2019 has been a whirlwind of excitement for the Merze Tate Explorers. Exclusive interviews with Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth Carter, meetings with state legislators in Washington DC, and a cultural emersion experience in Japan are just some of the many amazing opportunities the Explorers have to celebrate. Student leaders of the Explorers will host the 11th Annual Girls Can! Fundraising Banquet from 6-8 p.m. Friday, October 11, 2019, at Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s Texas Township campus.

alt=””>The celebration will take place on International Day of the Girl for the second year and will include an exhibit competition, highlights from Explorer alumna, and an inspirational address by Dr. Cheryl Dickson of Western Michigan University’s Stryker School of Medicine.

In addition to celebrations of past accomplishments, the Explorers will recognize a new partnership with Kalamazoo Valley Community College that is unique and groundbreaking.

“For the past 11 years we have worked to inspire girls to explore possibilities using media as a tool to educate,” said Sonya Bernard-Hollins, organization founder. “This announcement and others that will be unveiled, will show just how much others value our mission and plan to invest in the future of our girls.”

In addition to the KVCC partnership, other collaborations also will be unveiled and celebrated.

Tickets to the event are $25 each and can be purchased via

PayPal

or Cash App ($merzetate). Deadline to purchase tickets is October 1. For more information call 269-359-7895 or contact@merzetate.org.