Diversity Event

The Mixer – April 8, 2009.
Sponsored by ALLIED.

This was a great event. The purpose was to tell others in/outside RIC about ALLIED and what it stands for. Many staffs and also people from other schools were invited. After some of the first members of ALLIED told their experiences and why they keep coming back, the guests had the opportunity to introduce themselves, make comments and ask questions. Well now I want to say why this event was so important not only for me but also for all that were there. I would start by telling what is ALLIED.
ALLIED started in 2006 as a small group with only 8 members. But now as of spring ‘09 there are around 34 members. What first began as a small group of students gathering together and advising each other, now has become an official class.
ALLIED is for students in the educational field. The class meets every Wednesday during the free period (12:00 – 2:00 pm). But the most important is that ALLIED is a diversity class and is constituted by “unrepresented” groups (LGBT, parents, African Americans, Latinos, Asian, etc.) in RIC. There are also white people in the class. So you may ask what a white person does in an unrepresented group. Well, s/he may be white but could also be a parent, or low-class, etc.
When students are ask why they keep coming back to ALLIED they say when they are in the class they feel like being at home and feel comfortable been with others that are in the same situation. Anybody in the education department can register for the class. If you do, you will not regret it. In ALLIED you get the advise you need as what classes to take, how to prepare for the PRAXIS, how to manage stress, what to do if you are failing a class, etc. And you also get FREE LUNCH every class. NOW, want to know who is the teacher of the class? Dr. Bogad. This is a 1 credit class and it’s free. So PLEASE get enroll so you can experience it yourself. If you want more info. Get in contact with Dr. Bogad.

i think this event can be related to:
Johnson: because we talked about many issues like how it feel to be part of an unrepresented group and how to advocate for yourself--"use the words"-2-find soultions and make a change.

Delpit: while talking about different strategies of how to speak up for your rights, the rules and codes of power are taught.

Carlson: there were many people who identify themselves as LGBT. During this event i could hear some of their experiences and how good they feel for been part of a group (a class like ALLIED) where many others are going through the same situation or something similar.