Founder of ‘me too.’ Movement to deliver the 29th Sister Cleophas Costello Lecture
Loyola University Maryland welcomes Tarana Burke, the founder of the ‘me too.’ Movement and a social justice activist, for the 29th Sister Cleophas Costello Lecture on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019, at 7:30 p.m. in McGuire Hall on the Evergreen campus. The lecture with Burke is a question and answer session moderated by Camika Royal, Ph.D., assistant professor of Urban Education. Burke will answer questions fielded through community participation prior to the event.
Burke will speak to the origins of the ‘me too.’ Movement and the premise—that the power of empathy is key to a survivor’s healing – that it is built on. The ‘me too.’ Movement—which Burke started in 2006—gives strength and healing to those who have experience sexual trauma or harassment. The movement became a national sensation in 2017 when the #metoo hashtag was used on social media after the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations.
Burke has dedicated more than 25 years of her life to social justice and laying the groundwork for a movement that was initially created to help young women of color who survived sexual abuse and assault. The movement now inspires solidarity, amplifies the voices of thousands of victims of sexual abuse, and puts the focus back on survivors.
Burke was named one of the “silence breakers” that Time magazine honored as Person of the Year for 2017. She was named The Root 100’s most influential person of 2018. Her upcoming book, Where the Light Enters, discusses her personal journey from “victim to survivor to thriver,” as well as the importance of the ‘me too.’ Movement.
Burke, born in New York, is currently the senior director of programs at the Brooklyn-based Girls for Gender Equality.
To submit a question for consideration, you may post your question to Twitter using the hashtag #Cleophas2019 or submit your question online.
Ticket information:
Tickets will go on sale on Wednesday, Oct. 2, for $10. A limited number of tickets will be available for students, faculty, and staff on Monday, Oct. 7. For additional event and ticket information, please contact the office of alumni engagement at 410-617-2475 or alumni@loyola.edu, or visit loyola.edu/cleophas.
About the Sister Cleophas Costello Lecture Series:
Founded in the early 1980s and named in honor of the late Sister Mary Cleophas Costello, RSM, former president of Mount Saint Agnes College, which joined with Loyola University Maryland in 1971, the Sister Cleophas Costello Lecture features addresses by prominent women who embody the ideals Sr. Cleophas espoused, including scholarship, leadership, and artistic ability. Previous Sister Cleophas Costello lecturers have included authors Amy Tan, Mary Higgins Clark, and Piper Kerman, poet Maya Angelou, Olympian Gabby Douglas, and musician Mary Chapin-Carpenter.