EMBRACING DIVERSITY

Student Equity and Engagement supports students from their first semester on campus to their graduation day, and through all the seasons in-between. This department offers dynamic services—and, with fantastic coordinators Ron Carson and Nisha Wright-Cavanaugh, our campus life continues to thrive.

Students want their voices to be heard and are eager to learn other perspectives. Finding time to listen to each other and share big ideas can be difficult, so the OSE addressed this need through their “Poppin’ Conversations” series. Created by Mr. Ron Carson, Poppin’ Conversations is a time when students come together for popcorn and fun events to unwind, learn, and build new friendships. These events all happen in the CVCC Student Center, so everyone can contribute to deep discussion about topics that influence our society and each other. This year, Mr. Carson managed three events: the CVCC Christmas Concert, MLK Remembrance Day, and “Heart to Heart”, an educational discussion on how to take care of your heart and yourself.

Carson and Wright-Cavanaugh are passionate about bringing authentic voices to light, which includes promoting diversity and acknowledging the diverse experiences of our students. To put their thoughts into action, they produced Cultural Connections, CVCC’s first-of-its-kind cultural awareness week. Each day, students gathered to highlight their differences while celebrating their similarities. Focused on the main minority groups on campus, Cultural Connections offered all students the time to share their cultural backgrounds and build community through a variety of dances, games, and music. Guest speakers from minority businesses held special seminars for students interested in exploring cultural resources.

A vibrant campus life is not all that students need for successful college careers. There are plenty of opportunities for students to grow new skills: Minority Males on the Move, Students Striving 4 Success, and the Student Leadership Academy are just a few ways people can branch out and strengthen their leadership abilities. There’s also Dress 4 Success, a mock-interview scenario where students prepare resumes, learn about the importance of self- vs. other-perceptions, and practice both sides of the interviewer/interviewee process. Feedback is anonymously provided to all students.

Carson and Wright-Cavanaugh also want every student to have their basic needs met, which includes caring for students who come to school hungry. Whether the result of Food Deserts (locations without access to grocery stores) or financial need, food insecurity is serious and can have a large impact on student success. This year, the Office of Student Equity & Engagement took the initiative to help eliminate food insecurity among our students.

The CVCC Hawk’s Nest is a free food pantry set up in 4 campus facilities: the Main Campus, the Alexander Center, the Furniture Academy, and the CVCC Cosmetology Center. During Fall of 2022, Hawk’s Nest served almost 4800 students. The college is grateful to have the resources which keep our students fed and help them focus on their education. To donate non-perishable items, contact Mr. Ron Carson at rcarson@cvcc.edu.

For more information about the Office of Student Equity & Engagement, scan this QR code