BLOOMING WITH KINDNESS

Last Spring, CVCC held the first-ever CommUNITY Day in two different locations: Main Campus and the Alexander Complex.

CommUNITY Day is a special event which celebrates the unity of cultures represented in our student body and our current faculty/staff population.

Everyone who steps foot on campus should feel welcomed and respected. We all have our own set of personal experiences and great expectations, and as a community college, it is our job to recognize every student’s individuality. We exist to help others achieve new heights in their educational goals, whatever these may be. While it is important to know this, it is even more important to recognize the positive impact diversity brings to our wonderful students, staff, and other visitors.

Red Hawk Nation consists of many parts—and our Red Hawk spirit embodies one voice and one message: Spreading kindness to all. With this in mind, the first-ever CVCC CommUNITY Day was born.

This year’s theme, “Blooming with Kindness”, emphasized the ways we can work together to share good news and encouragement with one another. On the Alexander Campus, kindness bloomed during fun games and CommUNITY sessions. Students and visitors were welcomed to a safe, informative environment where they were able to meet friends from the college. Attendees also had the chance to learn about programs, resources, and local Alexander County events which continued to spread the message of unity for our community.

On Main Campus, students and visitors were welcomed to the CVCC Tarlton Complex, where doors were open to fun activities, the Food Truck Fair, and live presentations. Some students chose to participate in the outdoor games presented by the Office of Student Equity and Engagement—and most took the time to walk through the vibrant Cultural Tent displays.

Thanks to local CVCC leaders, these Cultural Tents were able to bring together a large representation of those who identify as Asian American/Pacific Islander, Latinx, African American, and other ethnic groups to share the ways their culture has shaped and influenced their personal lives.

Students could visit these tents, speak one-on-one with each representative, and learn significant aspects of ethnic diversity. One topic of conversation was ethnic minorities who are leading America, like Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green, an African-American physicist whose innovative approach to laser-targeted cancer eradication might lead to future treatments without chemo.

Emerging cultural shifts were also discussed, like the progressive movement among the Hmong communities, where more and more Hmong females are adopting cultural roles which were traditionally restricted to males.

Doors also opened up to the Tarlton Complex, where CVCC alumni came together for a special Alumni Callings Panel—sharing their college journey, their personal “callings”, and how their passion projects and professional pursuits have led them to become the person they are today.

Sometimes, (and as these alumni revealed, most times), a calling involves a mix of personal passion and professional pursuits. No matter your age, background, or experience level, it can be scary to navigate the ups-and-downs of finding your source of self-fulfillment and recognizing who you are designed to be.

This idea carries farther than Red Hawk Nation; no matter your talents, you can contribute to your community by following your calling. From county to county, the message was clear: Red Hawk Nation is open for everyone.