Pierce’s diversity committee hosted Multicultural Day on Wednesday, April 23, at the Great Hall to showcase the cultural, gender and social diversity of the campus community to encourage a more inclusive and equitable campus climate.
Multicultural Day has been a recurring event on campus, originating in the Spring of 2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event took place via Zoom until 2023, where it now takes place every April. The event contains faculty presentations on subjects ranging from kinesiology, Chicano studies, drama and live performances.
Vice President of the Muslim Student Association (MSA) Noor Kalla shared what stands out to him about the event and what he hopes students gain from it.
“Pierce College is such a diverse campus, there are all kinds of cultures. That’s what stands out to me,” Kalla said. “I really enjoy the diversity and seeing all the different types of traditions people have. It’s something we want people to learn from, grow from and be excited about.”
Sisters of the One Drum, an inter-tribal drum circle whose goal is to amplify the voices and roles of inter-tribal women, offer a platform for self-expression and spiritual growth.
Sisters of the One Drum member Sewa Valencia shared why she comes out to events such as this one to share her culture.
“I show up for things like this because any time that I get to be a part of and learn something and share our traditions, our ceremonies, our prayers, I leave with more understanding, more respect,” Valencia said.
Valencia also expressed how events such as this help people understand who they are as a part of the human race.
“Diversity makes the fabric so strong when we weave in all the cultures, colors, and differences, that’s what makes us rich and strong,” Valencia said.
The Sisters of the One Drum invited attendees to participate in their drum ceremony. ASL Interpreter DeOnzell Green was one of the volunteers to join in and explained what drove her to join in.
“The beat drove me up there. I love music and anything that has to do with the culture, I am all about and that totally drew me in. I had to be a part of it. It wasn’t even my choice,” Green said.
Green reflected on the performance given by The Sisters of the Drum and the message she thinks students gained from it.
“It was beautiful, it was wonderful to see a drum circle that was authentic, it really called me,” Green said. “It proves we are all one being. I like the way Valencia put it, we are all one pulse and everything we do affects everyone else so we have to be cognizant of that.”
