Open to All
The public is invited to celebrate and explore diversity and contemporary social justice issues at Highline College, April 23–27, 2018. Now in its 21st year, Unity Through Diversity Week will include free events by a wide range of guest speakers and campus experts.
United by the theme “Breaking Patterns: Our Time Is Now,” the weeklong program looks at the diversity of the south King County community in many forms: race, gender, class, sexual orientation, ability and religion.
Unity Through Diversity Week is sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Center for Leadership and Service, and Highline’s Learning and Teaching Center.
Questions?
Doris Martinez: (206) 592-4319 or dmartinez@highline.edu
Multicultural Affairs: (206) 592-3296 or mca@highline.edu
Event Schedule
All events are free and open to the public and will be held on Highline’s main campus.
Monday, April 23, 2018
11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Lecture presented by Drs. Jared Ball, Mark Bolden and Todd Burroughs: “Agency and Agencies: Black Panther and King Leopold’s Killmonger”
Building 7
1:30–3 p.m.
Workshop presented by Oriana Estrada: “Roots, Rhythm and Raza: Salsa Music and Dance”
Building 8, Mt. Constance Room
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
10–11:30 a.m.
Film screening: “Bottom Dollars”
Building 7
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
1:30–3 p.m.
Lecture presented by Ivanova Smith: “History to True Inclusion and Battles We Still Have to Fight!”
Building 7
Thursday, April 26, 2018
10–11:30 a.m.
Lecture presented by Vanessa Na: “#NotYourWedge: Asian American Student Activism and Transformational Resistance”
Building 7
Friday, April 27, 2018
10–11:50 a.m.
Film screening and panel discussion: “The Gentleman Bank Robber”
Building 7
2–4 p.m.
First Friday Leadership Institute workshop presented by Jerrell Davis: “MANIFEST”
Building 8, Mt. Constance Room
Opening Remarks at 20th Annual Unity Through Diversity Week
As we celebrate the 20th anniversary, it’s more important to reflect on the vision, foundation and intent behind Highline’s Unity through Diversity Week!
I’m proud to say, as the most diverse institution of higher learning in the state, we’ve remained steadfast in our college’s longstanding commitment to embrace diversity, strive for inclusion, equity and appreciation for our differences. While these are values that remain at our core, it’s more important today than ever (given the national climate) that we cannot truly achieve excellence and social justice in higher education without care, compassion, empathy, civility and respect amongst all members of our campus community.
The spirit and intent behind Highline College’s Unity Week was to strengthen, challenge and educate our diverse communities through engagement, collaboration and learning.
But it wasn’t just the programmatic nature of the week; it is the intentional and symbolic commitment to recognize the marginalization and multiple identities of our students, if they are truly going to thrive and reach their academic goals.
Some of you may have heard me over the years refer to Unity Week as Highline’s birthday — a time to celebrate and renew our collective consciousness, dedication and accountability as staff, faculty and administration to promote a culture and climate of inclusion, respect and civility!
I’ve not missed a Unity Week; and incredibly proud and grateful to Multicultural Services for carrying the torch to keeping the legacy of Unity Week alive — and the department’s institutional leadership and voice and recognition of the Intersections of Humanity: Action at the Crossroads.
Thank you to this year’s planning committee, the Student Services Division and critical partners across the college for embracing and demonstrating the core mission and values of unification, solidarity and community.
Toni Castro, Vice President for Student Services
April 24, 2017