Events

Taste of Diversity:  The Multicultural and Diversity Committee hosts a Taste of Diversity potluck in the fall and the spring of each school year.  Students and faculty have prepared a wide range of delicious ethnic foods and the department was invited to sample these over some good conversation.  More recently, the MDC has catered ethnic food from local businesses, to promote awareness of different types of ethnic cuisine that are available in the local area.

Beginning in the spring of 2009, the Multicultural and Diversity Committee decided to implement a donation process to charities or organizations that promote diversity, provide services to minority groups, or provide disaster-relief to victims and survivors.  The MDC has donated to the following charities and organizations:

• Partners in Health:  Haitian Disaster Relief (http://www.pih.org/pages/haiti/)
• Proyecto Raíces (http://www.stbernardakron.org/clases-de-ingles/proyecto-de-raices-childrenninos/)
• The Red Cross Rescue and Relief Operations:  Typhoon Ondoy
• Trevor Project (http://www.thetrevorproject.org/)
• Kent Social Services: Kent, Ohio
  

Departmental & School-Wide Events Related to Multiculturalism and Diversity

On September 16 - September 17, 2010, the Department of Psychology and Multicultural and Diversity Committee jointly sponsored a colloquium presented by Dr. Steven Lopez, Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Southern California.  Dr. Lopez's research interest are two-fold.  His first area of research focuses on a critical cultural perspective to the study of psychopathology, assessment, and intervention of Latinos and other ethnic minority groups.  His second area of research investigates the relationship of family factors and the course of schizophrenia, particularly in Mexican American families.  Dr. Lopez presented a colloquium entitled "The Sociocultural Context of Families and Schizophrenia" as well as a workshop entitled "Shifting Cultural Lenses in Intervention and Assessment:  A Process Model of Cultural Competence."  During his visit, the MDC hosted a Taste of Diversity, with food catered by Main Street Continental Grill.  Donations from the Taste of Diversity were donated to Proyecto Raíces.  The acronym RAICES stands for Recognizing and Integrating Culture, Education and Services.  The program is dedicated to the children in Akron, Ohio.  The objective is for children to learn English, practice Spanish, form community, and maintain and develop their cultural and civic values.  The program focuses on cultural and educational activities and community service.  For more information, visit http://www.stbernardakron.org/clases-de-ingles/proyecto-de-raices-childrenninos.

On March 5, 2009, the Department of Psychology and Multicultural and Diversity Committee jointly sponsored a colloquium and workshop presented by Dr. Lisa Diamond, Associate Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Utah.  Dr. Diamond's research focuses on the course of sexual identity development in gay/lesbian/bisexual females from adolescence through adulthood.  Another focus of Dr. Diamond's research is on romantic relationships, specifically examining the day-to-day emotional and physiological regulation within long-term romantic couples.  Dr. Diamond presented a workshop entitled "The Benefits and Challenges of Studying Sexual-Minority Populations:  Reflections from the Field."  During her visit, the MDC hosted a Taste of Diversity Potluck.  Donations from the Taste of Diversity were donated to the Trevor Project, which is a nationwide around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGBT youth.  For more information, visit http://www.thetrevorproject.org/.

On March 27th, 2008, the Department of Psychology and the Multicultural and Diversity Committee jointly sponsored a colloquium presented by Dr. Faye Zollicoffer Belgrave, Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University.  Dr. Belgrave's research interests are in the areas of HIV and substance abuse prevention.  Her research also focuses on the role of the culture and context in preventive interventions and on gender and female related issues.

On April 17 - April 18, 2007, the Department of Psychology and The Multicultural and Diversity Committee jointly sponsored a colloquium and workshop presented by Dr. Gordon Nagayama Hall, Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Oregon.   Dr. Hall presented a workshop related to psychotherapy research in diverse populations and a colloquium presentation on the cultural context of sexual aggression.  The MDC also hosted its second Taste of Diversity Potluck during Dr. Hall's visit.  The MDC is thankful to all those who helped make these events a huge success!