper College, designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), strives to support all students’ diverse needs.
Some questions asked at the event were: Where do you feel a sense of belonging or comfort on campus, and why? What spaces make you feel like you have to assimilate at Harper? What is it like to be BIPOC in the classroom?
Ashley Honore, Vice President of SGA, acknowledged the importance of the event for the BIPOC community.
“People of color and people with different needs are in smaller demographics, and they need more resources and support because sometimes they have a lot more struggles than people that are in the majority,” Honore said.
The event, focused on intersectionality, saw attendees from different student organizations participate in the meeting, including Latinos Unidos, SGA, members of GLIDE, Amnesty International, NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness), Muslim Student Association (MSA), and more.
Christopher Maxwell, Associate Dean of Students and one of the SGA advisors, stated that the event was beneficial for Harper’s community.
“It’s important to have outlets [and] opportunities for students [and] employees to come together, hear about different experiences,” Maxwell said. “It’s helpful to not only just feel validated in your experience, but better understand the world that we have here at Harper, outside of your own mind, outside of your own eyes, [and] outside of what you come across on the day-to-day.”
The event encouraged both reflection and discussion among students, and they were engaged in conversations with others among different cultures. With the mentors taking notes on what students were saying, students are hopeful for cultural and institutional change.
“I think that’s very beneficial for me personally,” Honore said, “And then also for those students here, hearing feedback and also having that affirmation, or [students] having that confirmation from other students that they’re not alone. It’s a shared experience.”
Sophomore and President of Latinos Unidos, Adrián Contreras Figureoa, said that he hopes future Harper College students can benefit from the ideas and notes brought up during the event.
“I think it was good, I really felt like people were listening to my opinion and really made me think about a bit more about the things I want to see here at Harper,” Figueroa said. “Even though this is my last semester, I would like the following generations of students [to] benefit from the changes made to the programs, organizations, and school as a whole.”
According to Honore, this event has set a precedent for future BIPOC Town Halls, ensuring students continue to have a platform to share their experiences and advocate for change.
For the college resources listed at the event, click here, and to vote for Harper’s 2025-2026 Student Trustee and SGA officers, click here.
For more information on upcoming events, check out the Harper Events page and make sure to follow both SGA and the Office of DEI on Instagram. Stay posted on Harbinger’s Instagram, Harbstudentnews.
