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Under glorious blue skies, members of the campus and local communities filled the
Hamilton Village Green Saturday afternoon for a multicultural festival that capped �þ���Ƶ’s Diversity Week.

Events held during the past few days included intellectual discussions, workshops, lectures, and other cultural
activities intended to foster dialogue and build a more inclusive
community at �þ���Ƶ and beyond.

The International Blast Festival: Different Rhythms, Same Drum
held Saturday featured a Japanese drumming group, eclectic Latin music, arts and
crafts vendors, and ethnic food booths.

Dozens of Hamilton-area children helped kick off the community celebration by leading a parade around the Village Green. Residents and �þ���Ƶ students and staff members strolled by the booths set up for the festival and for the weekly farmers market and many stayed to  watch the high-energy musical performances.

On Friday, students at Hamilton Central Schools  took part in a mural project that was part of the university’s Diversity Week programming.

Artist Brian “Bydeeman” Joseph works with Hamilton Central Schools students on a mural about  inclusion. (Photo by Andy Daddio) SEE MORE PHOTOS

Artist Bryan “Bydeeman” Joseph created an outline of a mural, and then students let their
imaginations run wild as they took turns painting in colors on the
6-by-6-foot canvas, which will be permanently displayed in the school.

Prior to the canvas painting, Joseph spoke about his personal
experience as someone who lives with a disability.  “I learned to accept myself. Be proud of who you are when you look in the mirror.”

School officials welcomed the chance to take part in unique learning experiences that were part of the week’s events.

“The district’s collaboration
with
�þ���Ƶ has helped introduce students to perspectives they otherwise
might not be familiar with,” said Kevin Ellis,
Hamilton elementary school principal.

On Wednesday, Interim President Lyle Roelofs delivered the week’s opening remarks in the ALANA Cultural Center.

“This is our opportunity to examine race and culture in the twenty-first century and to celebrate it together,” he said.

Roelofs said a keystone of �þ���Ƶ’s overall strategic plan is to improve diversity on campus and several steps have been taken to fulfill that, including an assessment of the campus climate, an examination of financial aid practices, and implementation of an opportunity hiring policy.

Following Roelofs remarks, the campuswide discussion about President Obama’s memoir, Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance, continued as faculty and staff gathered to share their thoughts on the book, which also had been assigned to first-year students.

Rebecca Costello, managing editor of the �þ���Ƶ Scene, served as moderator.

Because Obama writes about his work as a community organizer, part of the conversation included bridging the gaps on campus and in the Hamilton community.

“Sometimes when we’re talking about race, gender, and sexual orientation, folks who have a different opinion are scared to talk because they don’t want to offend anybody,” said Thomas Cruz-Soto, director of ALANA. “We should welcome those comments … folks need to speak freely, and gain some common ground.”

“This is the beginning of a continuing dialogue,” said Keenan Grenell, vice president and dean of diversity. Grenell added that he welcomes ideas about how to expand the conversation in the future.

Diversity Week events had kicked off Tuesday night in Persson Auditorium with a talk by author Ernest Adams, who spoke about his multicultural life. Adams wrote From Ghetto to Ghetto: An African American Journey to Judaism.

The Diversity Leadership Awards ceremony also was held at the auditorium. Two Rebecca S. Chopp Diversity Achievement Awards were given, one to associate professor of educational studies John Palmer, and the other to Naledi Semela ’10, a member of the Brothers.

The third award was the Alumni of Color Distinguished Teacher Award, given to Carolyn Hsu, associate professor of sociology and anthropology.