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K-State Today

September 20, 2011

Community Cultural Harmony Week promotes diversity, encourages celebration and reflection

Submitted by Communications and Marketing

Kansas State University and the Manhattan community are celebrating Community Cultural Harmony Week through Sept. 24.

The week was established by Barbara Baker in 1988. Her goal was to develop a more equitable and just community.

Scott Jones, co-organizer of Community Cultural Harmony Week and assistant dean of student life, said Baker's vision is as relevant today as it was in 1988 and his goal is to encourage the community to participate as much as possible.

"Community Cultural Harmony Week is an opportunity for us to come together, better understand different perspectives and to share a commitment to improve the quality of our experiences," Jones said. "Bringing diverse people and ideas together is a part of learning experiences. This week is a chance to learn through celebration and reflection."

All Community Cultural Harmony Week events are free and open to the public and include:

* Tuesday, Sept. 20, the Huck Boyd Lecture in Community Media will feature Wilma Moore-Black, assistant director and curriculum coordinator of the TRIO Communication Upward Bound program at Wichita State University, who will present "Promoting Pre-College Programs in Our Communities" at 10:30 a.m. in the K-State Student Union's Forum Hall. The Lou Douglas Lecture on Public Issues will be at 7 p.m. in Forum Hall. Ali Noorani will present "Defining a New Consensus on Immigrants in America."

* Wednesday, Sept. 21, the Wonder Workshop will present "Underground Railroad Bus Museum" from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the union's Bosco Plaza. This workshop brings to life the history of slavery in Kansas with the use of hands-on interactive and audiovisual technologies. Farid Al-Salim, assistant professor of history, will present "The Fall of the Wall of Fear: the Arab Spring in North Africa and the Middle East" at 7 p.m. in the union's Little Theater.

* Thursday, Sept. 22, The Community Cultural Harmony Week awards banquet will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the union's Cottonwood Room. An ice cream social will be from 3 to 5 p.m. in the union's Room 212. The social will promote SafeZone: New and Returning Ally Networking, with the first 100 allies will receive free Call Hall ice cream. A lecture by Sarah Barr, student attorney, will look at legal issues in the U.S. at 6:30 p.m. in the International Student Center.

* Friday, Sept. 23, a Campaign for Nonviolence rally will be from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the union courtyard. The rally will feature a panel discussion at noon on the repeal of Manhattan's antidiscrimination ordinance.

More information on Community Cultural Harmony Week is available at http://k-state.edu/cchw/.