Actress Grace Byers will speak at the President’s Lecture Series 11 a.m. Thursday in Watson fine Arts Center at St. Philip’s. Byers plays Anika Calhoun on “Empire.” Courtesy
Lecture series expected to be uplifting event.
By Sasha D. Robinson
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Grace Byers, who plays Anika Calhoun on the Fox TV series “Empire,” will be a guest speaker at the President’s Lecture Series at 11 a.m. Friday in Watson Fine Arts Center at St. Philip’s College.
The St. Philip’s President’s Lecture Series provides opportunities for the college and community to hear speakers’ perspectives on a broad range of local, regional, national and international issues.
The lectures are provided by the college at no cost to the audience and are designed to attract students, faculty and staff as well as the greater San Antonio community.
Byers shares her personal philosophies with audiences.
She believes in taking the time to be still and become aware of oneself, and to have compassion and grace for one another.
According to articlebio.com, Byers was born Grace Gealey on July 26, 1984, in Butler, Penn.
She grew up in the Cayman Islands with deaf parents who raised her learning sign language.
These challenging experiences made her strong and committed to her dreams.
Byers is involved in “Saving Our Cinderellas,” a movement that empowers young girls and women to stand up against bullying.
Byers addresses social issues such as the discrimination she faced in moving to America, social and cultural adjustments after moving to the U.S. and uplifting one another with the importance of celebrating life in the moment.
The President’s Lecture Series is presented once every fall and spring on the St. Philip’s campus.
Actress and Image Award nominee April Hernandez-Castillo presented the fall lecture Oct. 6, and Levar Burton, who is better known as Geordi La Forge of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and the host of “Reading Rainbow,” was a guest speaker Feb. 11, 2016.
Other guest speakers included a member of the Mississippi Freedom Riders, Daymond John of “Shark Tank” and Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th surgeon general of the U.S.
RSVP for the lecture at www.alamo.edu/spc/pls-rsvp/.
Call Beautrice Butler at 210-486-2670 or email bbutler@alamo.edu.
