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10/18/2004
Contact:
K.E. Schwab -- 724-738-2199; e-mail:
karl.schwab@sru.edu
SRU TO
HOST FIRST HARAMBEE SUMMIT NOV.5-7 FOR STUDENTS OF
COLOR
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Western Pennsylvania
Diversity Consortium will host its first Harambee Summit on the
Slippery Rock University campus Nov 5-7 as part of an educational
conference geared toward students of color and their allies
allowing them to address issues pertinent to success at
predominantly white colleges and
universities.
The term “Harambee” is most
fitting for a program of this caliber, says DaNine Fleming,
director of SRU’s Office of Intercultural Programs. She
explains “Harambee” is Swahili for
“let's pull together.” Students will come together to
educate themselves on how to contribute to the well-being of their
world and all that is around them which will elevate their minds to
enhance both their inner and outer world and empower them to be
more proactive and strive to live in harmony with those within
their circle and respect the individual differences of
others.
As expressed by the conference theme
“A Revolution for A Revelation,” the summit will
enlighten students of color and their allies so they can be an
asset to a global society, inter- and intraculturally. Fleming
notes it is essential for students of color and their allies to
participate in the summit considering the current state of the
world and higher education as it pertains to students of color,
their families and communities. “Our hope is for students of
color at surrounding institutions in rural western Pennsylvania
will develop a sense of community and know that they are not
alone.”
The summitis a
collaborative effort of the Western Pennsylvania Diversity
Consortium, a network established amongst student affairs
professionals of color at institutions of higher education in
western Pennsylvania. The WPDC serves as a tool to diminish the
psychosocial, educational and cultural isolation of student affairs
professionals of color and students of color in western
Pennsylvania.
Keynote
speakers include the following: Dr. W. Terrell Jones, vice provost
for educational equity at Penn State University; Dr. Deborale
Richardson-Bouie, director of multicultural affairs, Case
Western Reserve University; Kevin Powell,
author/lecturer, hip hop activist; Diane Jefferson, director of
multicultural student affairs, Shippensburg University; and
Dorian Cast, inspirational speaker/minister from Detroit,
Mich.
Workshop topics
will include: Self Empowerment, Spirituality, Inter/Intracultural
Relationships, Economics,
Leadership Development, Career Development, Academic Enhancement,
Political Awareness and Greek Life.
For more information visit www.sru.edu/pages/9301.asp
or call 724-738-2700.
PN, PgN, WPN,
PR, TV, AA
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