Several students came to eat, relax and paint at the Diversity Equity Inclusivity Accommodation or the DEIA awareness month sip and paint on Apr. 22.
Though the sip and paint started with only two participants, the event ended with more as people came to grab a plate of food but stayed for the art and community.
“I feel like I never get to be creative,” said Faith Okwuoha, a student who came and participated later in the event.
For the event, sip and paint coordinator and administrative assistant Brianna Pinkerton led participants through the sip and paints prompt.
The prompt was inspired by the poem “The Rose that Grew from the Concrete” by Tupac.
The concrete in the art represents the hardships and challenges that students might face but even through the hardships a rose can grow.
The prompt connected to several of the students.
“As a black queer woman growing up in a gang-impacted environment and being the first of my family to intend higher education, it feels like I’m always defeating the odds,” said Kyshia Hearns.
The sip-and-paint events create a space of peace and creativity that makes people want to come back to each event.
“This is my second sip and paint event…I brought a friend with me this time,” said Monica Barbosa.
The sip and paint events provide a space for people to paint, relax and come together while meeting other people.
Many students were singing along to music while painting and learning about each other.
“These events are always really great to go to,” said Joey Smith.
These sip-and-paint events are something that anyone can enjoy whether one likes to paint or not. It’s a way to come together, meet new people and learn about each other.