Stephen F. Austin State University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs will launch its annual Diversity Week beginning at 11 a.m. Monday, April 2. The week will feature social and educational programs that celebrate various aspects of diversity and multiculturalism through meaningful dialogue within the SFA community.
The Diversity Week kickoff event will feature activities that promote cultural awareness. It will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 2 at the Baker Pattillo Student Center Plaza.
Veronica Beavers, director of OMA, hopes Diversity Week encourages students to celebrate diversity, multiculturalism and social justice throughout the year.
“The reason we celebrate diversity week is to educate students on the different aspects of diversity at SFA. We host a variety of programs to help make students aware of the different resources and events that the Office of Multicultural Affairs offers and to give students a specific week to celebrate their own personal culture.”
OMA has several other events planned.
Lumberjack Cultural Association Festival
The Lumberjack Cultural Association Festival will take place at 6 p.m. Monday, April 2, at the Baker Pattillo Student Center Plaza. The festival will feature food, games and prizes. In addition, representatives from organizations endorsed by OMA will be present to discuss their offerings.
OMA Peace Meal
OMA’s annual Peace Meal will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, at the Yellow House Christian Student Center, located at 201 E. College St. Individuals will have the opportunity to dine together while discussing issues that pertain to their diverse communities.
During the meal, Olmeca, a prolific writer and producer who has been featured on BBC London, Huffington Post, CNN Latino and more, will speak. Olmeca has toured Canada, Latin America and Europe, and he has helped spawn a new trend of bilingual hip-hop music. His work focuses on social commentary and community efforts that intersect various identities and demographics.
Pieces of SFA
Students will have the opportunity to paint their own canvas in order to demonstrate how each person’s diversity helps create the larger Lumberjack story.
The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Spirit Lounge.
Diversity Poetry Slam
Sha’condria “iCON” Sibley, a nationally acclaimed championship poet and spoken word artist, will perform a piece during OMA’s Diversity Poetry Slam, which begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center theater. Along with Sibley, students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to perform poetry, music and spoken word. This competition includes a cash prize for the winner.
Cultural Scavenger Hunt
OMA’s Cultural Scavenger Hunt will conclude Diversity Week at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 5, in the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Teams will compete against one another to discover various cultures through an Amazing Race-Esque Scavenger Hunt for cash prizes and more. To compete, register at https://sfasu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_78mb9jwd8TBqS6V by March 30.
“Diversity week helps to support and enhance SFA’s mission to engage our students in a learner-centered environment and offer opportunities to prepare for the challenges of living in the global community,” Griselda Flores, assistant director of OMA, said. “By offering a week of events for students to interact and share their diverse perspectives, they can appreciate and celebrate each other’s cultures and values as a campus.”
For more information about Diversity Week, visit sfasu.edu/oma, or email OMA@sfasu.edu.
By Emily Brown, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.
