UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Byron Hurt has spent nearly three decades using his craft, voice and writings to broaden and deepen how people think about gender, race, sex, violence, music and visual media. He brings his work to the virtual realm on Sept. 28 in a program that will include excerpts from his work, a conversation with Terry Watson of Strategies for Justice, and a Q&A with audience members. The online program starts at 6:30 p.m. Register at https://tinyurl.com/yympq4jf.
Sponsors include the Gender Equity Center, Interfraternity Council (IFC), Office of Veterans Programs, Centre Safe, Strategies for Justice, Juniata College, The HOPE Center of Lock Haven University, and Bloomsburg University’s Office of the Dean of Students.
"As a filmmaker and activist, I am always encouraged when institutions like Penn State create spaces for their students to talk honestly about the culture of masculinity and how it impacts race and gender in America,” Hurt said. “My desire is to engage students and hear some of the things that they are thinking about when it comes to race and gender, especially during these fraught times in which we are currently living.”
Hurt is the former host of the Emmy-nominated television show "Reel Works with Byron Hurt." The former Northeastern University football quarterback was a founding member of the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) program, the leading college-based rape and domestic violence prevention initiative for college and professional athletes. Hurt also served as an associate director of the first gender violence prevention program in the United States Marine Corps.
“Byron is someone we have wanted to bring for a while now and we are so thrilled he is able to share his work and lead this important conversation during these trying times,” said Jennifer Pencek, programming coordinator of the Gender Equity Center. “These aren’t always easy conversations to have but if we are serious about culture change, the conversations — and actions — are necessary.”
For more information on this program and on the Gender Equity Center, visit studentaffairs.psu.edu/genderequity.