St. Ambrose University will celebrate diversity and the legacy of its first African American professor, Dr. Freeman Pollard, on March 24 at the annual Freeman Pollard Breakfast.
This annual event raises awareness and funds for the Freeman Pollard Minority Scholarship and helps St. Ambrose create a campus community that reflects the global society.
Maria Ontiveros will provide the keynote address. She is president of Mercado on Fifth, a nonprofit that celebrates culture and connects and fosters community via a weekly, summertime outdoor market and activities focused on Latin music, food, and art.
Mercado on Fifth helps new minority-owned businesses succeed by providing vendor space, free small business workshops, micro-grants, and was the catalyst for a neighborhood commercial kitchen. It provides free booth space to nonprofit organizations and summer enrichment activities for children in order to empower, educate, and engage all residents.
Maria Ontiveros and her philanthropic grandfather, Bob Ontiveros, founded the Mercado in 2016. It is located on the edge of downtown Moline and the Floreciente neighborhood, where Bob Ontiveros grew up.
During the breakfast, alumni and students will also share how the Freeman Pollard Scholarship made the dream of a college education a reality.
This free event begins at 7:30 a.m. and is open to the public. To register, or for more information, contact Advancement Executive Administrative Assistant Kris Burt by email or (563) 333-6286.
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