The College of Charleston will kick off its 4th Annual Diversity Week on Monday, October 21, 2013. This year’s Diversity Week is organized around the theme of “Building a United Campus Community.” The program will feature several dynamic educational, cultural, social, and outreach events hosted by various departments at the College. It will culminate with Reggae on the Cistern, a free family event for the community. View full schedule.
Below is just a sampling of some of the many events scheduled for the Week:
- The Office of Institutional Diversity (OID) will set the stage for the Week by hosting a kick-off continental breakfast for the College community in Cougar Mall, from 9 a.m. –11 a.m.
- Dr. Melissa Ifill of the University of Guyana will give a presentation on The Intersection between Politics, Ethnicity and Crime in Guyana.
- The Avery Research Center will host the African American History and Culture Resources Tour.
- The African American Studies Program will host a screening of The Rosa Parks Story under its Black Women Film Directors. The screening will be guided by the film director, Director Julie Dash.
- OID, the ROAR Scholars Program, and the Office of Multicultural Student Programs and Services will jointly host a day-long, student-centered Social Justice Action Forum. As part of the Forum, professional facilitators from the Generation Wake Up organization will facilitate a workshop entitled, “The Wake Up.” The College of Charleston students will use the workshop as an opportunity to create social justice related projects for the Spring 2014 CofC Student Diversity Conference in April.
- On Friday, October 25, the Jewish Studies Center will hold its weekly Shabbat Celebration prayer and dinner. This event is open to the community as part of the Diversity Week celebrations.
- Through teaching, singing, games, and ethnic food, the College of Charleston Asian Students Association will host a dynamic cultural event entitled, Let’s Learn an Asian Language, in an effort to promote Asian culture.
Get details for each event. Admission to events is free and open to the public.
Guests are encouraged to bring their blankets to Reggae on the Cistern on October 25, 2013 from 6-8 p.m. for an entertaining night under the stars, complete with free food and giveaways! Music will be provided by Charleston’s own Mystic Vibrations.
[Related: Listen to Mystic Vibrations.]
According to Dr. John Bello-Ogunu, Sr., associate vice president and chief diversity officer, “Diversity has immeasurable educational, cultural, and social benefits, and through community-wide programs such as Diversity Week, members of our College community will be able to explore the different dimensions of diversity while recognizing and appreciating our human similarities at the same time.” Dr. Bello-Ogunu added, “The week-long activities will also help to foster a culture of collective responsibility for the advancement of diversity at the College. Join us in making the world a better place, beginning with our College community!”
This year’s Diversity Week is made possible in part, by a generous grant from the C. A. Dufford, Jr. Estate for the promotion of Diversity at the College of Charleston.
For more information, contact the Office of Institutional Diversity at oid@cofc.edu.
