On a recent afternoon, students gathered in the Patriots’ Casa Ceremony Room were asked to pair off and identify a difference and a similarity between each other. After, the pairs were asked to think of a campus or community issue both parties care about and use their differences and similarities to come up with a solution.
“Because of our unique differences in our lived experiences, in areas of expertise, in interests, we can be assets to one another and to help build effective coalitions and to make advancements toward our shared goal,” Aeriel Ashlee said.
Aeriel and her husband Kyle, also known as The Social Justice Couple, spoke to this group of students about differences, common experiences and letting go of an “us versus them,” mentality on April 17.
After meeting in 2011, they married in 2013 and founded Ashlee Consulting one year later. Together, the authors travel around the country to speak on social justice.
The Speakers Series, a string of events hosted by the Office of First Year Experience, was created as part of the Common Experience to “create an intellectual conversation across campus,” according to Kat Whitaker, coordinator of University 101 programs.
Senior biology major Alyssa Lilly said that the event brought to light the importance of working together.
“It reinforces the idea that people can do more together than they can separately. The things that make us different make us who we are, but the things that make us similar can make us strong too.”
The Social Justice Couple were invited to campus because, “they had presentation topics that related to the Common Experience theme: Exploring Intersections of Identity in Our Diverse World,” Whitaker said.
“I hope that students who attend this event walk away learning how to let go of us versus them and the ways they can find commonalities with others,” Whitaker said.
Aeriel focused on the damaging effects of forming judgment only on differences. She also made sure that listeners don’t lose their individualities.
“It’s important to acknowledge that differences are important. The fact that I identify as an Asian-American, cisgendered woman is important to me,” Aeriel said.
By acknowledging differences and similarities in personal views and experiences, collaborators can come together and create something unique. The Ashlees are a perfect example of this.
Aeriel, a religious, Asian-American woman, and Kyle, a caucasian male who identifies as spiritual, have collaborated as consulting partners, authors, public speakers and as husband and wife.
With backgrounds in higher education and student affairs work, Kyle was often asked to reach out to fraternity members and athletes, while Aeriel worked more with students of color.
Their differences gave them access to different areas of a student population. Their shared passion for social justice allows them to work as a team. Their commonalities and differences make them a strong team.
