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Building Bridges Program

What is the purpose?

The Office of Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Education is committed to improving relations between students by helping them to grow personally, and preparing them for living and working in diverse communities. The purpose of the Building Bridges Program is to facilitate communication and collaboration between university students of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.  It is a collaborative initiative between academic affairs and students affairs that integrates students' in-class and out-of-class experiences.

How does the Program Work?

Each semester a team of diverse student associates visits classrooms to share their personal experiences related to race and ethical issues, and lead discussions about inter-group relations with their peers. Topics may include interracial dating, minority scholarships segregation, affirmative action, Black History Month, the effects theBuilding Bridges media has on racism, diversity on campus, and or sexual orientation. The result is a lively discussion that produces a different perspective for many students. By all accounts, the inter-group dialog has met with measurable success since it began twenty years ago.

Who are the Associates?

Student associates come from all backgrounds. They are selected through an interview process and receive ongoing training in effective listening, non-defensive communication of feelings, creating an open and supportive atmosphere, and handling difficult group members. Students participate in the program because they see a need to improve race relations and want to be part of the solution. Associates come together before every session to gather knowledge and ideas for the open discussion they prepare to have throughout the next scheduled session.

How To Get Involved

STUDENTS:

  • Become a student associate.
  • Ask your professors to invite a team of associates into your classes.
  • Attend open discussion sessions scheduled outside of classes.

FACULTY/ORGANIZATIONS/COMMUNITY:

  • Invite a team of associates into your classes.
  • Poll your students/members for questions before the visit.
  • Encourage your students/members to continue dialog outside of the session.

What Have Participants Said About the Program?

"This really opened my eyes to how the world is. We don't say anything, but we want to see change. How will change happen without taking the first step?"

"The session helped spark my own thinking of how to incorporate diversity in my own teaching."

"The sessions made me think about how I am going to incorporate a broader cultural education in my future classroom."

"Building Bridges is a very effective program. I felt that this group gave me a better understanding of others' cultures and the need to learn."

"This is such a good program. I think it makes us think about what we know about other cultures and how ethnocentric we actually can be toward other groups!"

Building Bridges Schedule - spring 2022

Wednesday, Feb. 2
Dr. Sharon Montgomery
Solar System Astronomy
9-9:50 a.m.
120 STC

Wednesday, Feb. 2 
Dr. Sharon Montgomery
Solar System Astronomy
12-12:50 p.m.
120 STC

Wednesday, Feb. 2
Dr. Sharon Montgomery
Physics
2-2:50 p.m.
125 STC

Tuesday, Feb. 8
Dr. Jason Heavlin
Finance 170
9:30-10:45 a.m.
202 Still Hall

Tuesday, Feb. 15
Dr. Mark Kilwein
REHAB 126
2-3:15 p.m.
25 Harvey Hall

Friday, Feb. 18
Dr. Amy Shannonhouse
Ms. Vanessa Boryenace
Adventure Group
10-10:50 a.m.
105 Stevens Hall

Tuesday, Feb. 22
Dr. Naomi O'Neil
Comm 214
9:30-10:45 a.m.
124 Becker Hall

Wednesday, Feb. 23
Dr. Amy Shannonhouse
ECH 322
9:30-10:45 a.m.
204 Stevens Hall

Thursday, March 3
Dr. Sandra Trejos
Economics 212
11a.m.-12:15 p.m.
205 Still Hall

Thursday, March 3
Dr. Sandra Trejos
Economics 212
2-3:15 p.m.
205 Still Hall

Thursday, March 31
Dr. Jane Walsh
Principles of Sociology 211
11a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Hart Chapel

Thursday, March 31
Dr. Jane Walsh
Principles of Sociology 211
12:30-1:45 p.m.
Hart Chapel

Thursday, March 31
Dr. Jane Walsh
Social Movement
2-3:15 p.m.
Hart Chapel

 

Building Bridges 2021-2022 Facilitator Contacts

For More information:

Rogers J. Laugand III
Director of Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Education
412 Becht Hall
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Mailing address: 840 Wood Street, Clarion, PA 16214-1232
laugand@clarion.edu
Phone: +1 814 393 1908

 

 

Last Updated 2/2/22