The Wayne County Community College District’s (WCCCD) School of Continuing Education presents “A Motivational Conversation with Dr. Cornel West” on Thursday, Oct. 1.

West has been proclaimed as one of America’s few leading public intellectuals and will meet with WCCCD students from across the District at the Downtown Campus to lead a discussion on hope. An author, activist, pastor, social critic, and professor of Religion and African American Studies at Princeton University, hope is also the focus of his latest book “Hope on a Tightrope.”  This student conversation with West will explore how we can all envision hope for the future and launches the 2009- 2010 speaker series sponsored by the School of Continuing Education and the WCCCD Office of Student Activities.

In June, Dr. Cornel West served as the 2009 WCCCD commencement  speaker. During his remarks he noted a relationship with the District as “an opportunity to be part of an important community of learners and scholars.” That commitment has been demonstrated over the years in the many visits to the District to share commentary, lectures and participate in public events on topical issues confronting the region, the nation and international communities.

WCCCD School of Continuing Education offers a wide variety of courses, workshops, seminars and professional development programs for those living and working in southeast Michigan.

To view the schedule of program offerings, visit the School of Continuing Education at www.wcccd.edu or call (313) 496-2704 for more information.

Ladies First Entertainment announces open call auditions for their upcoming touring theatre and film projects.

A single voice speaking out, a lone gesture of kindness or a solitary act of good will – the power of one is impactful. And now during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, it’s an ideal time to look at what each one of us can do to bring the serious subject of domestic violence to light.

Domestic violence does not discriminate. It’s an epidemic that affects individuals in every community, regardless of age, gender, economic  status, race, religion or educational background. While men are not immune to this issue, statistics show that 23.6 percent of women report at least one lifetime episode of intimate-partner violence. That’s a sister, a mother or a daughter you may know who is a victim or who has been affected by domestic violence.

Although we can’t stop domestic violence overnight, we can work to shift the statistics in a positive direction. Major social change starts small. It’s as simple as an individual deciding to take action. Good deeds are contagious.

All it takes is one. One person to donate his or her old wireless phone to HopeLine, Verizon Wireless’ phone recycling and reuse program. The no longer used phone — quite possibly stored and forgotten— not only represents an opportunity to help give a victim a connection to support or emergency services, but also a link to friends, family and potential employers.

Donating phones is simple. HopeLine collects old wireless phones, batteries and accessories from any wireless service provider at Verizon Wireless Communications stores nationwide or by mail using the postage-paid label available at www.verizonwireless.com/hopelinemailinglabel.

If every person reading this gave just one phone and others did the same, imagine the positive impact we could make in the lives of domestic violence victims.

Each of us has an opportunity to take action and help break the cycle of violence. Remember the only activity too small is the act of doing nothing at all. Every phone counts. So grab your old phone, spread the word and visit a Verizon Wireless store or mail in your old phone and make a difference in October.

Victor Mack is Verizon Wireless’ director of retail sales for Michigan. For 14 years, Verizon Wireless has devoted its community service efforts to domestic violence awareness and prevention through the company’s HopeLine program.

For more information on HopeLine, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.