Illinois State University’s Brown Ballroom at the Bone Student Center filled with laughter, conversation and inspiration Monday evening as students, faculty and community members gathered for a cultural dinner featuring Broadway actor Javier Muñoz. Best known for his starring roles in “Hamilton” and “In the Heights,” Muñoz shared personal stories and lessons from his journey as an artist. The evening included a pre-dinner meet and greet, a keynote dinner address and a post-dinner Q&A where attendees had the chance to ask questions, get autographs and take photos with the actor. “The journey of an artist is a solo journey. [People] cannot compare it to anyone else. They just can’t; it’s impossible,” Muñoz said. Muñoz spoke openly about his independence, his health and his determination to live authentically. “If [people] don’t drop down to listen … to know their ‘why,’ they’re not going to find where they’re meant to be,” Muñoz said. “We all find the things that belong to us, but we also have to be ready for that.” University Housing Services Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications Hillary Campos said the event was meaningful. “It was great. We take a lot of pride in it,” Campos said. “It’s really rewarding when we’re able to bring someone like Javier to campus.” Campos added that cultural dinners “bring ISU’s community together … students, faculty and town residents. Having these groups exposed to powerful messages in a diverse setting is important.” Sophomore special education major Sascha Rubens said she enjoyed “collaborating with other ethnicities and backgrounds and just getting to know them.” Nia Nance-Cannon, a sophomore acting and communication double major, appreciated Muñoz’s honesty. “Something that definitely stood out to me was during the Q&A. Javier was very open about his health journey and how these things make him up as a person,” Nance-Cannon said. “I like how these events are open to everyone, not just students or a specific department.” For senior acting major Brandon Ndagijimana, meeting Muñoz was a dream come true. “I loved ‘Hamilton’—it’s one of my favorite musicals ever. When I heard about him being in ‘In the Heights’ and ‘Hamilton,’ it was a no-brainer. I had to come,” Ndagijimana said. “It impacted me because I attended the pre-dinner and talked to him about his story and his passion for theater, and it’s something I want to do.” “He’s involved in all these avenues of theater and TV, and it encourages me. I want to sing and dance and do all these things,” Ndagijimana continued. “Hearing how he worked through challenges and still stayed true to himself makes me feel like I can do the same. Learning about his story helps me believe in myself.” The cultural dinner was part of ISU’s ongoing effort to promote inclusion and celebrate diverse voices through art, dialogue and community engagement.