Bluefield State Receives $8,000 Diversity for Equity Grant
(Bluefield)—For a second year, the Bluefield State College Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion has been awarded the sum of $8,000.00 through the “Diversity for Equity” grants to fund programs that increase cultural diversity on campus and promote equal access to higher education opportunities. The grant funds will be used to support efforts to bring regional and nationally known speakers and performers to the Bluefield State College community, as well as support its annual International Festival.
Speakers to include Ms. Karama Horne, nationally known writer and pop cultural critic, discussing diverse images in contemporary media. Ms. Nikki Harmon, filmmaker, producer, and author of the book, When I Was Your Girlfriend and LGBTQ advocate. Dr. Ellington Graves, Director of Africana Studies at Virginia Tech, discussing the social, political, and cultural impact of the Obama presidency. Funds will also support the BSC International Festival, a program designed to highlight the arts, crafts, foods, and cultures of the college’s international community. It will also support the annual Women’s History Month luncheon.
“The funds provide much-needed support for programs designed to enhance the educational experience of the members of the Bluefield State College community. These opportunities provide a way for students to learn, not only about others and their perspectives but also about their own,” said Dr. Guy A. Sims, Assistant to the President for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
The Diversity for Equity program is a joint initiative of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education. The program aims to foster campus environments that are inclusive of various generational, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Projects funded through the initiative focus on closing achievement gaps among underrepresented populations and preparing students to live and work in a diverse world.
