By Jasmin Ruiz | Observer Contributor
Melissa Bourque-Silva
In efforts to increase appreciation and support of diversity here at the Mount, Melissa Bourque-Silva, Director of National Workforce Diversity Pipeline, proposed the idea of building our very own multicultural center on the Gardner campus and it’s a go!
No timeline has been determined for when the project would begin. The plan is for the project to be fully funded and self-sustaining, but in the meantime Bourque-Silva is seeking out extra funding sources and grants that would be interested in supporting the project.
Currently, efforts are being made to locate a space where building of the center can begin.
“The biggest roadblock right now is finding an actual space,” said Bourque-Silva.
In the meantime, she encourages students to give their feedback on what they would like to see in the center and what services they would like it to provide.
Bourque-Silva said, “This is for the students and I want them to be in the process of what it’s going to look like.”
The ALANA Club (African, Latino, Asian and Native American Club), a club formed to celebrate the diversity of our student body, is excited and has hopes that the center can be a new home for them, and clubs like theirs, to meet and embrace diversity on campus.
“There’s a lot of diversity on campus but it’s not always represented,” said David Thibault-Munoz, one of the club advisors.
Here are just some of the nations students are from at the Mount-
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Belarus
Cambodia
Cameroon
China
Colombia
Cyprus
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Ethiopia
Germany
The club feels that the center would be a great opportunity to show off cultures that at times may be overlooked. They feel that everyone, no matter their race or ethnicity, should feel welcomed and represented in the center.
“I feel like it should be a safe haven to talk about things like culture and stuff. Somewhere where you can feel like you can actually talk without being afraid,” said Monica Cayenne-Robinson, President of ALANA.
Tremaine Pinnock, Secretary of the club thinks it would be a good idea to have artwork and phrases representative of important or famous people from different cultures or even an exhibit made by our very own art students.
Julie Aguiar, Vice President, made a suggestion that there be activities for stress relief held by the center around midterms and finals, like small drum circles and games from different cultures.
The executive committee of the club is one of the many ways that they show their embrace of diversity with members from places like Grenada, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Brazil, Dominican Republic and Ghana.
ALANA has hosted events like:
• Black Lives Black Lungs- A discussion about how big tobacco particularly exploits the black community.
• Fundraiser for Puerto Rico for the hurricane relief where they raised $300 and had live music and free Salsa dancing lessons.
• Partnered with SAGA (Straight And Gay Alliance) to start a conversation on the intersectionality of race and gender oppression.
• Daylong Coloring Outside the Lines Conference
Every year a trip is organized to attend one of the cultural festivals in New York. Last year the club visited Harlem and attended a Multicultural Festival. This year they will be attending the Loiza Afro-Puerto Rican Festival in East Harlem NY.
Students can speak with to Bourque-Silva on the third floor in suite 316 to give feedback, ideas, and complete the climate survey, which was emailed to all students (have to be 18+ to complete this survey and completed at least one semester at the Mount). The climate survey helps to see where the school community is at with respect to diversity. Bourque-Silva also has surveys asking for ideas that students have on how they would want their culture to be represented (artwork, music, famous quotes, color schemes etc.).
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