(Posted October 3, 2011)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Matt Glowacki, a motivational speaker and diversity specialist, will host two workshops at Juniata College designed to confront prejudice and break down stereotypes.

The first workshop, free and open to the public, is "Aren't We All Just a Bit Prejudiced?" at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 12, in Sill Board Room in the von Liebig Center for Science. Glowacki will outline how all human beings tend to pre-judge situations and shares ways to overcome the ignorance associated with such stereotypical behavior. He will detail how to value different types of people and challenge the audience to make friends outside their comfort zone.

The second workshop, "Diversity According to 'Family Guy' and 'South Park,'" is free and open to the public and takes place at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 12 in Sill Board Room. In this session, Glowacki will show how cartoon shows "Family Guy" and "South Park" break down prejudice and stereotyped behavior toward people with differences.

Glowacki is a motivational speaker and diversity consultant who formed his own agency after a corporate career as a sales representative for Lucent Technologies.

Glowacki was born without legs, but has never let his disability define him. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout and managed his own business in high school. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

While in college, Glowacki developed a community awareness program, "What it Takes: Cornerstones for Success," and traveled throughout his home state of Wisconsin delivering the program.

In 1999, Glowacki formed several businesses, including MOGO Wheelchairs and Myriad Communications, his speaking consultancy. A resident of Sun Prairie, Wis., he serves on the Governor's Rehabilitation Council and on the board of the Wisconsin Easter Seals organization.

Glowacki also competes on the U.S. Paralympic team for Sit-Volleyball and participated in the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney, Australia and the 2002 World Championships in Cairo, Egypt. He also currently plays on a traveling wheelchair basketball team.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.