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Helping students enrich their lives and career development through a better understanding of multi-culturalism and diversity issues Leon Williams has an extraordinary way of taking the sensitive issues of race, diversity and multiculturalism and injecting them with humor, love and passion. Leon Williams will come to your campus and challenge your students, faculty, and staff. He is a life-changing, mind-altering performer that will make your students question their committment to diversity and give them the tools to change what they need to change - all the while giving them the inspiration to initiate that change. His entire message, program and performance were above extraordinary! Allen Sutton Leon was thought provoking, engaging, and challenged our staff and students to dream bold dreams about how we want our campus to reflect diversity. Lakecia Harris Outside the Circle This program on discrimination begins with the audience being asked to answer a series of questions about the speaker and their perceptions of him. The audience makes some quick assessments, a few assumptions, and a few comfortable guesses. This leads to a broader examination of stereotypes in general as Leon Williams begins to share his story. Like many programs on very personal topics, Outside of the Circle uses a variety of humorous, illustrative stories to enhance the learning experience of the audience. Humor, in fact, is a major part of the presentation, distinguishing it from other programs that might take a judgmental tone. Leon’s subject is serious, but he doesn’t think he – as the presenter – always has to be. Leon has even been known to enter the room dancing! In this program, Leon explores the roots of ignorance, a key to forging new understandings. He asks audiences to consider the “Real Words” that segment diversity offices and multicultural students from the rest of their campus community. He allows students to examine the thought, practice and behavior of all individuals as it pertains to diversity, and in doing so; he challenges the manifestations of ignorance and hopelessness. "Leon's experience makes his presentation and discussion more powerful than someone without those personal experiences. His ability to inspire and take action really makes him stand out. His passion for wanting to change the world is evident...the world needs more people like Leon." Alejandro Pino Leon addresses the areas of culture, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disabilities, discrimination, and prejudice. Most of all, this program asks students to take a personal look at Students leave the program with a greater understanding of how This presentation is the perfect choice for mainstream diversity About Leon Williams Leon Williams is the Director of Intercultural Programs at Buena Vista University in Iowa. During his career, Leon has developed a passion for creating harmony and a spirit of healing and cooperation in campus environments where hostility and misunderstanding often dominate. He offers several programs that address issues such as oppression, hostility, and conformity that are often at the base of race issues on today's college campuses. His programs are always upbeat and approachable for minority and majority students. They include audience participation, personal stories, live interviews, video, and even dancing! Leon helps to start "cultural dialogue" among your students and staff. His programs are non-threatening, but they challenge students to think about these important issues and how they impact individual lives and the campus community as a whole. Leon takes information about your school's special multicultural efforts and incorporate it into the program. Leon is deeply involved in community service. He volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, an after school program called "Teen Theatre," and the Mt. Zion Miss Baptist contest. Leon is also very active in his church. His love for community involvement, his family, and higher education are all part of the warmth he can bring to your campus programming. |
