Central Carolina Community College
PA-4: Diversity and Equity Coordination

To acknowledge and increase the depth of awareness of diverse cultures, values, and lifestyles represented on campus and in the surrounding community.

In the 2010-2011 academic year Central Carolina Community College provided three different cultural awareness activities through professional development opportunities. During the month of October, the professional development day keynote speaker, which was open to all faculty and staff, focused on diversity, the definition of diversity and how to work well with people from different backgrounds. During the month of February, we invited faculty, staff and students to two events: a play, Blood Done Sign My Name, that focused on race relations during the 1970’s in North Carolina and a conversation entitled “Different Does not Mean Deficient”. Additionally, we communicate to faculty, staff and students other cultural awareness event that takes place within our service areas of Lee, Harnett and Chatham that are not sponsored by the college. In 2012-2013, the diversity club put on an event for Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15). During activity day in Lee County, we invited a group from the local Catholic church to cook authentic Latin cuisine and students made pinantas. We repeated the event at the Student Center on the Pittsboro campus. We also invited a young lady to come and teach salsa dancing and students and staff turned out for that event. In October 2012, MADE invited former WBA Boxing champion, James "Bone-crusher" Smith to inspire students to stay in school, discussing his challenges and his wins in the ring. The following month for Native American History, a Native American student enrolled in my SOC 210 course, Christina Hill, conducted an hour-long workshop highlighting cultural traditions of her tribe, including regalia, artifacts, and dances. There were about 35-40 people in attendance. In February of the following semester, I lectured on the History of Hip-Hop from 1978-1998 in the Civic Center. There were about 50 people in attendance. I conducted the lecture on the Pittsboro Campus as well, to a classroom of about 15 students and staff.