By Edna Horton/reporter

Humanities students on NW Campus are finding their voices.

Kim Jackson, associate professor of humanities, will present the Creative Voice Symposium Nov. 19 with guest speaker Natasha Carrizosa.

The “voice” in the title is an acronym for “visions that open and inspire creativity and excitement.” Jackson said the symposium is a time when her Humanities 1301 students can open up and tell their stories to an audience the way they want to be heard.

“I call it an intellectual debutante ball, a coming-out party,” she said. “Many of them are speaking for the very first time, and that can be very scary.”

Jackson’s class has had this symposium as its focus for the semester. The topics include religion, gender issues labeling children ADD or ADHD and new ways to deal with depression. The projects are in line with the students’ professional goals, and some speech classes will attend to offer a critique.

Jackson said if her students want to get published after the presentations, she can help them find the right resources. She said in the past, students have been able to get jobs from their presentations. Her goal is to get her students to be creative by finding a new way to express an old view.

Carrizosa wrote Mejiafircana and The Dreamcatcher, spoken word CDs. She has appeared on stage with Maya Angelou, Jill Scott and Erykah Badu. Jackson said she chose Carrizosa because she uses her voice.

“I picked people in the community, people I know that encourage others to use their voice,” she said.

The event is 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in WSTU 1303/1305. This is a free event, and food will be provided. For more information, contact Jackson at kim.jackson@tccd.edu.