Spring 2015 Diversity & Inclusion Booklet

FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE EXCELLENCE

TOP 10 2015

The Office of Cultural Diversity invites you to participate in the Diversity and Inclusion Program Series at west kentucky community & technical colelge.

This program series is a collaboration between the Division of Student Development, Office of Cultural Diversity, Student Multicultural Appreciation Club (MAC), and the Campus Diversity and Inclusion Committee. The programs reflect a commitment to create and maintain a diverse, inclusive, welcoming college environment that reflects the community, workforce, and global society in which we live.

All events are open to students, faculty, staff, & community unless specified.

The program series will heighten awareness that diversity embodies all differences — cultural, cognitive, linguistic, racial, ethnic, geographic,

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January 9 Essay Writing Contest Open to grades K-College 9:30 a.m.

Theme: Justice and Equality for All Grades K – 3 will draw and label a U.S. map on construction paper or posters. Grades 4 – 6 will write a narrative and rhyming poem. Students grade 7 through college write a two to five-page essay, type-written, double-spaced, explaining why it is important for all Americans to learn about and remember the work of Martin Luther King, Jr., work to achieve justice and equality for all. Entries due January 9, 2015. Mail to: Writing Contest K-College P.O. Box 357 Paducah, KY 42002 or drop off at Paducah Independent School Board office or the McCracken County School Board office by January 7, 2015.

Winners will receive money and certificates at each level. A special recognition program will be held in their honor on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at Paducah Middle School.

Sponsors include Paducah - McCracken County NAACP Branch, and AT&T Martin L. King, Jr. Memorial

January 17 Prayer Breakfast 9:30 a.m. Cost: Free Washington Street Baptist Church 721 Washington Street, Paducah, KY The breakfast is an opportunity to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., from dreams to meaningful action and bringing all races, faiths, and backgrounds together to recommit to racial equality, dignity, peace, and justice.

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gender, social, abilities, sexual orientation, and economic — that make us unique individuals. We strive to cultivate a learning environment where all individual differences and perspectives are valued and respected. The programs will support the development of cultural competencies and address aspects of cultural knowledge, awareness, belief systems, sensitivity, and competence.

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January 19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Luncheon 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Cost: Adults $20 Robert Cherry Civic Center Students: $5 2701 Park Avenue, Paducah, KY MLK March from Civic Center to MLK Monument at Martin Luther King Drive The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Luncheon serves as a time to honor and commemorate the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr., an American pastor, activist, humanitarian, and leader in the American Civil Rights Movement.

January 23 Safe Zone Ally Reception 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Anderson Technical Building • Bistro WKCTC Campus Members of the college community provide a Safe Zone to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) student population.

We build trust, support, and a space for celebrating differences, learning, and discovering self-identity. Any LGBT student who experiences challenges will be able to identify safe support systems to build self-confidence and overcome barriers to achievement.

January 28 Obesity, Culture, and Health 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Emerging Technology Center • Room 109 WKCTC Campus The obesity rates of children and adults have increased.

Identifying effective interventions that encourage healthy, eating habits will be taught, and how to stay in shape. Participants will learn how to improve health through exercise. Lifestyles have changed to incorporate our need to keep up with a fast pace.

All events are open to students, faculty, staff, & community unless specified.

The resulting stress combined with our fast food culture creates an obesity epidemic. This session will help identify effective interventions that encourage healthy eating and staying in shape.

Presenters: Tammy Johnson, Nutritionist — Achieve Medical Weight Loss; Greg Vaughn, Fitness Manager — Stay Fit 24 Facilitated by Dr. Belinda A. Dalton-Russell, Vice President of Student Development

January – May: Every Wednesday Getting Ahead in a Just Getting By World 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Anderson Technical Building • Room 142 WKCTC Campus No seminars during spring break or finals week.

January – June: Every Third Tuesday, Monthly Interracial Women’s Group 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

McCracken County Library • 2nd Floor 555 Washington Street, Paducah, KY The Interracial Women’s Group (IWG) promotes positive sisterhood and unity among sisters irrespective of their ethnic, religious, political, nationality, social, or cultural backgrounds.

The group cultivates a social environment to foster ethical values, appropriate conduct, and respect for each other and culture, and raises awareness of community needs and solutions. Meeting locations occassionally vary. Contact Amanda Wilson, president, at amanda.wilson22@uky.edu.

The seminar series covers how to use hidden rules of class to build up financial, emotional, social and other resources.

Understanding the middle class rules and wealth of the middle class can open doors if you know how to use them. Knowledge can create a mind shift and enable those unfamiliar of the rules to gain success.

Presenter: Jennifer Etherton, coordinator of Work to Learn

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February 4 Heart Disease: Women’s Number One Health Threat — A Wake-Up Call Workshop 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Crounse Hall • Room 101 WKCTC Campus A mother and daughter will heighten the awareness of heart disease as the number one cause of death in American women.

Chevene Duncan-Herring is a heart attack survivor and member of the American Heart Association (AHA) Greater Southeast Affiliate. She understands the importance of raising awareness of heart disease, after surviving a heart attack at age of 34, and eleven years later surviving triple bypass heart surgery. As a heart survivor and advocate for women, Chevene knows and understands the signs and symptoms related to heart disease. Chevene encourages other women to live heart healthy life styles by sharing her inspiring heart story. Verneda Herring, a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, will discuss how important it is for women to have ongoing dialogue with their medical providers related to heart issues to determine their risk level.

Presenters: Chevene Duncan-Herring, WKCTC Student Success Coach and Verneda Herring, FNP-BC, Agape Family Wellness Clinic

All events are subject to change.

February 13 Blind Boys of Alabama 7:30 p.m. • Adults $25 • Students & Children $15 Clemens Theatre WKCTC Campus Blind Boys of Alabama, a gospel music tradition, first sang together in 1944 at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind.

Five-time Grammy winners, the group features eight musicians, including four blind singers. Original member Jimmy Carter is still touring with the group and going strong! Watch for their latest album, I’ll Find a Way, produced by Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon.

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February 18 Chinese New Year Celebration — Year of the Sheep 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Student Center WKCTC Campus All WKCTC students, faculty, and staff are invited to celebrate with us. Activities planned include a performance and information about the year of the sheep, table with someone to translate English names to Chinese, presentation about tea culture and a demonstration of how to make South Korean Sushi.

Presenter: BiLan Liao, Associate Professor, Paducah School of Art & Design (PSAD)

February 22 Super Sunday (Fifth Year Celebration) Morning Service: 10:45 a.m.

New Greater Love Missionary Baptist Church / Just By Faith Ministries 1249 North 12th Street, Paducah, KY Each year the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), and each of its 16 colleges partner with African-American and Hispanic churches throughout the state to host college information fairs for prospective college students and their families. The fair heightens awareness of the value of education, encourages early planning, parent and community involvement.

Cecil Barnett, project manager, architectural engineer, designer, and WKCTC graduate will be recognized as a 2015 Super Sunday Hall of Fame recipient. Personal testimonies of student achievements will also be shared.

Samuel Hawkins, former special programs specialist Oscar Cross Boys and Girls Club, is the recipient of the 2015 WKCTC Diversity & Inclusion committee Diversity Award. Mr. Hawkins is a poet, performer, advocate and author of This is why Kids Wanna Stay Up Late.

College Fair and meal immediately following morning service

February 25 Jabali Afrika 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Student Center WKCTC Campus

Jabali is Kiswahili (Kenya’s national language) for “Rock.” Jabali Afrika, from east Africa’s Kenya, is a truly multi-faceted group with its own unique mixture of fusion and African rhythms.

Original compositions and traditional African rhythms come alive on a wide variety of instruments, accompanied by vocal harmonies that form the foundation of modern rock, jazz, blues and more!

Add talented dancing and choreography, topped off with stunning traditional African tribal costumes, and you have a multicultural experience.

Facilitated by Amy Elmore, Coordinator of Student Development

February 26 Dancing with Starfish 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Starfish Orphan Ministry 1000 Broadway, Paducah, KY Join Starfish Orphan Ministry and WKCTC Service Learning as they team together to host Dancing with Starfish. Come support local figures in a Dance-Off ... Latin style! Start the night off with appetizers, a silent auction and salsa lessons. Finish the eventing with a salsa Dance-Off! Students and college employees will team up and compete for votes. All proceeds benefit Service Learning/ Starfish El Salvador Service Learning trip.

Event sponsored by: WKCTC Service Learning and Starfish Orphan Ministry

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All events are open to students, faculty, staff, & community unless specified.

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March 2 In My Shoes: Families Brought Together through Adoption 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Crounse Hall • Room 101 WKCTC Campus Nearly every adoptive parent at some time will be asked, “Do you have any of your own children?” Someone who has been adopted has likely been asked, “Why did your real parents give you away?” or “How much did your parents have to pay for you?” And though these questions probably were not meant to be hurtful, chances are they were. According to the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, around 2% of the U.S. population under 18 is adopted. Chances are that you know someone who is adopted or someone who has adopted children. Sometimes conversations about adoption can be a little tricky, so it’s important to educate ourselves about adoption.

This panel discussion will include both adoptive parents and people themselves who were adopted. Panelists will share their experiences and their advice. A short question-answer time will follow the discussion.

Facilitated by Kim Russell, English Program Coordinator

March 4 Domestic Violence Doesn’t Discriminate 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Emerging Technology Center • Room 109 WKCTC Campus Mary Foley, Executive Director of Merryman House, will define domestic violence. The impact of violence affects the physical, emotional, and financial well-being of victims and families. The Merryman House provides support services to assist families in rebuilding their lives and confidence. Some services include counseling, employment assistance, and safe shelter.

Presenter: Mary Foley, Executive Director of Merryman House Moderated by Dr. Belinda A. Dalton-Russell, Vice President of Student Development

March 6 WKCTC Success Connection Mentoring Program / Service Learning Luncheon 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Anderson Technical Building • Bistro WKCTC Campus Invitation Only Recognizing mentors and volunteers. Sharing success stories, networking.

Coordinated by Office of Student Development

All events are subject to change.

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March 9 WKCTC Student Development Leadership & Recognition Luncheon 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. • Invitation Only Anderson Technical Building • Bistro WKCTC Campus

Recognizing student leaders and organizations.

Coordinated by Office of Student Development

March 28 Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story 3:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Adults $25 • Students & Children $15 Clemens Theatre WKCTC Campus The world’s most successful rock ‘n’ roll musical continues to thrill audiences around the world! Buddy tells the story of Buddy Holly through his short yet spectacular career, and features the classic songs: Peggy Sue, That’ll Be The Day, Not Fade Away, Oh Boy, Ritchie Valens’ La Bamba, The Big Bopper’s Chantilly Lace and more!

Poverty-Mindedness WKCTC Channel 2 • Paducah2.org The date and time of this series will be determined at a later date.

Being poverty-minded can be defined as having a self-defeating mindset and way of thinking that keeps a person mentally, emotionally, financially, and socially in shackles. Povertymindedness perpetuates poverty as a way of life and an unchangeable circumstance. Some who break out of the cycle, despite wealth and education, find themselves still questioning their self-worth which may in turn perpetuate behaviors learned during their poverty experience. Dr. Belinda A. Dalton-Russell will interview WKCTC students about their struggle with poverty-mindedness.

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April 2 Hope Unlimited Family Care Center 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

Emerging Technology Center • Room 109 WKCTC Campus Hope Unlimited Family Care Center began during 1989 in Paducah, KY with an emphasis on expectant mothers. Services have been expanded to include engaging fathers in the parenting process and adding a care facility in Metropolis IL. Staff at the Paducah and Metropolis locations provide faith based hope to individuals and families including making responsible choices, pregnancy, planned parenthood, post-abortion trauma, sexual purity, adoption, under-employment or unemployment.

Presenter: Aida Vega, Executive Director Moderated by Alvin Moore, Coordinator of Institutional Effectiveness

April 8 Service Learning Abroad in El Salvador 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Matheson Library • Reading Room WKCTC Campus WKCTC students will share reflections on service learning experiences abroad in El Salvador. The discussion topics may include self-awareness, world injustice, relationship building, privileges, poverty, and understanding hardships and joys from others reality. Students express what is at the heart of service learning and recognize how to use their talents and knowledge to create a better world.

Coordinated by Carolyn Perry, WKCTC Associate Professor

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April 24 Feet Don’t Fail Me Now 7:30 p.m. • Adults $25 • Students & Children $15 Clemens Theatre WKCTC Campus Feet Don’t Fail Me Now is rapid-fire tap dance, high spirited humor, and finger-snapping tunes. Accompanied by a full band, the show treats the audience to a wildly creative experience! You have to see it to believe it! Rhythmic Circus will conduct a tap dance workshop on April 24, 2015. For information, email gail. robinson@kctcs.edu.

April 26 McCracken County Community Career Endowment, Inc. (MCCCE) 2015 Educational Assistance Scholarship Program Reception 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Emerging Technology Center • Room 109 WKCTC Campus The Paxton Scholars Program enhances student self-esteem, parent or guardian advocacy, peer and mentor interaction, maintenance and improvement of academic performance and preparation for college transition, all of which are unique challenges that African American students face. Selected scholars receive college scholarship funds based on grade-point averages during their junior and senior years of high school and through the first two semesters of college. A college suitable laptop computer will also be presented to the scholars upon high school graduation in 2016.

All events are open to students, faculty, staff, & community unless specified.

M Identifying Barriers Experiencing Success WKCTC Channel 2 The date and time of this series will be determined at a later date. It will be available at: Paducah2.org Identifying student barriers and support systems that help them succeed through student panel interviews and discussion.

Interviewed by Dr. Belinda A. Dalton-Russell, Vice President of Student Development

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June 11 - 19 West Kentucky Identifying Needs Guiding Success (WINGS) Summer College Preparation Program The program remains committed to assist African-Americans, Hispanics, Latinos, and underrepresented students with matriculation from middle school to high school and high school to post-secondary education. The Summer 2015 College Prep Program at WKCTC is scheduled June 11-19, 2015. It will expose 7th and 8th graders to enrichment in areas such as math, science, history, technology, engineering, and career development.

It also supports the development of cultural competencies

All events are subject to change.

A Y Persisting in the Face of Adversity WKCTC Channel 2 The date and time of this series will be determined at a later date. It will be available at: Paducah2.org Discussion of personal adversities that impede success and emotional and education support that inspire achievement.

Moderated by Dr. Belinda A. Dalton-Russell, Vice President of Student Development

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and addresses aspects of cultural knowledge, awareness, belief systems, sensitivity, and competence. As an integral part of the instructional program, there is a planned one night field trip.

The strong connection between the curriculum and field trip will allow students to expound on the lesson objectives by bringing lessons to life. Students will learn firsthand from experiences.

The trip will include a Governor’s Minority Scholarship College Preparation Program (GMSCPP) two day statewide conference held at Murray State University, Murray, KY, on June 1516, 2015. Students will reside in a residence hall and become acquainted to college life.

Coordinated by Justin Hill, College Counselor / Student Success Coach; Sponsored by the Office of Cultural Diversity

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West Kentucky Identifying Needs Guiding Success

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION PROGRAM SERIES Office of Cultural Diversity Goals • Foster a welcoming, safe, and inclusive environment for all WKCTC stakeholders (students, employees and community members).

• Promote respect for and appreciation of differences in ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, ability, sexual orientation, religion, social and economic status through education.

• Provide resources and support to increase retention, graduation, and transfer rates.

• Prepare our campus and community to live and work successfully in a global society.

Sponsors • • • •

Office of Cultural Diversity Division of Student Development Multicultural Appreciation Club (MAC) Diversity & Inclusion Committee

Contact Information Dr. Belinda Dalton-Russell Vice President of Student Development/ Director of Cultural Diversity Office of Cultural Diversity Anderson Technical Building, Room 204.

4810 Alben Barkley Drive P.O. Box 7380 Paducah, KY 42002-7380 belinda.dalton-russell@kctcs.edu 270-534-3081 Tamara K. Hodges Sr. Administrative Assistant for Student Development tamarak.hodges@kctcs.edu 270-534-3069

WKCTC is an equal educational and employment opportunity institution.

Partnerships • Achieve Medical Weight Loss • Arts in Focus • Graves County Middle School • Hope Unlimited Family Care Center • Interracial Women’s Group in Paducah, KY • Just By Faith Ministries and New Greater Love Baptist Church • McCracken County Community Career Endowment, Inc. • Merryman House • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) • Paducah City Middle School • Professional Organizational Development (POD) • Reidland Middle School • Star Orphan Ministry • Stay Fit 24 • WKCTC Matheson Library • WKCTC Student Ambassador Program • WKCTC TV Production Department A Special Thank You to WKCTC… • Administrative Services • Diversity & Inclusion Committee • Kim Russell • Multicultural Appreciation Club (MAC) • Matheson Library Staff • Maria Flynn • Mary Beth Head • POD • Public Relations • Tom Butler