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April 18, 2006
First multiracial identity development mini-conference is upon us
An increasing number of students on campus identifying themselves as biracial or multiracial. In addition, an increasing number of people identify themselves as biracial or multiracial on the United States census. Very few campuses around the United States have programs targeted towards multiracial identity models and ways they influence self perceptions.
FUSION was started in the 2003-04 school year at Hamline to establish a network of support for biracial, multiracial, and trans-racial adoptee students. Since its creation, it has been a very active and focused organization on campus.
NCORE and FUSION recognizes the need for our campus to become better educated, more supportive, and have initiatives directed at biracial and multiracial students. FUSION president Chris Bates and I developed a mission to design and implement a program to unite and support multiracial students and multiracial identity development in the Hamline community.
During last year’s National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE), I attended many workshops on how to support biracial and multiracial students on college campuses. I attended a workshop led by Dr. Charmaine Wijeyesinghe, who spoke openly and fluently on issues facing multi-racial students on college campuses. She shed light on how complex and rewarding embracing all of our multicultural identities can be.
Her workshop was very honest. She spoke openly about her experiences as a multiracial woman growing up and the challenges of embracing all of her racial and cultural identities. Professionally, she has made many contributions to college campuses in America by designing one of the first multi-racial identity models.
Fortunately Wijeyesinghe will be coming to campus for two events on biracial and multiracial identity development models on April 18. These events are open to all Hamline students, staff and faculty, as well as the ACTC schools.
Wijyesinghe will be facilitating a workshop entitled “Perspectives on Multiracial Identity: A Reflection on Racial Identity Models and How They Influence Our Understanding of Race, Identity and the Experience of Multiracial People” during convocation hour in the Klas Center Ballroom. She will also hold an interactive workshop on “Straight Talk about Multiracial People” at 6:15 p.m. in the University Conference Center, room 4.
Posted by dwright at April 18, 2006 01:19 PM
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