{"id":708,"date":"2025-01-08T15:37:21","date_gmt":"2025-01-08T20:37:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians25thanniversary\/about-us\/peer-journals-copy\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T10:03:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T15:03:23","slug":"alum-events","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/events\/alum-events\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumnae Events"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Alumnae Events<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">2026 Smith College Club of Great Britain Winter Dinner<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"3279\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2026\/02\/SCCGB-talk-5-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3279\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2026\/02\/SCCGB-talk-5-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2026\/02\/SCCGB-talk-5-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2026\/02\/SCCGB-talk-5-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2026\/02\/SCCGB-talk-5-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2026\/02\/SCCGB-talk-5-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"824\" data-id=\"3281\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2026\/02\/SCCGB-talk-2-scaled-e1772204436115-1024x824.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2026\/02\/SCCGB-talk-2-scaled-e1772204436115-1024x824.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2026\/02\/SCCGB-talk-2-scaled-e1772204436115-300x241.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2026\/02\/SCCGB-talk-2-scaled-e1772204436115-768x618.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2026\/02\/SCCGB-talk-2-scaled-e1772204436115-1536x1236.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2026\/02\/SCCGB-talk-2-scaled-e1772204436115.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/alumnae.smith.edu\/smithcms\/greatbritain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Smith College Club of Great Britain<\/a> (SCCGB) brings together alums living across the UK, and warmly welcomes those in Ireland to join our events. With a community of about 450 alums in the region, SCCGB hosts a variety of gatherings throughout the year. One of the longstanding traditions is the annual Winter Dinner in February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2026&#8217;s Winter Dinner guest speaker was <em>Meridians<\/em> Editor and Professor of Sociology Ginetta Candelario &#8217;90, whose talk was titled &#8220;From Gatekeeping to Gate Opening: How the <em>Meridians<\/em> Project has Contributed to Transforming the Academy and Higher Education.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">December 2nd Giving Circle Webinar<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"A Virtual Celebration of the Meridians 25th Anniversary\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/N3c16fGKua0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Celebrating Intersectionality!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"padding-top:20px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:0px\">A joyful, eclectic mix of diverse alums gathered April 11, 2023 in New York City, to celebrate the new endowed status of the stellar journal <strong><em>Meridians<\/em><\/strong><strong>: <\/strong><strong><em>feminism, race, transnationalism.<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp; For over 20 years, this award-winning publication devoted to women of color (WOC) has been sustained by Smith College President\u2019s Office discretionary funds. Now, thanks to generous alums, <em>Meridians<\/em> is here to stay!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#foogallery-gallery-978 .fg-image { width: 300px; }\n#foogallery-gallery-978 { --fg-gutter: 15px; }<\/style>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"foogallery foogallery-container foogallery-default foogallery-lightbox-foogallery fg-center fg-m-col2 fg-default fg-ready fg-light fg-border-thin fg-shadow-outline fg-loading-default fg-loaded-fade-in fg-caption-always fg-hover-fade fg-hover-zoom\" id=\"foogallery-gallery-978\" data-foogallery=\"{&quot;item&quot;:{&quot;showCaptionTitle&quot;:false,&quot;showCaptionDescription&quot;:true},&quot;lazy&quot;:true}\" data-foogallery-lightbox=\"{&quot;thumbs&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;thumbsCaptions&quot;:false,&quot;thumbsBestFit&quot;:false,&quot;thumbsSmall&quot;:false,&quot;thumbsCaptionsAlign&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;info&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;infoVisible&quot;:true,&quot;infoOverlay&quot;:false,&quot;infoAlign&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;transition&quot;:&quot;fade&quot;,&quot;hoverButtons&quot;:false,&quot;fitMedia&quot;:false,&quot;noScrollbars&quot;:true,&quot;preserveButtonSpace&quot;:true,&quot;buttons&quot;:{&quot;fullscreen&quot;:true,&quot;info&quot;:true,&quot;thumbs&quot;:false},&quot;video&quot;:{&quot;autoPlay&quot;:true}}\" style=\"--fg-title-line-clamp: 0; --fg-description-line-clamp: 0;\" >\n\t<div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/sylvia.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Sylvia \u201cCookie\u201d Smith Lewis \u201874 (Co-founder of Black Alumnae at Smith College)\" data-caption-desc=\"Sylvia \u201cCookie\u201d Smith Lewis \u201874 (Co-founder of Black Alumnae at Smith College)\" data-attachment-id=\"982\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Sylvia \u201cCookie\u201d Smith Lewis \u201874 (Co-founder of Black Alumnae at Smith College)\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/sylvia\/79370175.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22300%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20300%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Sylvia \u201cCookie\u201d Smith Lewis \u201874 (Co-founder of Black Alumnae at Smith College)<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/profapresenting.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Ginetta E. B Candelario \u201990 (Professor of Sociology and Latin American &amp;amp; Latino\/a Studies, Study of Women &amp;amp; Gender, and Community Engagement &amp;amp; Social Change Concentration at Smith College &amp;amp; Editor of Meridians)\" data-caption-desc=\"Ginetta E. B Candelario \u201990 (Professor of Sociology and Latin American &amp;amp; Latino\/a Studies, Study of Women &amp;amp; Gender, and Community Engagement &amp;amp; Social Change Concentration at Smith College &amp;amp; Editor of Meridians)\" data-attachment-id=\"981\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Ginetta E. B Candelario \u201990 (Professor of Sociology and Latin American &amp;amp; Latino\/a Studies, Study of Women &amp;amp; Gender, and Community Engagement &amp;amp; Social Change Concentration at Smith College &amp;amp; Editor of Meridians)\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/profapresenting\/315686044.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22300%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20300%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Ginetta E. B Candelario \u201990 (Professor of Sociology and Latin American &amp; Latino\/a Studies, Study of Women &amp; Gender, and Community Engagement &amp; Social Change Concentration at Smith College &amp; Editor of Meridians)<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/denise.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Denise Materre \u201874 (Vice President for Alumnae Relations at Smith College)\" data-caption-desc=\"Denise Materre \u201874 (Vice President for Alumnae Relations at Smith College)\" data-attachment-id=\"980\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Denise Materre \u201874 (Vice President for Alumnae Relations at Smith College)\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/denise\/4185781392.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22300%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20300%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Denise Materre \u201874 (Vice President for Alumnae Relations at Smith College)<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/paulajgiddings.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Paula J. Giddings (The Elizabeth A Woodson 1922 Professor of Africana studies &amp;amp; Editor Emerita of Meridians), Debbie Berger \u201886 (Trustee Emerita of Smith College)\" data-caption-desc=\"Paula J. Giddings (The Elizabeth A Woodson 1922 Professor of Africana studies &amp;amp; Editor Emerita of Meridians), Debbie Berger \u201886 (Trustee Emerita of Smith College)\" data-attachment-id=\"979\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Paula J. Giddings (The Elizabeth A Woodson 1922 Professor of Africana studies &amp;amp; Editor Emerita of Meridians), Debbie Berger \u201886 (Trustee Emerita of Smith College)\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/paulajgiddings.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22300%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20300%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Paula J. Giddings (The Elizabeth A Woodson 1922 Professor of Africana studies &amp; Editor Emerita of Meridians), Debbie Berger \u201886 (Trustee Emerita of Smith College)<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Program Highlights<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"padding-top:20px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:0px\">Trustee Emerita <strong>Debbie Berger \u201886<\/strong> and <strong>Sylvia \u201cCookie\u201d Smith Lewis \u201874<\/strong> welcomed a room full of buzzing Smithies. <strong>Alison Overseth \u201880<\/strong> Trustee and Smith Board Chair shared greetings from the Board of Trustees. <strong>Denise Materre \u201874<\/strong>, Vice President for Alumnae Relations, shared her thoughts on <em>\u201cWhy We Gather to Celebrate <\/em><em>Meridians<\/em><em>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding-top:20px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:0px\">The two keynote speakers Professor and Editor <strong>Ginetta E.B. Candelario \u201890<\/strong> reflected on <em>Meridians<\/em>\u2019 victories and plans for the future. Her ambitious and wide ranging vision for the journal was moving and inspirational. Professor <strong>Paula J. Giddings<\/strong>, Editor Emerita (2005-2017), talked about advancing our history and legacy. Her personal reflections on the early years of <em>Meridians<\/em> with Ruth Simmons, Toni Morrison, and Gloria Steinem were remarkable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding-top:20px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:0px\">A lively Question and Answer session was followed by Denise Materre \u201874 with her \u201cCall to Action.\u201d <em>Meridians<\/em> signature color, purple, was a theme for the lovely swag bags full of <em>Meridians <\/em>goodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#foogallery-gallery-985 .fg-image { width: 200px; }\n#foogallery-gallery-985 { --fg-gutter: 10px; }<\/style>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"foogallery foogallery-container foogallery-default foogallery-lightbox-foogallery fg-center fg-m-col3 fg-default fg-ready fg-light fg-border-thin fg-shadow-outline fg-loading-default fg-loaded-fade-in fg-caption-always fg-hover-fade fg-hover-zoom\" id=\"foogallery-gallery-985\" data-foogallery=\"{&quot;item&quot;:{&quot;showCaptionTitle&quot;:false,&quot;showCaptionDescription&quot;:true},&quot;lazy&quot;:true}\" data-foogallery-lightbox=\"{&quot;thumbs&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;thumbsCaptions&quot;:false,&quot;thumbsBestFit&quot;:false,&quot;thumbsSmall&quot;:false,&quot;thumbsCaptionsAlign&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;info&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;infoVisible&quot;:true,&quot;infoOverlay&quot;:false,&quot;infoAlign&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;transition&quot;:&quot;fade&quot;,&quot;hoverButtons&quot;:false,&quot;fitMedia&quot;:false,&quot;noScrollbars&quot;:true,&quot;preserveButtonSpace&quot;:true,&quot;buttons&quot;:{&quot;fullscreen&quot;:true,&quot;info&quot;:true,&quot;thumbs&quot;:false},&quot;video&quot;:{&quot;autoPlay&quot;:true}}\" style=\"--fg-title-line-clamp: 0; --fg-description-line-clamp: 0;\" >\n\t<div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-12-300x200-1.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Layla Ramirez \u201809, Wangui Maina \u201808\" data-caption-desc=\"Layla Ramirez \u201809, Wangui Maina \u201808\" data-attachment-id=\"986\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Layla Ramirez \u201809, Wangui Maina \u201808\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-12-300x200-1\/3340378778.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20200%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Layla Ramirez \u201809, Wangui Maina \u201808<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-13-300x200-1.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Debbie Berger \u201886, Carolyn Clarke \u201885\" data-caption-desc=\"Debbie Berger \u201886, Carolyn Clarke \u201885\" data-attachment-id=\"987\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Debbie Berger \u201886, Carolyn Clarke \u201885\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-13-300x200-1\/1036558978.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20200%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Debbie Berger \u201886, Carolyn Clarke \u201885<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-14-300x200-1.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Paula J. Giddings, Ginetta E. B. Candelario \u201990, Debbie Berger \u201886, Carolyn Clarke \u201885\" data-caption-desc=\"Paula J. Giddings, Ginetta E. B. Candelario \u201990, Debbie Berger \u201886, Carolyn Clarke \u201885\" data-attachment-id=\"988\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Paula J. Giddings, Ginetta E. B. Candelario \u201990, Debbie Berger \u201886, Carolyn Clarke \u201885\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-14-300x200-1\/409444289.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20200%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Paula J. Giddings, Ginetta E. B. Candelario \u201990, Debbie Berger \u201886, Carolyn Clarke \u201885<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-15-300x200-1.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Paula J. Giddings, Denise Materre \u201874, Carolyn Clarke \u201885\" data-caption-desc=\"Paula J. Giddings, Denise Materre \u201874, Carolyn Clarke \u201885\" data-attachment-id=\"989\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Paula J. Giddings, Denise Materre \u201874, Carolyn Clarke \u201885\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-15-300x200-1\/3803520985.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20200%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Paula J. Giddings, Denise Materre \u201874, Carolyn Clarke \u201885<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-17-300x200-1.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Caren Byrd Borland \u201868, Amanda Lopez (Executive Director of the Alumnae Association and Regional Networks at Smith College)\" data-caption-desc=\"Caren Byrd Borland \u201868, Amanda Lopez (Executive Director of the Alumnae Association and Regional Networks at Smith College)\" data-attachment-id=\"990\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Caren Byrd Borland \u201868, Amanda Lopez (Executive Director of the Alumnae Association and Regional Networks at Smith College)\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-17-300x200-1\/2593406949.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20200%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Caren Byrd Borland \u201868, Amanda Lopez (Executive Director of the Alumnae Association and Regional Networks at Smith College)<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-18-300x200-1.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Gina Ko \u201899, Denise Materre \u201874\" data-caption-desc=\"Gina Ko \u201899, Denise Materre \u201874\" data-attachment-id=\"991\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Gina Ko \u201899, Denise Materre \u201874\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-18-300x200-1\/2037099892.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20200%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Gina Ko \u201899, Denise Materre \u201874<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-19-300x200-1.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Gina Ko \u201899, Denise Materre \u201874\" data-caption-desc=\"Gina Ko \u201899, Denise Materre \u201874\" data-attachment-id=\"992\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Gina Ko \u201899, Denise Materre \u201874\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-19-300x200-1\/2830712990.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20200%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Gina Ko \u201899, Denise Materre \u201874<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-20-703x1024-1.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Sylvia Lewis \u201874   Ally Einbinder \u201810\" data-caption-desc=\"Sylvia Lewis \u201874   Ally Einbinder \u201810\" data-attachment-id=\"993\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Sylvia Lewis \u201874   Ally Einbinder \u201810\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-20-703x1024-1\/848848999.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20200%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Sylvia Lewis \u201874   Ally Einbinder \u201810<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-22-683x1024-1.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Paula J. Giddings\" data-caption-desc=\"Paula J. Giddings\" data-attachment-id=\"994\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Paula J. Giddings\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-22-683x1024-1\/2185512435.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20200%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Paula J. Giddings<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-23-300x200-1.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Paula J. Giddings, Ginetta E. B. Candelario \u201990\" data-caption-desc=\"Paula J. Giddings, Ginetta E. B. Candelario \u201990\" data-attachment-id=\"995\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Paula J. Giddings, Ginetta E. B. Candelario \u201990\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-23-300x200-1\/1911194455.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20200%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Paula J. Giddings, Ginetta E. B. Candelario \u201990<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/DSC02031-300x200-1.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Alison Overseth (Board of the Chair of Trustees at Smith College), Daphne Lamothe (Professor of Africana Studies at Smith College)\" data-caption-desc=\"Alison Overseth (Board of the Chair of Trustees at Smith College), Daphne Lamothe (Professor of Africana Studies at Smith College)\" data-attachment-id=\"996\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Alison Overseth (Board of the Chair of Trustees at Smith College), Daphne Lamothe (Professor of Africana Studies at Smith College)\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/DSC02031-300x200-1\/2830330325.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20200%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Alison Overseth (Board of the Chair of Trustees at Smith College), Daphne Lamothe (Professor of Africana Studies at Smith College)<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-29-300x200-1.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Jannah Handy \u201808, Ginetta E. B. Candelario \u201990, Nicole \u201cCoco\u201d Shawan Jr \u201802\" data-caption-desc=\"Jannah Handy \u201808, Ginetta E. B. Candelario \u201990, Nicole \u201cCoco\u201d Shawan Jr \u201802\" data-attachment-id=\"997\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Jannah Handy \u201808, Ginetta E. B. Candelario \u201990, Nicole \u201cCoco\u201d Shawan Jr \u201802\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-29-300x200-1\/1215245098.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20200%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Jannah Handy \u201808, Ginetta E. B. Candelario \u201990, Nicole \u201cCoco\u201d Shawan Jr \u201802<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/jonellebyronsylvia.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Jonelle Dennis, Byron Lewis, Sylvia Lewis \u201874\" data-caption-desc=\"Jonelle Dennis, Byron Lewis, Sylvia Lewis \u201874\" data-attachment-id=\"998\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Jonelle Dennis, Byron Lewis, Sylvia Lewis \u201874\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/jonellebyronsylvia\/193155439.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20200%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Jonelle Dennis, Byron Lewis, Sylvia Lewis \u201874<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-27.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Norma Darden, Byron Lewis, Blossom Hinds Graham\" data-caption-desc=\"Norma Darden, Byron Lewis, Blossom Hinds Graham\" data-attachment-id=\"999\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Norma Darden, Byron Lewis, Blossom Hinds Graham\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-27\/2846611534.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20200%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Norma Darden, Byron Lewis, Blossom Hinds Graham<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-2-300x225-1.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Byron Lewis and Richard Cummings\" data-caption-desc=\"Byron Lewis and Richard Cummings\" data-attachment-id=\"1000\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Byron Lewis and Richard Cummings\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-2-300x225-1\/711410475.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20200%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Byron Lewis and Richard Cummings<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-3-768x1014-1.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Ginetta E. B. Candelario \u201990, Paula J. Giddings\" data-caption-desc=\"Ginetta E. B. Candelario \u201990, Paula J. Giddings\" data-attachment-id=\"1001\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Ginetta E. B. Candelario \u201990, Paula J. Giddings\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-3-768x1014-1\/4054464489.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20200%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Ginetta E. B. Candelario \u201990, Paula J. Giddings<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-4-300x225-1.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Back Row\u2013 Daphne Lamothe, Sabine Jean \u201811, Cynthia Franqui \u201810 ,Ginetta Candelario \u201990, Amanda Lopez Front row\u2013 Sylvia Lewis \u201874, Dior Vargas \u201809, Denise Materre \u201874\" data-caption-desc=\"Back Row\u2013 Daphne Lamothe, Sabine Jean \u201811, Cynthia Franqui \u201810 ,Ginetta Candelario \u201990, Amanda Lopez Front row\u2013 Sylvia Lewis \u201874, Dior Vargas \u201809, Denise Materre \u201874\" data-attachment-id=\"1002\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Back Row\u2013 Daphne Lamothe, Sabine Jean \u201811, Cynthia Franqui \u201810 ,Ginetta Candelario \u201990, Amanda Lopez Front row\u2013 Sylvia Lewis \u201874, Dior Vargas \u201809, Denise Materre \u201874\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-4-300x225-1\/2418843412.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20200%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Back Row\u2013 Daphne Lamothe, Sabine Jean \u201811, Cynthia Franqui \u201810 ,Ginetta Candelario \u201990, Amanda Lopez Front row\u2013 Sylvia Lewis \u201874, Dior Vargas \u201809, Denise Materre \u201874<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-11-300x200-1.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Carolyn Clarke \u201885, Norma Darden\" data-caption-desc=\"Carolyn Clarke \u201885, Norma Darden\" data-attachment-id=\"1006\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Carolyn Clarke \u201885, Norma Darden\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-11-300x200-1\/600789233.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20200%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Carolyn Clarke \u201885, Norma Darden<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-8-300x200-1.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Ginetta E. B. Candelario \u201990, Debbie Berger \u201886, Marea Wexler (Senior Philanthropic Advisor at Smith College)\" data-caption-desc=\"Ginetta E. B. Candelario \u201990, Debbie Berger \u201886, Marea Wexler (Senior Philanthropic Advisor at Smith College)\" data-attachment-id=\"1004\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Ginetta E. B. Candelario \u201990, Debbie Berger \u201886, Marea Wexler (Senior Philanthropic Advisor at Smith College)\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-8-300x200-1\/901264148.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20200%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Ginetta E. B. Candelario \u201990, Debbie Berger \u201886, Marea Wexler (Senior Philanthropic Advisor at Smith College)<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-9-300x200-1.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Sylvia Lewis \u201874, Carolyn Clarke \u201885, Nirupa Umapathy \u201802\" data-caption-desc=\"Sylvia Lewis \u201874, Carolyn Clarke \u201885, Nirupa Umapathy \u201802\" data-attachment-id=\"1005\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Sylvia Lewis \u201874, Carolyn Clarke \u201885, Nirupa Umapathy \u201802\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-9-300x200-1\/2163291560.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20200%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Sylvia Lewis \u201874, Carolyn Clarke \u201885, Nirupa Umapathy \u201802<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-5-300x225-1.jpg\" data-caption-title=\"Ginetta E. B, Candelario \u201990 addressing event attendees\" data-caption-desc=\"Ginetta E. B, Candelario \u201990 addressing event attendees\" data-attachment-id=\"1003\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Ginetta E. B, Candelario \u201990 addressing event attendees\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/meridians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1146\/cache\/2025\/01\/meridians-event-5-300x225-1\/627415464.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22200%22%20height%3D%22200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20200%20200%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-desc\">Ginetta E. B, Candelario \u201990 addressing event attendees<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-prata-regular-font-family\"><strong>Greetings Excerpts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>Debbie Berger \u201886<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p><strong>\u2018Let them hear us!\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cAloha everyone! I\u2019m delighted to be here with you all to learn more about&nbsp;<\/em><em>Meridians<\/em><em>&nbsp;and hopefully, to celebrate together, what&nbsp;<\/em><em>Meridians<\/em><em>&nbsp;has done in 20-plus years of existence, what it is doing now and its future possibilities. As we know from news in the world today, the journal\u2019s mission, to showcase the voices and scholarship of women of color, locally, and globally, is more important than ever.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>As you will see tonight,&nbsp;<\/em><em>Meridians<\/em>&nbsp;<em>exemplifies Smith\u2019s values.&nbsp; It\u2019s a journal of high scholarship centering the voices of women that the world is not accustomed to hearing from. Well, let them hear us!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>I am not an academic or scholar, nor am I a journalist, creative writer, poet, or artist. But once I learned about&nbsp;<\/em><em>Meridians<\/em><em>&nbsp;several months ago, like you will learn tonight, I was so incredibly proud that I had to find a way to help sustain its work.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>&nbsp;Not only is&nbsp;<\/em><em>Meridians<\/em><em>&nbsp;at home at Smith,&nbsp;<\/em><em>Meridians<\/em><em>&nbsp;was founded at Smith. I invite you to be inspired with me tonight by Ginetta and Paula, and by what&nbsp;<\/em><em>Meridians<\/em><em>&nbsp;is and will be with your help and support. Thank you all so much for being here.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>Sylvia S. Lewis \u201874<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p><strong>\u2018Wish we had this in the \u201870s\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cIt\u2019s my pleasure to welcome you. As some of you may recall it was just a few years ago (pre-Covid) when we were re-introduced to <\/em><em>Meridians<\/em><em> by Ginetta right here in my living-room.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Byron and I became <\/em><em>Meridians<\/em><em> fans when we received journal copies to gift to our alum guests for an Otelia Cromwell Day event we hosted. We love the <\/em><em>Meridians <\/em><em>mission and work. We are deeply impressed by the quality of its scholarship, reach and vision. That is why we are supporting it. And we hope you will join us to support <\/em><em>Meridians<\/em><em> too! We are grateful to Ginetta and her team for holding this event and honored to host it, which feels especially important in these times.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>As women and Black Indigenous, and people of color, our rights face serious threats. We Smithies have an historic opportunity with this amazing journal to look to for inspiration and knowledge, to use as a wonderful resource as we continue to educate ourselves and move our beloved Smith community forward.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>As an alum I am so pleased that this journal lives at Smith. It is one of a kind. I wish we had this in the 70s when I was a Smith student and helped to co-found the Africana Studies Department. Back then, we could only dream of a journal like this!&nbsp; I truly believe that Smithies today and the future will benefit from this vital journal full of intentional diverse voices.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong><strong>Alison Overseth \u201880<\/strong><\/strong><\/summary>\n<p><strong>\u2018Our world needs <em>Meridians\u2019&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cGreetings everyone. I\u2019m Alison Overseth \u2013 class of 80 and Chair of Smith\u2019s Board of Trustees. I\u2019m thrilled to be here to join in celebrating Meridians. Debbie, Byron and Sylvia, thank you for hosting us. I\u2019m honored to represent Smith\u2019s Board of Trustees tonight and express our wholehearted support for the Meridians mission and work which we respect and celebrate. I\u2019d also like to take a moment to recognize my sister Trustees \u2013 <strong>Debbie Berger \u201886, Linda Charles \u201874, Kimberly Scott \u201891, Mona Sinha \u201888 <\/strong>and<strong> Beverly Morgan Welch \u201874<\/strong>. Though some could not be here tonight I want to acknowledge them and their support for Meridians.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:700\"><em>You may know Meridians was born during former Smith President <strong>Ruth Simmons<\/strong> tenure \u2013 today Meridians thrives because of Ginetta\u2019s outstanding leadership. Her devotion to the journal is evident. The productive and innovative work she achieves with students and scholars is remarkable and is a testament to her commitment and the value of the journal\u2019s work.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Smith students need <\/em><em>Meridians<\/em><em>. As they explore their intellectual passions and aspire to become leaders and feminist scholars, <\/em><em>Meridians<\/em><em> is here for them. I confess, I wish <\/em><em>Meridians<\/em><em> had existed when I was a student! I am so glad it exists for current and future Smithies.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>As an alum and Board Chair I\u2019m delighted and proud that Smith College President, <strong>Kathy McCartney<\/strong> supports the Meridians vision \u2013 in word and deed. She has made Meridians a college priority and works to ensure that Meridians has the resources it needs to grow well into the future. This is good leadership! Our world needs Meridians \u2013 and I look forward to learning more about the journal with you all tonight. Thank you.\u201d&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong><strong><strong>Denise Materre \u201874<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/summary>\n<p><em><strong>Why We Gather to Celebrate Meridians<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cIt is my joy and honor to be here with you this evening \u2013 as an alumna and as the proud Vice President for Alumnae Relations at Smith College. Thank you to our gracious hostesses \u2013 Trustee Emerita Debbie Berger \u201986 and Sylvia Lewis\u2019 74 and her dapper husband Byron. Thank you for opening your beautiful home to us \u2013 to make a special space for <\/em><em>Meridians<\/em><em> \u2013 for us to come together to learn about and celebrate the powerful and important work of this Smith jewel.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Thank you to my fellow alums \u2013my Smith sisters&#8211; for making time to be here. How fortunate we are that <\/em><em>Meridians<\/em><em> lives at our alma mater.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Our Alumnae Relations\/Development team is partnering with Prof. Ginetta Candelario and Ally Einbinder \u201910,<\/em> <em>Editorial Office Manager<\/em>, <em>to spread the <\/em><em>Meridians<\/em><em> word to our entire Smith community \u2013 we are thrilled about <\/em><em>Meridians <\/em><em>and its great work and are doing everything we can to share the joy!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>I trust you are seeing our efforts in action: you may have read about <\/em><em>Meridians<\/em><em> in a past summer <\/em><em>Quarterly<\/em><em> \u2013 or attended the March 30 webinar \u2013 you may have seen the new <\/em><em>Meridians<\/em><em> story on our Giving Opportunities site \u2013 you may even be in conversation with our team about making gifts to support the journal \u2013 perhaps you have made a gift &#8212; these activities reflect our collective support for <\/em><em>Meridians<\/em><em>.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Before turning the mic over to my friend and colleague Professor and current Meridians Editor Ginetta Candelario, I\u2019d like to take a moment to recognize the campus team \u2013from the Development Department <strong>Jonelle Dennis, Sam Samuel, and Marea Wexler,<\/strong> and<\/em><strong><em> <\/em><\/strong><em><strong>Amanda Lopez<\/strong><\/em><strong><em> <\/em><\/strong><em>of Alumnae Relations.\u201d&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Call to Action&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding-top:20px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:0px\"><em>\u201cAs we bring our evening to a close, I\u2019d like to suggest there are many ways to engage with <\/em><em>Meridians<\/em><em>. We hope you\u2019ll become part of the <\/em><em>Meridians<\/em><em> mosaic \u2013 by sharing your excitement with your friends \u2013 by posting on social media, by introducing its work to prospective Smith students \u2013 by encouraging your local library to subscribe to the journal, by subscribing to the newsletter and Journal yourself-&nbsp; and by making your own gift \u2013 of any size to help build the <\/em><em>Meridians <\/em><em>endowment. Due to the vision and generosity of an alum anonymous donor who made an incredible gift of $1M to endow the journal \u2013 it is now forever a part of Smith\u2019s institutional DNA. This is surely something to celebrate!&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Giving to <em>Meridians<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"padding-top:20px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:0px;font-size:clamp(18.959px, 1.185rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 1.346), 30px);\">Your donation of any amount to the <em>Meridians<\/em> endowment will help amplify the voices of women of color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.givecampus.com\/campaigns\/37764\/donations\/new\">Donate<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding-top:20px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:0px\">&#8220;<em>And we, as alums can build on this beautiful legacy by making gifts \u2013 of whatever size that makes sense for you. Ours is an inclusive community \u2013 and we are committed to ensuring that every alum knows her support is welcome. We\u2019ve provided the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.givecampus.com\/campaigns\/37764\/donations\/new\">Meridians giving link <\/a>to you at the bottom of this evening\u2019s program. We invite you to explore it at your convenience.&nbsp;<\/em><br><em>As we conclude tonight \u2013 my hope is that each of you leave this evening having found something within Meridians that strikes a chord -and you will begin your journey with this wonderful resource that all of Smith is proud to call its own.\u201d<\/em> \u2013 <strong>Denise Materre \u201874<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Alumnae Events 2026 Smith College Club of Great Britain Winter Dinner The Smith College Club of Great Britain (SCCGB) brings together alums living across the UK, and warmly welcomes those in Ireland to join our events. With a community of about 450 alums in the region, SCCGB hosts a variety of gatherings throughout the year. 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