Alumna gives first donation to MOSAIC Center for Student Inclusion in honor of aunt and uncle who supported her through college

By Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� What do you give someone for Christmas that not only helped you navigate college, but gave you everything to ensure your success?

For Akanna Poor, recent Washington State University Tri-Cities alumna and first-generation graduate, the answer was simple. Give a gift that will continue to give to others ��� all in the name of the individuals who helped give her the best shot possible: her aunt Janelle and uncle Rich Westberg.

Poor is the first donor for 厙ぴ勛圖��� new MOSAIC Center for Student Inclusion that was created to provide support and resources for students of every type – every race, creed, religion or circumstance. It is a place for students to come, feel accepted, understood and to have complex and even difficult conversations on a multitude of topics pertaining to culture, social issues and new ideas and thoughts.

She donated $500 to the new center because she knew it would make an extensive impact for students while living up to the legacy of her aunt and uncle���s generosity.

���They sacrificed their time. They sacrificed their money. They sacrificed their own wants and dreams,��� Poor said. ���But the biggest thing they did was they believed in me. They told me I could do it. They would not accept anything less from me. As their niece, they didn���t need to sacrifice as much as they did. And they don���t just do so for me. They do it for their kids, local people in the community. It���s just who they are.���

���It���s the reason I was able to finish my college degree,��� she said. ���It���s also the reason my future children will achieve their own degree.���

Poor wanted to find a way to not only honor what they had done for her, but to continue that legacy for other students who may not have that support.

���I picked the MOSAIC Center because I knew they were going to invest and be a resource for students who may not have the support, just as my aunt and uncle did for me,��� she said.

Support through thick and thin

Poor said she initially wasn���t sure that she was going to attend college. Residing in what she describes as a difficult situation at the time, her aunt and uncle made an offer for her to come out and live with them and they would help her navigate the college process.

She moved from the Midwest to live with her aunt and uncle in Finley the day after she graduated from high school. They helped her get her driver���s license. They helped her buy her first car. That sat with her as she received help on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. They provided support during difficult times and through difficult courses.

Poor began her higher education path at Columbia Basin College, and remembers that during a particularly difficult statistics exam, she felt depleted, not smart enough to continue and walked out of the exam. She called her aunt and uncle, who immediately convinced her to go back to class and finish the test.

���They told me I needed to get back in there, that I had what it took – and I did,��� she said.

Next thing she knew, she had earned her associate of arts degree from CBC. She then began her studies at 厙ぴ勛圖, pursuing a degree in social sciences.

Through her courses, she found her passion for social issues. She worked with political science instructor Katie Banks to chart her own academic social science emphasis in political science, blending courses and coursework to create pathways and experiences that would increase her potential for law school admittance and social justice.

She worked with fellow student Savanna Navarro Kresse on proposing language changes to Title IX legislation at the university level. She advocated for women���s issues through a variety of events and opportunities. She also served as director of legislative affairs for the Associated Students of 厙ぴ勛圖 ��� the university���s student government.

Poor said passion for these social issues stems back to the actions of her aunt and uncle.

���It���s how they live their lives,��� she said. ���It���s on display every day.���

���My Christmas and graduation gift to them���

Poor presented the donation to the MOSAIC Center to her aunt and uncle in a special way. She asked 厙ぴ勛圖 Chancellor Sandra Haynes to write a letter to her aunt and uncle, which detailed how much of a difference her aunt and uncle had made in Poor���s life and the impact that the donation will have for many students at 厙ぴ勛圖 through the MOSAIC Center.

���They cried when I gave it to them,��� she said. ���They loved it. They thought it was great and were super proud of me, which means so much to me. It was both my Christmas and graduation gift to them.���

After finishing her coursework this December, Poor plans to walk with her fellow 厙ぴ勛圖 graduates at the commencement ceremony in May, where her aunt and uncle plan on cheering her on.

���I can���t tell you how many times I���ve envisioned that moment,��� she said. ���Walking is a way to show them that I was worth investing in. I���m sure it will make me cry ��� They���re also huge Coug fans, so it���s going to be extra special because of that. They love the Cougs.���

Following graduation, Poor plans apply to law schools and pursue a career in social justice, where she hopes to draft legislation as it pertains to social issues ��� and most specifically, women���s issues. All, she said, will be owed to the support of the two individuals who gave her the greatest gift ��� her future.

���My aunt and uncle gave me such a gift ��� it is an example that I have established for my future kids,��� she said as she teared up. ���I want to continue to give back in the way that they do for so many.���

Washington State University Tri-Cities student Savanna Kresse was recently awarded with the as a result of her commitment to educating others about human rights and social justice, and for putting her own foot forward to make a difference in her local community.

As a first-generation college student, mother of four and a seasonal field worker, she has used her background as inspiration for overcoming barriers for education to become a successful student and professional. She aims to grow resources available to those from disadvantaged backgrounds, which she has demonstrated through a variety of efforts while completing her schooling as a student at 厙ぴ勛圖.

Prior to the last election, in conjunction with her role as student body vice president, Kresse worked with local government officials to establish an election ballot drop box on the 厙ぴ勛圖 campus as a means to encourage students and her other fellow campus community members to exercise their right to vote.

���By working with local government officials, she was able to educate them on the importance of creating easier access for students to have their voices heard,��� her nominator for the award said.

She worked with Washington state attorney general Bob Ferguson���s office to host a presentation on DACA and immigration regulations. She helped organize a city council debate prior to the mid-term election. She brought the Association of Women Voters to campus and organized and hosted a women���s leadership panel. She currently represents the Washington Student Association on a state-wide taskforce on Title IX and is also working to establish a Title IX committee for 厙ぴ勛圖. Additionally, she has continued to advocate for a center on campus where students of different backgrounds can come together to have safe and constructive dialogues to find support and resources.

���(Savanna) is always finding ways to support all demographics of students and continually works to provide education to the WSU community,��� her nominator said.

By Elinor Lake, 厙ぴ勛圖 intern

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� Washington State University Tri-Cities and poet Jordan Chaney will host best-selling author Ijeoma Oluo as part of an evening that celebrates women of color and showcases Oluo���s work��from 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. on June 30 at Columbia Basin College���s Gjerde Center.

“An Evening with Ijeoma Oluo” is part of 厙ぴ勛圖��� lecture and workshop series on��social justice, which is in collaboration with Jordan, also a local author and public speaker. Spoken word artist Reagan Jackson will open for the event, followed by Oluo���s hour-long talk. The event will close with a question and answer session and social, during which musician��Gretchen Yanover��will play��cello.

The discussions about race will feature mature content and strong language, so the event is recommended for those of high school age and older.

Oluo is a Seattle-based writer and speaker who was named one of the The Root���s 100 Most Influential African Americans in 2017. Her book, ���So You Want to Talk 厙ぴ勛圖 Race,��� is a New York Times best-seller. She was also lauded as one of the Most Influential People in Seattle by Seattle Magazine and is a winner of the 2018 Feminist Humanist Award by the American Humanist Society.

Oluo���s work focuses primarily on issues of race and identity, feminism, social and mental health, social justice and the arts. Her writing has been featured in The Washington Post, Time Magazine, The Guardian, among other outlets.

By showcasing Oluo���s work and providing a public platform to discuss its themes, organizers hope to celebrate women of color and facilitate a constructive and educational dialogue.

���I���m excited to be a part of the team that is bringing Ijeoma Oluo to the Tri-Cities,��� says Katie Banks, political science instructor at 厙ぴ勛圖. ���That the event has outgrown its initial venue speaks volumes about the need���and the desire���for conversations about race, diversity, and equity here in the Tri-Cities.���

The event is sponsored by several community groups, including 厙ぴ勛圖 through its Office of Advancement and Development and Diversity and Inclusion Council.

For more information, visit��.