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2009 Conversational Spanish Class for Ottawa County employees.
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Diversity Alliance E-Newsletter
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May 2009
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The Lakeshore
Ethnic Diversity Alliance seeks to dismantle racial, socioeconomic, and
institutional barriers to ensure that people of all ethnic backgrounds
have equal access and opportunity to participate fully in the life of
the community.
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Gail's Corner
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Beginning
May 05, the Migrant Mentoring Program will launch its newest component:
a summer reading program focused on children aged 0-5.
This program will assist children in preparing for school and achieving success at reading and reading comprehension.
This
new component continues to support and grow one of the critical ongoing
goals of the Migrant Mentoring Program: to provide cross-cultural
experiences for both children and volunteers and reduce the racial,
ethnic, and geological segregation between migrant farm families and
our larger community.
Please see additional information located in this newsletter or visit our [website] to learn more.
I personally invite you to join us this summer - share the wonder of reading with a child.
Gail Harrison
Executive Director
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| News & Resources
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Toolkit for Creating
Diverse Workplaces
Compiled by volunteers as a project born of the Summit on Racism, this toolkit is
the result of a study of successful practices in recruitment,
retention, and advancement of a diverse workplace. This 2009 version contains many new updates.
[download now]
Fiesta 2009
Latino Culture Celebration
May 01 - May 02
Fiesta
features the
Annual Fiesta Queen and King Contest, the Lowrider Car Show,
entertainment, a carnival, various exhibitors, and everyone's favorite:
lots of food!
[visit website]
[Holland Sentinel article]
Tulip Time Festival
May 02 - May 09
A unique festival with a display of over 6 million tulips.
This
celebration of Dutch heritage and culture is a multi-generational event
with something for everyone.
[visit website]
Cinco de Mayo
 May 05
During the French-Mexican War, a poorly supplied and outnumbered Mexican army under General Ignacio Zaragoza defeated a French army attempting to capture Puebla de Los Angeles, in east-central Mexico.
Victory
at the Battle of Puebla represented a great moral victory for the
Mexican government, symbolizing the country's ability to defend its
sovereignty against threat by a powerful foreign nation.
Mexicans celebrate the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla as Cinco de Mayo, a national holiday in Mexico.
First Celebration of Multicultural Connections
May 30 11am - 4pm
First Celebration of Multicultural Connections, by South Shore Village
businesses (map), Holland's International Relations Commission, and the
Neighborhood Commercial Improvement Program. The event promises a
variety of entertainers, visual artists, and craftspeople.
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Share the Wonder of Reading
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The Migrant Mentoring Program provides academic
and social supports for children of migrant farm workers
and their families, and creates opportunities for cultural
exchange between volunteers and migrant families.
[learn more]
Summer Reading Program Launches in May
"As
a former migrant myself, I remember that my parents used to come home
late from work exhausted. They did not have the time or knowledge to
know that reading to me would be extremely beneficial to my learning,"
explains Jessenia Martinez Olmeda, the new Reading Program Caseworker.
Beginning
May 05, Jessenia will meet groups of volunteers at the Diversity
Alliance offices at 6:00pm to lead them to migrant camps to read, play
games, and socialize with children ages 0-5. The program ends at about
7:30pm each Tuesday and Thursday evening and will run throughout the
summer until August 20.
This new program continues to promote
cross cultural understanding and reduce the isolation between the
migrant and larger communities.
Jessenia reflcects, "Now, as a
parent myself, I realize that reading to my child is essential for her
learning. I know migrant children will learn so much from our reading
out loud to them."
This program is made possible due to the generous support of the Frey Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and the Greater Ottawa County United Way.
We are also seeking donations of new or gently used children's books. Drop off hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm.
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| Gaining Allies in Healing Racism |
The Lakeshore Institute for Healing Racism is an 8-week dialogue focused on understanding and
healing the wounds of racism.
[learn more]
The Lakeshore Institute for Racial Healing, sponsored by the Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance and the Holland Area Chamber of Commerce, that began March 12 is ending soon, on April 30.
Co-facilitation
was provided by Gail Harrison, Executive Director of Lakeshore Ethnic
Diversity Alliance, and Fred Johnson III, Associate Professor of
History, Hope College.
Through
facilitated dialogues and activities, the group participated in a
cognitive and affective program of learning, sharing, and processing in
a multi-cultural setting.
Participants completed sessions that
focused on the history and pathology of institutionalized racism, then
explored concepts such as white privilege, contemporary bias, and ways
to combat racism.
In the final session, participants will
pledge personal and/or professional actions that will aide in the
understanding and elimination of racism.
Continue to read our monthly e-newsletters and/or visit our [website] for information regarding future Institute offerings.
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Actualizacion de clases de espanol
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Conversational Spanish Program provides courses
for adults, youth, and businesses interested in learning
and practicing the Spanish language.
[learn more]
Adults Beginner's Conversational ClassOn
April 17, a conversational Spanish course finished it's twelve week
run. The students have much to practice, but they have learned the
tools and knowledge to form a solid foundation of the Spanish language.
Business Conversational Class (Ottawa Co.)
On April 30, a class for Ottawa County employees
ends. The students have learned basics that will help them better serve
and communicate with Spanish-speaking clients. Two more courses have
been scheduled for the summer. 
Intermediate & Children's Classes
Intermediate
and children's courses will be offered for six weeks starting the week
of July 13 and ending the week of August 17. Specific dates will be
released soon.
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Students Impacting Their Schools
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Calling All Colors is a diversity awareness program
for middle and high school students in which students
attend conferences, learn tools for increasing
appreciation of diversity in their schools, and creatively collaborate to implement action plans all year.
[learn more]
West Ottawa High School Action Plan
 Students
of the West Ottawa Calling All Colors group joined with other fellow
students, family, and friends for dinner, a movie, and discussion the
evening of Friday, April 17.
Attendees were instructed to bring
a cultural dish to pass for a potluck dinner. Followed dinner and
socializing was a viewing of "The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas". The
group then facilitated a discussion of the film and its impacts.
Spring Middle School Conference
The spring Middle School Conference is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28. More to come in the next newsletter.
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Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
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Below are a few short personal reflections from Asian community members regarding their thoughts on Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
The Diversity Alliance greatly appreciates that they have agreed share
their honest thoughts and perspectives with us and the readership.
Thank you.
"Many
people ask about the significance of holding special month long celebrations
focusing
on the ethnic diversity in the United States. It is a time
to celebrate our rich heritage and traditions
that remind us of where
we come from. It is a time to share our history and cultures through
music, dance and food, stories and writings, and to learn from one another
about the rich
tapestry of people and culture that constitute the United
States of America.
This
month we celebrate APAHM and as I listen to the many voices and stories
of my fellow
Asian-Americans, I am also reminded that the celebration
takes me to a deeper understanding of
who I am as a Japanese-American
woman living in west-Michigan. It reminds me in the midst
of my
daily busyness to reflect on an important part of who I am. It's
getting back in touch
with the things that resonate with me culturally
as a Japanese-American in a community where
I seem to have lost, ignored,
sacrificed my "Asian-ness." I have adapted to this environment
and learned to play the game and in the process forgotten my Japanese-American
values and
norms. In a culture of speed and instant decisions
and statements, I have forgotten what it means
to allow for silence
and reflection. In a culture where the individual is glorified,
I wonder how it
benefits the group. Power does not go hand in
hand with harmony. Simplicity has been erased
by material accumulation
and an on-the-go lifestyle.
And
so, I celebrate. I celebrate to remember, to remember the history
and culture of
Japanese-Americans and to remember those things passed
down from my grandparents to
my mother to me. I celebrate to remember
that when I look in the mirror and see my dark hair
and almond shaped
eyes that I too am beautiful even when I don't seem to blend in with
the
majority culture. And I celebrate to remember the sacrifices
that have come with being a
part of this community."
Amy Otis-De Grau, Director of International Education at Hope College
"Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is a specific time dedicated to celebrating
accomplishments of Asian Pacific Americans across the nation and our contributions to
American society.
Concurrently, it is also a time to acknowledge the struggles and inequalities that Asian
Pacific Americans face today while launching into action to mitigate these problems.
Particularly during this month, we cannot be forgotten."
Denny Chan, Grand Haven Native/University of Michigan Alumni/Full Bright Scholar
"Asian Pacific Awareness, to me, is another opportunity for me to learn more about my
Asian culture as well as inform others. As a Korean adoptee, I was not exposed to my birth
culture, or the Asian culture in general much growing up. Now as an adult and a mother of two
mixed-children I find myself trying to figure out how "to be Korean" in today's world. Until recently
I was not even aware there was an Asian Pacific Awareness month. When I was informed about
it my first thought "Why didn't I know about this?"
Most people, like myself, are aware that February is African American history month, yet,
I am sure many of those same people do not know that Asian Pacific Awareness month exists.
I think this is a reflection of how Asian Pacific people need to come together more to have their
voices heard and become more visible. I hope that one day we will be able to get beyond
having a designated month for each ethnicity. People need to incorporate learning and
respecting each other's different backgrounds on a daily basis."
Katie Bozek, Hope College Alumni
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| Support the Diversity Alliance
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 The demand for our programs far exceeds our capacity.
We must, and can,
reach more people in the next years -
a time of dramatic community
change.
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