Pictures on next page.

Transcription

1 On April 21-23, fourteen UW-Superior students attended the annual UW-System American Multicultural Student Leadership Conference at UW-Milwaukee campus. Ten of our students presented research and creative writing at the conference. The conference hosted 300+ students from across the UW-System universities/colleges for this state-wide leadership and networking opportunity. The participants of the 2016 AMSLC and their corresponding submission categories include: Mieszko Brikis Research Poster o Analyzing College Athletes Understandings of Eating Habits Abdisa Dawano Research o Who are the Oromo Hannah Hildebrand Research o Manidoominens Spirit Berries : The study and method of traditional Anishinaabe beadwork from the turn of the 20 th Century Chantele Nelson Research o Human Trafficking is Modern Day Slavery Kristine Piasecki Research o Native American Economic Sovereignty: Tribal Enrollment Marquise Slay Creative Writing o The Idea Vanessa Smith Research o What is an Immigrant John Staine & Brandy Miranda Interactive Workshop o The Social Step: Issues of Privilege & Race Moira Villiard Research Poster o Global Economic Development: The Indigenous Paradigm Others who attended, but did not present, were Reyman Solis, D Andre Robinson, Louis Gouge, and Amanda Plucinski. The Office of Multicultural Affairs is very proud of our students for actively participating and representing UW-Superior in a positive way. Pictures on next page.

2

3 Office of Multicultural Affairs staff member, Ivy Vainio, was a part of the One River, Many Stories exhibition at the Duluth Art Institute on April 4 with her presentation The St. Louis River: Diverse Connections. Her exhibit got recognition by the Duluth News Tribune, other UW- Superior staff, and many of her friends and family members. Ivy s project focused on how so many individuals and families from a variety of backgrounds are all connected to the St. Louis River, and thus to each other. Ivy stated, I'm over excited about this One River Many Stories project and exhibition. Many thanks to Stephan Witherspoon, Melanie Sautbine, Cher Pao Vang Family, Kristin Larsen, and Arne Vainio for being photographed for this project! Many thanks to my alma mater UMD and the Journalism Department staff, and Duluth Art Institute staff for believing in me. Thanks to Tom Hollenhorst and Matt Kania for creating that interactive map of the river and for being inclusive with adding Ojibwemowin names to the sites. Also, thanks to Christa Lawler and Clint Austin for the article. Last, but not least, I give my utmost thanks to the St. Louis River. We will always be connected. This project had such a great impact on community members around the Duluth/Superior area and we, here at the Office of Multicultural Affairs, are proud to have such an outstanding and caring community member, staff member, and advocate for the many diverse cultures and individuals within our community. UW-Superior students Moira Villiard, Ernesto Soto, and Marquise Slay went to UW-Green Bay for the UW-System's Board of Regents meeting on April 8 where they met with the Regents, along with diverse college students from across the UW- System, to have conversations related to climate, diversity and inclusion experiences in and outside of the classroom on our campuses. All of us here at the Office of Multicultural Affairs are so proud of the three of you!

4 Ivy Vainio, her husband, Arne Vainio, Sandi Dantes, and 1999 UW-Superior alumna, Sandra Dantes met with the Duluth Mayor, Emily Larson, on April 5 in her office. Ivy presented her with a photograph of Sandi at last summer's Grand Portage Rendevous Powwow. It will hang on the wall in front of the Mayor's desk. Ivy and Sandi are proud that Grand Portage will be represented in the Mayor's Office. They even invited her to this summer's powwow. Arne presented Mayor Larson with kinnikinnick that he made and one of his metal Leatherman tools. It was a great meeting and a great opportunity for Ivy! UW-Superior Students/Athletes Jade Tucker, Reyman Solis, and Marquise Slay spent some time in the K-UWS radio station studio talking with Henry Banks with the Henry Banks People of Color program. The students spoke about their academic programs, the Office of Multicultural Affairs and their sport/athletic career. Great interview and we are VERY PROUD of these students.

5 On Friday, April 29 there was a Rock Reggae Charity Concert that was themed - Escape to the Tropics and the opening act was Marcus Brown and the headliner was Revolution Jones. The event was coordinated by OMA student employee, Chantele Nelson. This concert was organized to raise awareness and collect bottled water for Flint, Michigan, as well as to collect nonperishable food items for the UW-Superior student food shelf. For those of you who are unaware of the Flint, Michigan water crisis, Flint, Michigan s drinking water was contaminated with lead, E. Coli, and other toxins that poisoned many of the civilians and caused many illnesses. It had started in 2014, when the city of Flint was looking to save some money, so they switched their water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River which ran through the town and was known for being polluted. More than 50 lawsuits have been filed. So thank you again Chantele for coordinating such an amazing event that brought a cultural experience to UWS in addition to positively impacting many people s lives in Flint, Michigan!

6 On April 6, OUR DULUTH coordinated the Greater Visions OUR DULUTH had Racial Equity Agenda Rally to discuss equality in education, political representation and power, employment and economic opportunity, housing and homelessness, healthy communities, and safe communities. This rally was meant to be a place where deep conversation about the community s history and its current reality of structural racism could be discussed. Taken from the rally s pamphlet, Together, we are building the power to dismantle the systems that keep our communities from experiencing Duluth as we all should. We call on OUR DULUTH to stand together, allowing for our voices to define the barriers, highlight our assets, and lead for change. OUR DULUTH partners include: All Nations, Anishinabe Ode, CHUM Duluth, Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial Committee, Community Action Dultuh, Community Health Team Duluth, Cross Cultural Alliance Duluth, Myer Wilkins Collaborative School, NAACP Duluth, Our Bemichiigamaag Racial Justice Warriors, Together for Health Leadership Team Duluth, and Twin Ports African American Men s Group. From all of us here at the Office of Multicultural Affairs, thank you to all who are involved and take action towards positive change within our Superior/Duluth communities! Diverse UW-Superior students had the opportunity to meet with and talk with Chancellor Renee Wachter and Dean of Students Harry Anderson on April 28 about their student experience and issues that they find important in relation to their experience in and outside of the classroom. It was a great session! Thanks to the students who attended and spoke up, and thanks to the Chancellor and Dean for being a part of this conversation.

7 On April 15 th we celebrated the work of our student employees, Jasmine Ayers, Moira Villiard, Ana Reyes, Chantele Nelson, and Flo Powless. Office supervisors, Ivy Vainio and Gabriela Theis, made the even in order to celebrate all of the hard work that the Office of Multicultural Affairs students do. From making posters, to being student leads for OMA programs, to advocating for university students and programs the OMA student employees do their upmost to make our campus a little better each day. The following are the student employees and their job titles: Moira Villiard: Office Assist/Student Lead Student Employee Manager & Promotions Jasmine Ayers: Office Assist/Student Lead Leadership and Mentorship Program Flo Powless: Office Assist/Student Lead Making College Accessible Program Chantele Nelson: Office Assist/Outreach Specialist Ana Reyes: Office Assist/Teacher s Assistant for Making College Accessible Program Included as part of the OMA student employees are the Leadership and Mentorship mentors: Jade Jensen, Manda Vang, Marquise Slay, Moira Villiard, Jasmine Ayers, Mualigbe Keita, Adaeze Ndu, and Paige Nemec. Ivy and Gaby had bought the students Chinese food for lunch, a strawberry cheesecake, and chocolate mousse cake. Along with the OMA student employees and staff members, some UWS students and staff came by to celebrate as well.

8 OMA Graduation Ceremony o The Office of Multicultural Affairs and First Nations Center will host their 19 th Annual Graduates Reception on Friday, May 13 starting at 5 pm in the Multicultural Center, Main 232. This is a free and open to the public event. We will honor and recognize a total of 46 students who have and/or will graduate this academic year. This is a family and campus oriented event and we hope that you will attend to help celebrate our graduating students! If you have questions please contact Ivy Vainio at yvainio@uwsuper.edu. Contact Us: Old Main Gabriela Theis Ivy Vainio gtheis@uwsuper.edu yvainio@uwsuper.edu