Sojourner Truth Rededication Ceremony at NVC
March 30, 2023
Northwest Vista College honors abolitionist Sojourner Truth with a rededication of her memorial
20 Year Anniversary of NVC’s Memorial During Women’s History Month
To celebrate Women’s History month and the 20th Anniversary of the Northwest Vista College (NVC) Sojourner Truth Memorial, the college held a rededication ceremony from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Wednesday, Mar. 29, 2023, in the Community Peace Garden adjacent to Manzanillo Hall.
The event included a land acknowledgment, the story of Sojourner Truth, and a reading of the speech Ain’t I A Woman which she delivered at the 1851 Women’s Right Convention in Akron, Ohio.
“Northwest Vista College established this memorial 20 years ago in an effort to honor the work of Sojourner Truth who was an advocate for women’s rights and fought against slavery in the abolitionist movement,” said Interim NVC President Debi Gaitan. “Our commitment to diversity, community and synergy is embedded in our college history, touchstones and our mission to create opportunities for success,” she added.
“This new location for the memorial in the Community Peace Garden provides an area where anyone can come to reflect on Sojourner Truth’s life, activism, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to truth and justice,” said NVC art faculty coordinator and Women’s History Month committee member Rachael Bower.
The ceremony ended with the rededication and a musical ensemble performance of the Black National Anthem Lift Every Voice and Sing. (Watch the video summary below!)
Northwest Vista College (NVC), part of the Alamo Colleges District, is federally designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), an institution of higher learning with a full-time equivalent undergraduate student enrollment that is at least 25% Hispanic. As of Fall 2023, NVC’s Hispanic student enrollment is 66.2%. The college opened in 1995 with 12 students and has grown to one of the largest institutions of higher education in San Antonio and the region with current enrollment over 20,000 students. Located in Westover Hills, NVC’s expanding agreements with business and higher education partnerships provide a wealth of opportunities for students and the community.