Source: Doug Benson, 785-532-1926, bensonml@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Sheila Ellis, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
COMMUNITY CULTURAL HARMONY WEEK TO BRING K-STATE, MANHATTAN TOGETHER
MANHATTAN -- Diversity and how it can be achieved is the topic of the 19th annual Community Cultural Harmony Week, Sept. 16-21. The week gives people at Kansas State University and in Manhattan the opportunity to learn about diversity.
The theme of the week, "Building a Diverse, Inclusive Manhattan," offers a chance for people who are invested in the community to open dialog across different cultures, social classes, genders, religions, sexual orientations and disabilities, said Candi Hironaka, associate director of leadership studies at K-State and co-chair Community Cultural Harmony Week.
The week will be full of activities including keynote speakers, art exhibits, panel discussions, film presentations and a scholarship banquet, Hironaka said.
The community effort includes many colleges and departments at K-State, the K-State Student Union, Union Programming Council and the Student Governing Association, as well as the city of Manhattan, Manhattan-Ogden school district and local agencies.
The week was formerly known as Racial/Ethnic Harmony Week, but Hironaka said they changed the name in 2002 to bridge the rich diversity in the community and to encourage people of all backgrounds to participate.
"Community Cultural Harmony Week gives us a chance to celebrate our diversity in all its forms, to understand why diversity is important in our everyday lives, on campus and in future careers," said Doug Benson, professor of modern languages at K-State and co-chair of the week.
Among the week's activities, all free and open to the public unless otherwise noted, include:
Sunday, Sept. 16
* 2 p.m., Community Cultural Harmony Week Rally, including presentations by representatives from the city of Manhattan, USD 383 and K-State, at Triangle Park.
* 3-6 p.m., Underground Railroad Tour with Richard Pitts and the Wonder Workshop, Triangle Park.
* 8 p.m., K-State's Movies on the Grass series presentation of "Yesterday," Coffman Commons in front of Hale Library; pre-events start at 7 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 17
* 8 a.m., "Beyond Grand Street," a Latino art exhibit by Regina Monfort, will be available through Oct. 16 in the Union's Kemper Art Gallery. The exhibit is sponsored by the Union Program Council's Arts Committee and K-State Libraries-Dow Chemical Multicultural Resource Center.
* Noon to 1 p.m., Opening reception for Community Cultural Harmony Week, Union courtyard. Reception is sponsored by the K-State Alumni Association and will feature music by Roots of Rhythm.
* 6:30 p.m., Community Cultural Harmony Week film and discussion, "Three of Hearts: A Postmodern Family," Forum Hall, Union. Film is sponsored by the Union Program Council's Film Committee.
Tuesday, Sept. 18
* Noon, Dialogue on Religion: "Human Rights and Religions of the World," Union courtyard.
* 1-5 p.m., Workshop by Loretta J. Ross, "Reproductive Justice and Human Rights," Manhattan Public Library, 629 Poyntz Ave. Workshop is sponsored by the Lou Douglas Lecture Series on Public Issues. Ross is founder and national coordinator of SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective.
* 7 p.m., Lou Douglas Lecture by Loretta Ross, "Bringing Human Rights Home," Forum Hall, Union.
Wednesday, Sept. 19
* 8 a.m. to noon, United Way of Riley County Day of Caring, a community volunteer project for human service agencies. Volunteers will gather at 8 a.m. at the United Way office, 114 S. 4th St., Manhattan. More information is available by contacting office@unitedwayrc.org or 785-776-3779.
* Noon, Student Panel on Diversity, sponsored by the Tilford/Dow Scholars, American ethnic studies program, the Multicultural Business Student Association and the Union Program Council's Multicultural Committee, Union courtyard.
* 6-7:30 p.m., "Gender Differences," a diversity workshop for students, with Juanita Cox-Burton, director, Institute for Diverse Leadership in Denver, Colo., Union, Room 212.
* 8 p.m., "Tales from the Beijing Opera" by the Kung Fu Theatre, McCain Auditorium. The performance is a series of comic and dramatic scenes from some of China's most popular stories. Told in English and Chinese, it is a combination of music, dialogue, dance, mime and acrobatics. Event is sponsored by the Union Program Council's Multicultural Committee. Tickets are $2 for students with K-State I.D. and $7.50 for the public. For tickets, call the McCain box office at 785-532-6428.
Thursday, Sept. 20
* 10:30 a.m., Huck Boyd Lecture in Community Media, Bill Buzenberg, executive director of the Center for Public Integrity, Washington D.C., Forum Hall, Union.
*1:30-3:30 p.m., Media Professionals Day panel, "Religion and the Media," Room 212, Union. Moderated by Bill Tammeus of the Kansas City Star. Panel is sponsored by K-State's A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
* 4-5:30 p.m., "Gender Differences," a diversity workshop for students, with Juanita Cox-Burton, Forum Hall, Union.
* 7 p.m., Presentation by Suzanne Pharr, Knoxville, Tenn., founder of the Arkansas Women's Project and former director of the Highlander Research and Education Center, second floor, Manhattan Public Library, 629 Poyntz Ave. Presentation is sponsored by the Flint Hills Human Rights Project, the Manhattan Alliance for Peace and Justice, K-State Campaign for Nonviolence and the K-State women's studies program.
Friday, Sept. 21
* Noon, Community Cultural Harmony Week Banquet, Ballroom, Union. Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m. The cost is $12 and reservations should be made by Sept. 17 by contacting greekaffairs@k-state.edu or 785-532-5546.