e-Newsletter 2010-05

Diversity Alliance e-Newsletter

May 2010

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.

Join Us in the Movement to Promote Inclusion

Event Overview
Thursday May 20, 2010

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum - widely recognized as a scholar, teacher, race relations expert and leader in higher education - will provide the morning keynote address and Dr. Tony Campolo - author, minister, and media commentator on religious and political matters - will provide the lunch keynote address. Breakout sessions will focus on sector-specific topics:

BUSINESS - Inclusion: The Critical Step in the Business Case & Triple Bottom Line Solutions

COMMUNITY/GOVERNMENT - Building One America: Advancing Policy for Inclusion

EDUCATION - Cultural Sensitivity: Responding to the Changing Face of Our Community

FAITH - Practicing Faith and Racial Justice in Multi-Cultural Communities

[read more and register now]

Funders*

*as of 04/30/2010

Underwriters
[image]

Contributors
Central Wesleyan Church ... Christ Memorial Church ... Haworth, Inc. ... Jim & Ginger Jurries

Johnson Controls, Inc. ... Warner Norcross & Judd LLP

Supporters

A.D. Bos Vending Services ... Bank of Holland ... Christ Community Church
Cole's Quality Foods, Inc. ... Consumer's Energy ... Cunningham Dalman, PC ... Davenport University
Engedi Church ... Fifth Third Bank ... Holland First Assembly of God
First Presbyterian Church of Holland ... First United Methodist Church ... Gentex Corporation
Global Concepts Enterprise, Inc. ... Grand Rapids Community College
Grand Valley State University ... Hope Church RCA ... Louis Padnos Iron & Metal Company
Mercy Health Partners ... Perrigo Foundation ... St. Francis de Sales Church
St. Patrick's Church ... Van Wieren Hardware ... Varnum Law, LLP
West MIchigan Lakeshore Association of Realtors

Collaborators

Collaborators are organizations that commit to informing and/or engaging their constituents in the work of the Summit. For more information, please contact admin@ethnicdiversity.org.

Alliance for Cultural and Ethnic Harmony ... All for One Dance Program ... Calvary Reformed Church
Central Wesleyan Church ... Christ Memorial Church
City of Holland, Human Relations Commission ... Crossroads Chapel Reformed Church
Crosswinds Community Church ... Engedi Church ... Fair Housing Center of West Michigan
Faith Christian Reformed Church ... First United Methodist Church of Holland
· Global Concepts Enterprise, Inc. ... Good Samaritan Ministries ... Grand Haven Area Public Schools
Grand Valley State University, Office of Multicultural Affairs
Headbloom Cross-Cultural Communication ... Herman Miller, Inc.
Holland Area Chamber of Commerce ... Holland Christian Schools ... Holland Classis RCA
Holland First Assembly of God ... Holland Public Schools ... Hope Church RCA
Hope College, Office of Multicultural Education ... Hope College, Fried International Center
Hope College, Phelps Scholars ... Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance ... Latin Americans United for Progress
Mothers Trust, Mothers Place/Ramakrishna Sarada Ashram/Lakeshore Interfaith Community
Our Lady of the Lake Parish ... Radio in Black and White
West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce ... West Michigan Strategic Alliance
West Ottawa Public Schools ... Zion Dominion Church

Migrant Children Waiting for Mentors

Migrant Mentoring Program

Eric Guerra is a seven year old who loves soccer, coloring, going to the beach and reading. Eric's mom is seven months pregnant and Eric is very excited to become a big brother!

He currently has no siblings and wants a mentor so that he can see the Holland community and have someone to play with.

Eric does well in school but would like someone to help him in English and reading. If you are interested in mentoring Eric, or another child:

(1) [click here]to download the application.
(2) Complete, save, and e-mail to program@ethnicdiversity.org.

For questions, contact Sarah at program@ethnicdiversity.org.

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]

Increase Communication with Spanish Speaking Population

Language Academy
The Diversity Alliance Language Academy provides tailored courses for employees of businesses interested in increasing communication with their Spanish speaking customers or clients. If you are interested, give us an idea of what you need by completing our online Course Design Survey.
[view survey]
[view flier]

For more information, please contact Sarah at program@ethnicdiversity.org

Gail's Corner

As we close in on the final weeks leading up to the Summit on Racism, there is considerable interest and activity in the community:

faith communities are talking; pastors are meeting

presentations are being conducted at governmental meetings

educators are excited

business leaders are committing time and treasure

community advocates and non-profits are finalizing the last details for this remarkable day

We have never had such a high number of registrants this early. This Summit will be outstanding in terms of speakers, topics, presenters and audience.

We are excited!

But the work of the Summit will not be a success without your help. We need you.

Last year, as the team of planners began to grapple with the 2010 Summit, we challenged ourselves to identify the benefit of the Summit.

Did the Summit really make a difference in our community and how we embraced principals of diversity?

Was the community a more comfortable place for all people, as a result of the years of Summit conferences, action plans, and participation?

Why do problems of racial polarization, neighborhood and school segregation, disparate minority graduation attainment, lack of diverse representation in positions of leadership, and other barometers of successful integration of peoples and cultures, continue to elude our greatest efforts to achieve a place that welcomes and embraces people from all backgrounds?

And then we were introduced to the words of the 14th Dalai Lama and realized what is needed to truly transform our region.

World leaders were attending a week-long think-tank in Sweden that set out to answer the question of "What is the greatest challenge of our time?"
Although answers like "weapons of mass destruction" and "climate change" were brought forward by others, the Dalai Lama responded by saying people know how to solve problems like hunger and environmental degradation but they don't act. Therefore the biggest challenge of our time is getting bystanders to take action.

And that, my friends, is the help we need from you. Each of us who cares about racial justice and equal opportunity; Each of us who would love to live in a place where people from around the globe and throughout the region feel valued and welcome; Each of us who is committed to the basic belief that all people are created equal and should be treated so: Join us.

Come to this day, wherever you are in this journey to eliminate racism, join us in taking the next step. The day will be comprised of opportunities to get involved with organizations and efforts throughout the community. Join just one such effort - commit to work on one step, small or large. But join us.

Because collectively, if each of us did just one thing to improve race relations, our community would be transformed.

You are the answer; we cannot do this without you. Please. Join us.

Gail Harrison, Executive Director

Volunteers Needed

The Great Start program of the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District has partnered with the Diversity Alliance to conduct a research project to answer this question: "What are the barriers to success for youth of color and "at-risk" children ages zero to five?" The Diversity Alliance will conduct focus groups and surveys in target areas to confirm previously identified barriers and identify new barriers along with possible implementable solutions.

We are looking for a few individuals interested in volunteering their time to enter data recorded from surveys into a database. High attention to detail required to ensure this project's accuracy and success.

For questions, or if you are interested, please contact Zahabia Ahmed-Usmani at zahabia@ethnicdiversity.org.

Special Thanks to

Diversity Champions

Diversity Partners

2009-2010 Diversity Supporters

Bank of America
Frey Foundation
Johnson Controls, Inc.
Springview Foundation

Consider supporting the Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance.
[learn more]

FixRacism.com "I Can Fix It: A Ten Step Guide
and Presentation to Heal Our Culture from Racism"

2,000 people were asked for 5 things individuals can do to
end racism. Here are the solutions in their own words.
[download]
[website]

[view more] news and resources.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: May
Jewish-American Heritage Month: May
Cinco de Mayo: May 05

"The True Meaning of Tolerance" by Rev. Rob Bell
April 29, 7:00pm | Wealthy Street Theater
[website]

Community Fiesta Night
April 30 5:30-7:30pm | Holland Christian High

[flier]

Latin Americans United for Progress' Fiesta!
April 30 - May 01 | Holland Civic Center

[website]| [flier]

Tulip Time Festival
May 01 - May 08 | Downtown Holland
[website]| [brochure]

Soul Food Dinner at Imagine Fellowship
May 14, 6-8:00pm | Providence CRC, 821 Ottawa Ave
$10/person and $30/family

The Race Exhibit Initiative of Southwest Michigan
Coordinated by Western Michigan University's Office of
Diversity and Inclusion, the RACE Exhibit Initiative is
a collaboration of more than 50 community
organizations of Southwest Michigan.

[click here] to view all events.

South Shore Village Multicultural Connections
May 22, 11am-4pm

[website]

[view more] events in our community.

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