On October 23 Dr. Damon A. Williams came to MATC as a special guest speaker in a free session open to all the students and staff hosted by the President’s Diversity Council of MATC (PDC). This session was called “21st Century Diversity: What does it Mean to You? Let’s Talk About It.”
The PDC invited Williams, the Vice Provost for Diversity and Climate/Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, to come and talk about how they can make MATC a better college for future generations and to share his beliefs and plans for diversity and a better college education. Williams also talked about how the graduation rate needs to improve in Wisconsin campus.
“One of the things that makes MATC so special is that this institution is the most diverse institution in the state of Wisconsin. But I think most in the room would say that the success level that we’re achieving in terms of graduating our students is not nearly where we want to be,” said Williams.
Williams shows concern for the graduation level of current students. He also shows concern for those of the future generation. “We see too many of our children don’t make it out of the hospital.  That we see too many of our young people who never make it to college because they never make it out of high school and many too frequently didn’t even make to middle school,” said Williams. Williams wanted the people to see clearly that if we don’t succeed in life the children of the future will have a much more difficult time. He mentioned that there is always a time for change. “I want to spend my life around individuals who are pushing me to ever greater levels of excellence.” said Williams.
Throughout the session,  Williams shared his views and beliefs about diversity in schools by using very interesting and entertaining sources. He knew just how to keep the audience’s attention and interest in the topic. “Our institution is struggling with the aspect of campus diversity and needs to find a way to turn the corner. How can we do it where do we start…? We have a diversity plan but is it enough can you tell us what to do can you we help? We need the force. ‘Save me Obi-Wan Williams you’re our only hope,’ “said Williams.
Williams explained his work and beliefs by quoting various movies such as Star Wars, Do the Right Thing and Any Given Sunday. He also picked out various characters from each movie to further explain his method. The way he brought the world of movies into the topics of diversity and education was a very creative method of explaining them to the audience.
Williams also explained diversity through the point of nature. He compared the levels of diversity in Wisconsin colleges to that of different breeds of dogs, the Great Dane and Chihuahua. “We look at them at the surface they may seem very different like the Great Dane and a Chihuahua. But there’s very little genetic variation between a Great Dane and a Chihuahua at the level of its DNA. We begin to pear into our institutions and look at their DNA; we also see some things that are very similar,” said Williams.  He showed that even though they’re different from each other, the two dogs and the diverse culture in colleges are similar. Williams also describes diversity with wild animals such as the cheetah and the wolf. It is amazing how diversity can be compared to the things you least expect.
Williams was a very powerful speaker and knew exactly how to keep the audience into the presentation. He helped the PDC spread word of their goal to make MATC and other colleges better for the students of the future.
Williams and the PDC hope they can help motivate more people to get out there and reach their goals. “Every time I talk to my students no matter whether they come from Milwaukee, or they come from China, or they from New York City or they come from the Chi, I ask them. ‘Are you embracing new possibilities?'” said Williams. “That is essential to innovating.” Williams and the PDC also want the people to help them motivate those of the future generation to continue on the legacies of those who came before them. They hope they can reach this goal so we all can reach the road to success.