Step out of your comfort zone during Diversity Week 2013

Cultural diversity is a central component of who we are at FIU.

During Diversity Week 2013 – starting Monday, April 1 – members of university community will have the opportunity to expand their understanding of diversity and learn more about racial justice, gender issues and current events. In addition, this year’s organizers are challenging FIU students, faculty and staff to step out of their comfort zone and attend as many events/activities as possible.

The challenge was the idea of students, who were involved in the planning for the first time; they chose “Connect to Make a Difference” as the theme.

Diversity Week committee member Kelly Brady-Rumble, a grants specialist at the College of Architecture + The Arts, says the theme evolved out of a concern of many of the students that while it may be nice to attend one lecture or read about the importance of living a life full of diversity, it is more meaningful to attend several, diverse events and interact with people who have different viewpoints.

“The goal is to embrace all forms of diversity in our lives, become more comfortable being in social situations which may, at first, be uncomfortable or strange, and discover new ways to connect what students are learning in their global learning classes,” she says. “We hope that those who participate will have a shift in perspective and start seeing community involvement and participating in activities that put them outside their social comfort zone as opportunities rather than burdens.”

The Diversity Week Challenge

• Attend as many events/activities on any and all FIU campuses between April 1- 5. Check out the Diversity Week website for a an array of multicultural festivities, symposiums, interactive workshops and lectures, including a talk by women’s equality activist Lilly Ledbetter. All are free and open to the public.
• As you attend an event, tweet @fiudiversity
; take a picture and post it to the Diversity Week Instagram account( @fiudiversity); or post about it on the Diversity Week Facebook page. Your postings also will be displayed on media screens at Graham Center
• Those who attend the most events (as verified through social media postings) win free tickets to a  performance at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, courtesy of the Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs.

There will be five recipients – individual student; individual staff member or faculty member; student organization; fraternity; and sorority. As a special incentive, members of student organizations or fraternities and sororities will also earn community service points for each Diversity Week event they attend.

For questions or comments about Diversity Week,  contact the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs and Diversity at 305-348-2785, or eopd@fiu.edu.