Ashland Center for Nonviolence hosting “Welcoming the Stranger” conference Feb. 24-25

ASHLAND, Ohio – The Ashland Center for Nonviolence at Ashland University will host the John D. Stratton Conference once again, with this year’s theme being “Welcoming the Stranger.” The eighth annual event will take place Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24-25.

On the evening of Feb. 24, keynote speaker Kimberly Brazwell, a community builder and social justice advocate, will present “Creating Braver, Safer Spaces with Courage and Reliability” in the Trustees Room of the John C. Myers Convocation Center. This event begins at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Brazwell is the founder and CEO of KiMISTRY, a story strategy consulting firm that specializes in training, coaching, program and professional development with an emphasis on trauma informed social justice. She launched KiMISTRY in 2010 to address the unique intersection of equity, inclusion and holistic wellness. She also is the author of “Browning Pleasantville,” a memoir about a predominantly white institution’s reaction to the “browning” of its attitudes, interests and motives.

Brazwell holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication from Ohio University and a master’s degree in educational policy and leadership from Ohio State University.

On Feb. 25, the conference, featuring a series of presenters from across disciplines, will start at 8 a.m., in the Dauch College of Business and Economics. Registration is required and can be completed at ashland.edu/acn.

The Ashland Center for Nonviolence promotes alternatives to violence through education, training and building relationships that foster awareness and consideration of issues related to nonviolence and social justice, and supports ways to create a caring community that is inclusive and just.

For more information, please contact Elizabeth Buttil, assistant director of ACN, at 419-289-5313 or ebuttil@ashland.edu.

Ashland University is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.