The Big Dream Gathering will be held today at 6:30 p.m., with registration starting at 6:15 p.m., in Parents Hall of the Olmsted Center. The Big Dream Gathering is a fun and inspiring event that helps people establish dreams and goals and gives them the boost they need to make them a reality. The event is open to faculty, staff, students, and the public. During the event, Keynote speaker Mitch Matthews will share the story of the BIG Dream Gathering as well as four key strategies for getting clear on your goals and building a plan to achieve them. Then, attendees will have the chance to post dreams of their own and encourage other dreamers. The event is free to attend. The first 100 people to arrive will receive a free copy of Mitch Matthews’ best-selling book, IGNITE. An FAQ with more information can be found on the event website, or visit the Facebook event to learn more.

—Chrystal Stanley, Professional and Career Development Services

The Drake women’s basketball annual One-on-One event will be Oct. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at The Knapp Center. Meet this year’s team and coaching staff as they head into the new season. A social will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a program to follow at 7 p.m. Desserts and refreshments will be served. Join the Facebook event.

Questions? Contact the Drake Athletics Ticket Office at 515-271-3647 or by emailing tickets@drake.edu.

— Tom Florian, Drake Athletics

An opening reception is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 22, in the Anderson Gallery, located in the Harmon Fine Arts Center. Food and drinks will be served. Metrick-Chen will introduce the exhibition at 6 p.m. The reception and the exhibition are free and open to the public. The exhibition provides ways that the world is seen in seven different cultures. Each of the seven cultures are presented with dramatic visuals, including many interactive works and the experience to paint in 3D using virtual reality. The exhibit will be on view through Saturday, Oct. 22.

For more information, read the recent news release.

—Lenore Metrick-Chen, Department of Art and Design

The Office of Institutional Research and Assessment invites members of the Drake community to attend a workshop surrounding the first-year experience at Drake. The workshop will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. on Sept. 28 in Cowles Library, Room 201.

The goals of the workshop are to initiate a conversation that intentionally creates interdisciplinary connections and brainstorming opportunities, and to critically evaluate how data can be used to drive change and maximize a student’s first-year experience. Attendees will evaluate select results from a student survey provided by the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment.

The format of the workshop will resemble the recent learning symposium session titled: “Community, Reframed: A Data-Informed Approach to Connecting Students to Drake.”

During the symposium, participants shared that they enjoyed the process of being drawn into a University-wide conversation and that hearing diverse viewpoints was beneficial to their individual work.

Register information can be found here.

—Mitchell Stearns, Institutional Research

The East Asian Studies minor is pleased to announce its fall documentary showing, TYRUS, this Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Meredith Hall, Room 101. The documentary is Pamela Tom’s tour-de-force documentary about the late Tyrus Wong, a Guangzhou-born, Los Angeles based visual artist and his personal and professional journey navigating racial bigotry in 20th Century America. Tom’s film includes illuminating interviews and commentary from Wong himself to document how his unique style helped the Disney animated film, Bambi, and early Hollywood establish their signature visual styles.

The film will be followed by a panel discussion with Kevin D. Lam, assistant professor of urban and diversity education, and Emily Newman, assistant professor of art and design. Mary M. McCarthy, associate professor of politics and international relations, will moderate the discussion.

— Mary M. McCarthy, Department of Political Science

A celebration to honor Neal Smith, former U.S. congressman and a 1950 Drake Law alumnus, will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium.

The program will feature selections from a videotaped interview with former Drake Law Dean David Walker, titled “Visionary of Shared Dreams: He Helped Government Work Better.”

In the interview, Smith reveals details of his nearly four decades in public service, including his work with other members of Congress, U.S. Supreme Court justices, and U.S. presidents. He also recalls his childhood growing up on a farm in Iowa during the Depression, enlistment in the military during World War II, and landmark legislation he worked on in Congress.

The event is free and open the public. No RSVP is required. View the news release for more information.

—Kayla Choate, Law School

The Office of Equity and Inclusion is pleased to announce the White Privilege Symposium–Iowa from Oct. 27-28 on Drake’s campus. In keeping with the White Privilege Conference (WPC), a long-standing national conference, WPS-IA will focus on issues of systemic inequity and oppression through empowering and challenging educational programming. The workshops and keynotes provide practical tips, tools, and strategies for combating systemic inequities.

Confirmed speakers include Jackie Battalora, Eddie Moore Jr., Jasiri X, Jennifer Harvey, and others. The symposium will bring together high school and college students, teachers, University faculty and higher education professionals, nonprofit staff, activists, social workers and counselors, health care workers, members of the spiritual community, and corporate arena, among many others.

Registration and attendance for Drake faculty, staff, and students is free. Register using your Drake ID through Eventbrite.

Non-Drake participants can register at: https://www.regonline.com/wps-ia. Registration fees for non-Drake participants are $100 for general admission, $75 for teachers, and $50 for students.

The National White Privilege Conference is an opportunity to join local frontline racial justice activists, academics, artists and more, as we explore the pressing issues of our time, understand root causes of systemic injustice, build solidarity, strengthen community, and develop strategies for dismantling privilege and oppression.

The conference will take place in various buildings on campus from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 27, and 9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. on Oct. 28

—Erin Lain, Associate Provost for Equity and Inclusion