This year’s West Virginia University Diversity Week lineup includes the 25th annual Women of Color Luncheon and the first Morgantown International Festival.

The keynote speaker for the Women of Color luncheon on Oct. 17 will be Cheewa James, of the Modoc tribe. James is a former television anchorwoman and reporter who is now a motivational speaker. She addresses contemporary, cutting edge business training issues, and uses Native American perspectives to illustrate a point. She creates a feel for diversity in a very subtle way. James was born on the Klamath Indian Reservation, Oregon, and is enrolled with the Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma.

“Each year it is a challenge to find innovative and inspiring women to speak at our luncheon. We work hard to create a program that is different from the year before,” said Molli Starcher, co-chair for the Women of Color Luncheon. “This year is our 25th anniversary, and we are sure it will be one of the best luncheons to date. Cheewa James is certain to motivate and warm our hearts with her stories and powerful message.”

Tickets for the luncheon (order deadline Oct. 12) are $15 per individual or $105 for a table of seven. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.formstack.com/forms/CWC-Lunch

James is the guest of honor at this year’s 20th Anniversary Native American Studies Peace Tree Ceremony, which takes place Oct. 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This year’s ceremony marks the 20th anniversary of the planting of WVU’s first peace tree on Sept. 12, 1992. It was planted by Chief Leon Shenandoah, Tadodaho of the Grand Council of the Haudenosaunee Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy, and Chippewa Chief Robert TallTree to commemorate the University’s commitment to the rediscovery and celebration of America’s Native American heritage.

Click here to listen to the WVUToday radio spot on Diversity Week.

Concluding Diversity Week will be the International Festival, which will be held at Hazel Ruby McQuain Park on Oct. 19. This will be the first year that WVU is partnering with the greater Morgantown area for this event.

“As our student population has become larger and the popularity of the festival has increased, we have outgrown the space in the Mountainlair which has been its home for almost 20 years,” said Grace Atebe, assistant director for Student Support and Development in the Office of International Students and Scholars.

The International Festival anticipates over 700 middle and elementary school students to attend the festival, which will include informational tables representing various countries represented at WVU. There will also be music, arts and crafts as well as local restaurants giving a taste of international cuisine.

The 2012 Diversity Week has a WVU theme for this year’s celebration, “Where Values Unite.” Diversity Week offers an opportunity for students, faculty and other members of WVU to explore and celebrate what makes the community unique.

Starting Oct. 15 and ending Oct. 19, Diversity Week is packed with more than 60 events pertaining to values such as acceptance, integrity, opportunity, knowledge, respect and responsibility. The event’s topics include going green, sexual diversity, body image, being an international student, money management and gender.

“I think that this year’s Diversity Week presents an opportunity for students to consider their values and also their character,” said Terre Ming, a graduate assistant for the President’s Office for Social Justice.

“Most of the presentations are to encourage students to be more positive, accepting and responsible individuals. Diversity Week reminds us that the world is becoming increasingly more diverse. Therefore we must recognize each person’s unique value and respect people for who they are.”

The main Diversity Week events include:

• “Life Rolls On!” Jesse Billauer, who suffered a surfing accident that rendered him a quadriplegic, will tell his story Monday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. in the Mountainlair Ballrooms.

• “Passive Bullying: How Bystanders Contribute to Harassment.” Author and attorney Kent M. Weeks of Weeks & Anderson, Nashville, Tenn., will speak Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m. in the Mountainlair Ballrooms.

• The 25th Annual Women of Color Luncheon will be held in the Mountainlair Ballrooms on Wednesday, Oct. 17, at 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• “Preventing Bullying, Rape, Stalking and Partner Violence.” Sam Wilmoth of WELLWVU will speak Wednesday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. in the Mountainlair Ballrooms.

• Morgantown International Festival will be held at Hazel Ruby McQuain Park on Friday, Oct. 19, from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

• “Creating Community: A Forum About Bullying” will be a student-led discussion. On Thursday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. in the Mountainlair Ballrooms.

Diversity Week is sponsored by WVU, the Greater Morgantown Area Youth Commission and in collaboration with the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners toward building an inclusive community.

For the full Diversity Week schedule, you can check out http://socialjustice.wvu.edu/r/download/142187

-WVU-

cg/10/10/12

CONTACT: Sharon Mallow, President’s Office for Social Justice
304-293-5496, Sharon.Mallow@mail.wvu.edu

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