Lavender Graduation Speech- Columbia School of Social Work

“ I have a duty to speak the truth as I see it and share, not just my triumphs, not just the things that felt good, but the pain, the intense often unmitigated pain.

It is important to share how I know survival because survival is not just walking through the rain. “

Audre Lorde

I’ve been struggling with what to say to you because I want you to leave this room, this institution feeling inspired, encouraged… that these last two years and thousands of dollars were all worth it.