Welcoming and Ingathering of People - Dr. Mamie Thorns
“… Kwanzaa is a time of ingathering… Kwanzaa promotes rituals of communion, of sharing and renewal of peoplehood bonds which strengthen mutual concern and commitment. And it stresses the need to constantly seek and stand together on common ground in the midst of our differences and diversity.”
Recommitment to our Highest Ideals - Angelo Walker
“Kwanzaa is a time of recommitment to our highest ideals. It is a time of focusing on thought and practice of our highest cultural vision and values which in essence are ethical values… The Seven Principles are: UMOJA - Unity | KUJICHAGULIA - Self-determination | UJIMA - Collective work and responsibility | UJAMAA - Cooperative economics | NIA - Purpose | KUUMBA - Creativity | IMANI - Faith
Odu Ifa Meditation - Madalynn Paquette
“Let us not engage the world hurriedly. Let us not grasp at the rope of wealth impatiently. That which should be treated with mature judgment, Let us not deal with in a state of anger. When we arrive at a cool place, Let us rest fully; Let us give continuous attention to the future; and let us give deep consideration to the consequences of things. And this because of our (eventual) passing.”
Commemoration of the Past - Shonda Booker
“Kwanzaa is a time of commemoration of the past. It is a time of honoring the moral obligation to remember and praise those on whose shoulders we stand; to raise and praise the names of those who gave their lives that we might live fuller and more meaningful ones. It is also a time to appreciate our role as ‘heirs and custodians of a great legacy’ and to recommit ourselves to honoring it by preserving it and expanding it. We are, as African people, fathers and mothers of humanity and human civilizations, sons and daughters of the Holocaust of Enslavement and authors and heirs of the reaffirmation of our Africanness and social justice tradition in the 1960s. Each period leaves a legacy of challenge, struggle and achievement. We honor each by learning it and living it. And Kwanzaa is a focal point for this.”
Special thanks - Tionna Cager
“… Kwanzaa is a time of special reverence for the Creator and creation. It is a time of thanksgiving for the good in life, for life itself, for love, for friendship, for parents and children, the elders and youth… for family, community and culture… it is a time for recommitment to protect and preserve the earth and relate rightfully to the environment.”
Embracing & Fostering Cultural Understanding
SVSU takes great pride in the variety of programs offered that explore and embrace "differences" among people. Listed below are many of the events provided for the betterment of our University and the surrounding area.
Community Outreach
Life After SVSU
This annual program takes place during Black History Month and is an opportunity for current SVSU students to network with alumni and engage in a panel discussion on preparing for post-college life.
Taste of Soul
As a special event, the Office of Diversity Programs in collaboration with the Marketplace at Doan bring together various recipes prepared by faculty and staff as well as local chefs from the Great Lakes Bay Region. The event invites faculty, staff, students and the community to experience the African-American culture’s food.
Equity in the Classroom Conference
Equity Within the Classroom Conference is hosted annually as a collaborative effort between Michigan's KCP Initiative and the state's public and independent colleges and universities. With guest speakers that provide new perspectives, new ideas, and encourage open new ways of thinking.
Diversity Advisory Council
The Diversity Advisory Council was established in 2003 and its membership is comprised of a slice of the community at-large representing Bay, Midland and Saginaw Counties. The Diversity Council’s role is to: • Serve as supporters and community ambassadors for SVSU diversity and inclusion initiatives in the Great Lakes Bay Region, and • Make recommendations in an effort to increase connections with the minority community and identify areas related to diversity and inclusion such as, recruitment, retention, campus climate, outreach, policies and procedures.
Martin Luther King Jr. Event
This annual event is a celebration of the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and a recognition of youth in the Great Lakes Bay Region. The community foundations, collectively, have established and implemented a scholarship opportunity to be awarded to high school seniors across the region who have demonstrated Dr. King's teachings. Previously, the community foundations have awarded as many as (15) $1,000 scholarships. The event is free and open to the public.