The Rev. Liz Walker delivers Wheelock College Commencement address

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The Rev. Liz Walker delivers Wheelock College Commencement address

Walker receives honorary degree alongside Dr. Lisa Wong and Ellen Parker

The Rev. Liz Walker, Pastor of Roxbury Presbyterian Church and Jamaica Plain resident, delivered the Wheelock College undergraduate Commencement address on May 20, 2016. The Rev. Walker, an award-winning journalist and activist for community healing and cross-cultural dialogue, also received an honorary degree from Wheelock at the ceremony.

In her Commencement address, where she exuberantly reminded graduates that this was their day and to “take it all in – let it last all day long,” she also offered insights and reminders for graduates as they enter careers including social work and advocacy.

“I want to tell you that you'd better pace yourselves. You are going to be fighting battles the rest of your life. But the world is getting better,” the Rev. Walker said.

The Rev. Walker also talked about grace – urging the graduates to show someone some grace – and she touched on introducing grace in Roxbury, the community she serves.

“We are trying to introduce the notion of grace to young gang involved men, to court involved women. We are trying to develop the art of hospitality as a way of living and it is a very difficult process. We are trying to get people who are stuck in anger and fear to think of something else,” she said.

“Be angry, be very angry. Change the world,” the Rev. Walker told the graduates. “But show some grace.”

Additional 2016 Wheelock honorary degree recipients included Dr. Lisa Wong, a musician, pediatrician, and lifelong arts advocate – who delivered the graduate ceremony Commencement address; and Ellen Parker, executive director of Project Bread and one of the first and strongest voices to recognize hunger as a public health problem in low income communities.

Wheelock College President Jackie Jenkins-Scott participated in her final Commencement activities, as she concludes her 12-year presidency at Wheelock in June 2016.

Wheelock College – Inspire a World of Good
Since 1888, Wheelock College has known that improving the lives of children and families isn’t always easy – but it’s always worth it. We’re teachers, advocates, social workers, and agents of change—leaders who are committed to changing the world in the heart of Boston and around the world. We prepare students to lead change in any career they choose. We offer 15 undergraduate majors and 22 minors, 9 graduate programs and a multitude of non-degree programs options— all of which inspire a world of good. For more information, visit wheelock.edu.

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