Join us for "Do The Right Thing" to kick off WestConn's Kathwari Spring Seminars, including a panel discussion after the film hosted by Dr. Brian Clements of the Kathwari Honors Program.  Four panelists will discuss the film and the social challenges we still face 35 years after the release of Spike Lee's classic. 

• Movie start time is 2:30 pm
• Panel discussion to promptly follow at 4:30 pm

Speakers Include:

Joshua Sumrell

The Director of Inclusion and Belonging in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Western Connecticut State University. Joshua plays a vital role in fostering a campus environment of belonging and understanding for students, faculty, and staff. Joshua has advised numerous student organizations, led workshops on DEIB, and worked on committees to promote advocacy and awareness. He holds a Master of Business Administration in Human Resources Management and was a recipient of the Fall 2023 NACA Northeast Diversity Achievement Award. 

Prof. Qur-an Webb

Member of the WCSU Department of Social Work and is the Connecticut Chapter Lead for Media Literacy Now, which focuses on education around media literacy. In this role, Prof. Webb was instrumental in getting Public Act No. 15-94 and Public Act No. 17-67 passed in Connecticut, which mandate that school systems educate students in the safe use of social media and provide computer programming instruction. In his role as Vice President of the Association of Black Sports Officials, Prof. Webb advocates for the rights of and opportunities for Black sports officials and pushes for equality among officials. He also provides training and professional development opportunities domestically and internationally.

Dr. Carina Bandhauer

Professor of Sociology, specializes in the sociology of racism, immigration, Latino/a/x studies, and globalization with a regional specialization in Latin America. Bandhauer is committed to teaching, researching and working to achieve social justice through awareness.  Dr. Bandhauer founded Undocumented Student Services at WCSU in 2017 in conjunction with Connecticut Students for a Dream and coordinates the UndocuAlly Task Force.  In 2020 she co-founded and now co-chairs the Racial Justice Coalition.  Dr. Bandhauer has ongoing partnerships with humanitarian groups in El Salvador where she has worked with rural communities since 1993 and served as creative consultant for the production of the film, “El Pueblo Unido,” which documented her work in El Salvador and premiered at the Montreal Film Festival in 2004. 

Gabriela Torres

A junior at Western Connecticut State University, majoring in Social Work and is driven by the belief that we all have the power to make a difference no matter our role or where we start. As Vice President of the Black Social Work Association, Senator for the School of Professional Studies, and Representative for the African Caribbean Student Association, Gabriela is committed to lifting up others and creating a more inclusive environment for all students at WCSU. As a Resident Assistant at Litchfield Hall, Gabriela is passionate about building a community where everyone feels safe and supported.

Hope to see you there!