| |
I remember Sesame Street
when it initially aired and what a
landmark it was due to its implementation of multicultural
education. One of the first daily words on that show was cooperation:
the need for all of us to cooperate. Multiculturalism is not
a choice; it is everyone’s responsibility and reality—we
live in a multicultural world. We can respond to this multicultural
reality in different ways, but the reality remains no matter
how we might choose to respond to it. This year’s Hispanic
Awareness Month was a great example of programming that encouraged
exploring ourselves, our beliefs, our values and the impact
we have on others in our daily lives. The Migration project
was an exemplary model of the cooperation and collaboration
of many groups of people who came together to share Latino/a
stories. By connecting academics, student service programming,
and community-driven organizations, an ongoing exhibition
and research center for Latino/a Studies have become possible.
When we share our stories, our needs, and our dreams, the
quality of our lives is enriched. We thank the Latino/a community
for including the Center in this project. We thank the Latino/a
community for making the month of April one of Cooperation,
Consciousness, Connections, Collaboration, and Communities.
I would also like to take this opportunity to also update
the community on the progress of the Multicultural Center
(MCC). I would like to announce that we now have in place
the Faculty/Staff Advisory Committee. The 2002/03 Student
Advisory Committee is in the process of forming, the Associate
Director of the MCC has been hired, Rebecca Nelson, and programming
for next year has begun to be explored. We are continuing
to encourage participation in the process and progress by
having Town Meetings at Residence Halls. We are also exploring
ways to collaborate with First Year Success and Experience.
Come on up to the 4th floor of Ohio Union—visit the offices,
become familiar with the programming—be active. It is
through your stories, celebrations, pain, anger, knowledge,
hopes, dreams, traditions, heritage, and cultures, that differences
are not just tolerated but cultivated as a spark to human
creativity.
Christine Ballengee-Morris, Ph.D.
Interim Director, Multicultural Center
Associate Professor
442 Ohio Union
614-688-8449
|
|
