Diversity Committee Notes – January 15, 2008

 

 

 

 

We definitely decided our theme for the conference is ‘Breaking Out of the Box’. We are encouraging people to think and ‘operate’ outside of their normal comfort zone.

 

Activity – Human Scavenger Hunt

                Shaun is taking the lead on this. The scavenger hunt asks the ‘hunter’ to locate people with certain experiences and characteristics. The ‘hunter keeps track of his/her finds, allowing people to strike up conversations with other conference participants. Shaun and Delores will decide the details of the game -  such as dividing the group by color or university, etc. and will let us know if they need additional help.

 

Symposium

            Since we are Breaking Outside of the Box, we’ve decided to do away with the Symposium’s normal format but instead view and discuss a movie that has significance for today’s college campuses. The movie may be somewhat controversial, may highlight multicultural interactions, discussing differences, frictions, commonalities. Amy Sikes will then facilitate the following discussions since she has great teaching experience, has dealt with   multicultural interactions and has already facilitated discussions of movies. Hope will research movies. Some suggestions: The Great Debate, The American Gangster, Higher Learning. As more movies are suggested, we’ll pass along to the Committee. The concept needs refining but we’ll do so as we discuss further.

 

March 29 – VSFAA Diversity Committee College Day

Tim is working on sponsoring a College Day at Galilee Baptist Church in Chesapeake. He has invited lenders and schools to speak to the parents and students of about 5 area high schools. He will forward more details.

 

HBCU Sector Meeting

We had talked briefly about possibly hosting a session for HBCU’s that are already in place for public, private, prop etc. schools. Patrice Johnson had agreed to work on this in an earlier conversation and Amy will help. They will decide on logistics, etc. and let us know their findings.

 

General Session Speaker

Having difficulty securing someone suitable. Hope is working on Tony Brown, Dean of the Journalism School at Hampton University. Elizabeth Desi from Mary Washington (?) suggested Matt Jones (I sent you his link earlier today). Tony Brown’s is below.

http://www.tonybrown.com/

 

Since everybody is very busy right now, we did not schedule the next meeting. Will do that in early February.