The Rev. Ricardo Tavárez, senior pastor of En Vivo Church in Grand Rapids, will deliver a lecture on the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ students on Christian campuses on Thursday, March 30, at 4 p.m. in the Maas Center auditorium at Hope College.
The public is invited. Admission is free.
Tavárez will be speaking through the Affirming LGBTQ+ Students Lecture Series organized by the college’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion. He will discuss how the current debate has aimed to erase the stories and experiences of queer-identifying individuals. He hopes to encourage students to reclaim their stories and history as an affirmation of their dignity and worth. Topics will include how to support and include LGBTQ+ students on a religious campus; and how to extend belonging, understanding and grace to students who have been and continue to feel marginalized, and to affirm who they are.
Tavárez is an artist, writer and speaker local to Grand Rapids. He is an Afro-Latino of Dominican and Puerto Rican heritage and is proudly part of the queer community. To his audience, he delivers a unique intersection of writing, visual art and public speaking that reflect on race, gender, queerness, social justice, faith and doubt. Tavárez is the executive director of a faith-based non-profit called New City Neighbors, a youth development organization that empowers youth through leadership development and urban farming. He founded En Vivo Church, a queer-affirming church, in 2016.
The presentation is co-sponsored by the college’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Prism and GROW collaboration.
Audience members who need assistance to fully enjoy any event at Hope are encouraged to contact the college’s Events and Conferences Office by emailing events@hope.edu or calling 616-395-7222 on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Updates related to events are posted when available in the individual listings at hope.edu/calendar
The Maas Center is located at 264 Columbia Ave., between 10th and 13th streets.