The CDI hosts this annual block party to welcome new and returning students to campus. Student organizations and campus and community partners provide resources and snacks/games/prizes to attendees. Affiliated student organizations use this opportunity to introduce themselves and recruit members to join their clubs as a means to build and maintain community.Ìý

Collaborating with student organizations, academic departments, and alumni, the CDI successfully enhanced cultural awareness and engagement across the ÃØÉ«´«Ã½ community.

Key Achievements:

• Latinx Heritage Month:

• Collaboration: Worked with the Committee for Latinx Concerns (CLC) to develop a unifying theme, create a comprehensive calendar of events, and refresh the CLC logo to be more inclusive and contemporary.

• Signature Event: Co-sponsored an Open Mic and Poetry Reading featuring award-winning poet Carlos Andrés Gómez, in partnership with Latin American and Caribbean Studies and the CLC.

• Indigenous Peoples Month:

• Support: Assisted the Native American and Indigenous Peoples Association (NAIPA) in planning and organizing their heritage month programming.

• Coordination: Helped secure funding and coordinated with the Biology, Sociology, and Anthropology departments.

• Signature Event: Frybread Friday—NAIPA students prepared and shared a traditional meal with the broader ÃØÉ«´«Ã½ community.

• Black History Month:

• Coordination: Worked closely with the Association for African-American Students (AAAS) to organize and fund their Black History Month programming.

• Signature Event: Creative Convocation—a ÃØÉ«´«Ã½ talent show highlighting African American culture, featuring a New Orleans-style brass band, student films, and a hair show.

• Arab-American Heritage Month:

• Inauguration: Launched the first-ever Arab-American Heritage Month events at ÃØÉ«´«Ã½.

• Engagement: Built relationships with stakeholders like the Moroccan Students Association in the absence of a dedicated student group.

• Signature Event: Cultural Creations—a hands-on exploration of Arabic art and language through calligraphy, drawing, and painting. Collaborated with Dr. Naima Shifa, Chair of the Mathematical Sciences Department, and Dr. Zamurrad Awan.

• Asian-American Heritage Month:

• Inauguration: Held the inaugural Asian-American Heritage Month events.

• Collaboration: Brought together student groups such as J-Club, the Filipino Students Association, and DISA.

• Signature Event: Tea Talks with Boba—an event where students from across the Asian diaspora gathered to share cultural insights and discuss their heritage.

ÃØÉ«´«Ã½ has made significant progress in fostering strategic partnerships and enhancing community engagement and service.Ìý

Key Achievements:

• Martin Luther King Day Celebrations:

• Collaborated with 19 campus and community partners to develop and host Martin Luther King Day events (Annual).

• Community Breakfast: Honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a leader with fellow leaders. Features inspiring speakers, and meaningful discussions about fostering equity and collaboration in our community; on and off campus stakeholders.Ìý

• Church Service: Honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King as a Reverend & Activist. This service is held at Gobin Church, where Dr. King himself spoke in 1960. This service features music, student readings, and powerful sermon/speakerÌýÌý

• Day of Service: Honor Dr. King's legacy of service by restocking food pantries across Putnam County. Together, we can help fight food insecurity and make a meaningful impact in our community!

These events strengthened community bonds and promoted a shared commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Collaboration with the Performance Arts Center to provide a platform for students that are non-music majors to showcase their talent in various ways:

• Poetry
• Film
• Dance
• Song
• Performance
• Art
• BusinessÌýÌý

Last year’s theme, Black Futures, explored the limitless possibilities of creativity, innovation, and expression through the lens of Black experiences, histories, and aspirations. It celebrated the ingenuity and artistry shaping our collective future while honoring the rich cultural heritage and forward-thinking vision of Black communities.

The Inclusive Excellence Awards Ceremony is a prestigious event organized to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of ÃØÉ«´«Ã½ students and organizations adjacent to the Justin and Darrianne Christian Center for Diversity and Inclusion and the Women’s Center. It also aims to recognize the valuable contributions made by members of the Greencastle community towards fostering an environment of inclusive excellence.

Objectives:

• Recognize and celebrate the extracurricular and leadership achievements of students in organizations adjacent to the Justin and Darrianne Christian Center for Diversity and Inclusion and the Women’s Center.

• Honor the contributions of Greencastle community members and/or businesses/organizations who have significantly supported and contributed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in our local community.

• Foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity by highlighting the importance of diverse perspectives and achievements within the university and local community.

• Strengthen connections between ÃØÉ«´«Ã½ and the Greencastle community through shared appreciation and recognition of efforts towards inclusive excellence.

• Encourage and strengthen Alumni engagement and relations