After nearly 40 years serving students, staff and faculty, at the University of Missouri, Laura "The Matriarch" Hacquard is retiring this fall. To honor Laura for the lives she has enriched (and saved), celebrate, and support her on her next journey, I want us all to give what we can and share this fund. We are also collecting stories, photos and thanks for a digital card; visit our Celebration site. When I asked Laura what she was most worried about regarding retirement she shared she wasn't too sure what she would do every day. This makes sense to me knowing that nearly every day of the past four decades she has come to campus to work for social justice. Laura also said that she wanted to make sure she had enough retirement income to "continue to support the organizations and causes I care about." And then she made me promise I wouldn't make too big a deal about it or cause a ruckus...oops...so hopefully we can get this big, digital "Congrats!" card together before she finds out. Personally, I'd love to make sure the woman who has given her every day to support others does not have to worry about her future. I'd like to make sure she and her partner, Candy, are able to pay off their mortgage, etc. so they are set up for the long run... but of course, what came to Laura's mind first was giving back and probably buying kitty food to feed all the community cats she takes in. Laura has dedicated her life to serving those who pass through Mizzou, the Mid-Missouri community, and even statewide and national efforts to end violence on college campuses and support survivors. She founded the MU LGBTQ Resource Center in 1995 and the MU Relationship & Sexual Violence Center (formerly Rape Education Office) in 1987 and leads these spaces and their programming and organizations to this day. She's received the National Sexual Violence Resource Center Visionary Voice Award. She's created decades of campus programming and trainings for students, staff, and faculty. She's advocated behind the scenes for ongoing scholarships for underrepresented students, food access programs, inclusive prayer and meditation spaces, full-time staff to run social justice centers, better policies to keep students safe, and campus lactation/family rooms. She creates a bridge between the Columbia community and the campus. I only know the tip of the iceberg of what institutional change she has made through her influence, persistence, and advocacy. It's nearly impossible to get any information from Laura about the programs and funds she has created because she prefers to make change behind the scenes while giving other people the spotlight. (I'm going to be in so much trouble for making this call to action...) She has only ever bragged to me about her famous Women in the Arts Reception Punch recipe. All the other cards she humbly holds close to her chest. And it's hard to know the ripple effect of the people who have learned from or been supported by Laura's programming, advocacy, or funding; and then passed on those learnings, created safer spaces, or simply existed in their circle of influence wherever they went afterward. She has made the world a kinder place. So keep passing this on and visit our Celebration Site to share your favorite memory. Additional Background about Laura and the fund organizer: The recipient: Via the IDE site - Laura Hacquard is currently the Director of the Department of Social Justice at the University of Missouri. In her role, she works with the five MU Social Justice Centers: Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center, LGBTQ Resource Center, Multicultural Center, RSVP Center and Women’s Center. Hacquard assists in coordinating the Citizenship@Mizzou program, serves as co-chair of MU’s Food Insecurity Task Force and sits on the SIPV (Sexual & Intimate Partner Violence) Task Force, USART (University Sexual & Relationship Violence Response Team), SFCIC (Student Fee Capital Improvement Committee) and the Family Friendly Task Force. Organizer: Suzy Day is the former Women's Center Coordinator (2009-2013) and Center for Social Justice Support Staff (2008-09). Suzy found the MU Women's Center around 2004 as an undergraduate student and later was able to work as a WC Student Staff Member; that's when she first met Laura Hacquard. Laura changed Suzy's life forever and continues to be the Matriarch of her chosen family.
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