REALTALK: Thriving Through Community Panel with Meet & Greet

REALTALK 2024’s theme of “Thriving Through Community” explores the tremendous benefits gained when people actively engage with their communities during college and beyond. The panel discussion features two inspirational, first-generation Cornell alumnae as our guest speakers: Danya Contreras (ENG ‘13) and Michelladonna (Dyson ‘20), both of whom have found strength in and are committed to uplifting the historically marginalized communities of which they are a part.


Danya Contreras (ENG ‘13) is currently in her fourth year at SUNY Upstate Medical University, after which she aspires to practice family medicine to serve underrepresented Latinx communities. During medical school, she has been volunteering with the Eastern Farm Workers Association coordinating health screenings for the farmers of Central NY. As a first-generation student at Cornell, Danya found community in several student organizations including La Asociacion Latina, Quisqueya: The Dominican Students Association, Society of Hispanic Engineers, and the Society of Women Engineers. Danya migrated with her family to the Bronx from the Dominican Republic at the age of six.


Michelladonna (Dyson ‘20) is an actor, writer, comedian, producer and community organizer who creates and hosts fantastically imaginative podcasts, workshops and free pop-up events featuring up & coming Queer and BIPOC performers in New York City, including the “I’m Finna Talk” (@imfinnatalknyc) open mic series and the “Bodega Chat” podcast (@bodegachat). As a first-generation student at Cornell (then known as Michelle Reiss), Michelladonna found her communities within the Business Students of Color Coalition (which she founded), the Dyson Scholars, Les Femmes Des Substance, Cornell Thrift, Pants Improv Comedy, and the LGBT Resource Center.


Both speakers will generously share their personal stories and offer compelling insights about the important lessons they learned & valuable experiences they had at Cornell and how their continued involvement in key communities has helped them achieve remarkable things on their inspirational journeys to fulfill personal and professional goals.

REALTALK is an annual speaker series presented by the Cornell Gender Equity Resource Center (GenEq) and sponsored by the sisters of Delta Gamma (DG). REALTALK’s mission is “to present Relatable, Empowering, Authentic Leaders who share candid, personal stories to engage and inspire the diverse community of women and gender-expansive students at Cornell.” Danya Contreras ‘13

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Tiscia Eicher

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