In a City of Spokane Equity Spotlight conversation, Dr. Clark, director of student success, equity, and belonging at Whitworth University, and Dr. Pouyan Lam, professor of sociology and justice studies at Eastern Washington University, discussed how colleges and universities contribute to equity, inclusion and civic life in Spokane.

Speakers said higher education matters because it can improve representation on campus, teach students the critical thinking skills needed to recognize and address inequities, and extend university research and expertise into the broader community. "I always saw a void. When I look at a university campus, I am looking to see folks who look like me, who look like us. Where are the women? Where are the underrepresented communities and populations?" Dr. Clark said, describing a motivation to recruit and retain students and staff from underrepresented groups.

Dr. Pouyan Lam described his own experience as an international student and said classroom learning can prompt activism and durable change. "I took my first Asian American studies course... and it was the most impactful course that I took," Lam said, adding that courses and campus exposure to diverse peers give students "the lens to be able to analyze our immediate surrounding and see when there is inequity." Both speakers emphasized that education should open minds rather than only convey facts.

Panelists pointed to concrete ways universities promote belonging: culturally focused calendar events that both affirm students and educate the broader public, faculty engagement with community organizations, and classroom dialogue that helps students name and act on problems. "Celebrations of cultural heritage months are so important," Dr. Clark said, calling out months such as Women's History Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Month, Native American Heritage Month and Black History Month as opportunities to educate the campus and Spokane residents.

Speakers gave examples of student outcomes tied to that work: students starting programs or activism after classroom experiences, and students reporting that readings or classroom conversations made their experiences "make sense," spurring them to lead community projects. Lam said he has seen students demonstrate "intellectual courage" when confronting difficult truths about U.S. history and society, and he urged continuing exposure to multiple perspectives.

The session also touched on community resources and participation. Dr. Clark noted local recreation and city programs as venues for engagement; Dr. Lam mentioned signing up for Spokane Parks and Recreation classes as a way to connect with the city. The host closed by directing listeners to the City of Spokane web page for more information about city equity work.

The discussion was framed as a conversation, not a formal decision or policy action. No motions or votes were taken during the recorded segment.