Diversity goes beyond race. It is a celebration of physical diversity, as well as the aspects of people that we cannot see.
“[Diversity means] being different and being OK with it,” Nazifa Akanda, class of 2016, said in an email.
This idea of difference and acceptance is a belief that both students and faculty share alike.
“No matter where you work, live or go to school, you are going to come in contact with people who are different than you,” Amy Collins, class of 2018, said. “In a way, you are learning through personal experience by meeting new people about different cultures and how they differ and relate to your own.”
In order to celebrate diversity, Cabrini offers a wide-range of events and workshops. The Office of Student Diversity Initiatives is responsible for these types of celebrations.
“[The office] provides programming, workshops and training around issues of social justice and diversity and inclusion,” Sarah Carter, assistant director of programming, diversity initiates, said.
This past Tuesday, Sept. 15, the Office of Student Diversity Initiatives held an Exploring Diversity Workshop. Carter hosted the event.
Carter spoke about what diversity looks like: race, gender and age, as well as the diversity that can not be physically seen, such as sexual orientation, religion, ability and socio-economic state. The workshop then broke off where students could discuss their past lived experiences.
Carter relives previous workshops by saying, “People have walked out of this and have said ‘I feel like I’ve gotten closer to the people in the session with me.’”
For students that missed this event and were interested in these types of diversity celebrations, there will be many other events and workshops to come sponsored by LeadStrong.
For those who are interested in future events held by The Office of Student Diversity Initiatives, please email Carter, scarter@cabrini.edu, or visit any of the office’s social media pages; Twitter, WordPress, Instagram and Facebook. Students can also visit Carter in person on the first floor of Widener Hall, next to Jazzman’s Café.
“The goal of this workshop, and goal of the Diversity Office, is to get conversations started”, Carter said. “When we have conversations like this, not only do we get to learn about ourselves, but about others, too.”
