As part of Michigan State University’s Women’s History Month observance, a powerful keynote event, titled Mujer, Madre, Student, Survivor: Reclaiming Power from Broken Systems in the Fight Against Interpersonal Violence, will take place Thursday, March 27, from 5 to 6:45 p.m. in Multipurpose Room A of the MSU Multicultural Center.

The event features Heather A. Hathaway Miranda, M.A., an MSU alumna and founder of Hathaway Miranda LLC. A nationally recognized speaker, consultant and advocate, Hathaway Miranda will share her personal journey as a Chicana/Latina mother and survivor who found strength amid the failures of the medical, educational and legal systems meant to protect her.

Rooted in cultural strength and resilience, Hathaway Miranda’s story is more than one of survival, it is a call to action. Through healing-centered storytelling and a humanistic approach, she uplifts the experiences of those impacted by interpersonal violence while providing guidance for allies seeking to offer meaningful support.

“Thank you so much for all the good you have done in my life and all you do for everyone that crossed your way,” shared one young Latina mother and survivor who attended one of Hathaway Miranda’s presentations. “To me, you are one of my heroes.”

The keynote will be followed by an interactive workshop, The Masks We Wear, Friday, March 28, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., also in the MSU Multicultural Center. In this hands-on session, Hathaway Miranda will guide participants through reflective activities exploring how expectations from family, community and society shape our identities and the metaphorical masks we wear as a result.

This Women's History Month event is presented by Women and Gender Equity (formerly Women*s Student Services), MSU Safe Place, and the MSU Center for Survivors.

To learn more about Heather A. Hathaway Miranda and her work, visit heatherhathawaymiranda.com.