April 13, 2017

Media Contact:
Erin Tofte-Nordvik, director of diversity, equity and inclusion, (509) 682-6868
Livia Millard, multicultural affairs coordinator-Omak, (509) 422-7814
Libby Siebens, community relations executive director, (509) 682-6436 (Mon. – Thurs.)

Wenatchee Valley College, in collaboration with the YWCA, will present a Stand Against Racism event at the Wenatchee campus on Wednesday, April 26, and the Omak campus on Thursday, April 27. These events are free and open to the public.

The Wenatchee event will be held around the fountain from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Welcome presentations will be given by Dr. Jim Richardson, WVC President; Jenny Pratt, YWCA Executive Director; and Frank Kuntz, City of Wenatchee Mayor.

The Wenatchee event will include performances, speakers and student stories:

• 9:20 a.m.: Theatrical performance “President Lincoln and Frederick Douglas: Battle Against Racism” by Leon McKinney.
• 10:15 a.m.: Jaime Ramirez, WVC Chicano/a Studies faculty, will share student stories.
• 10:30 a.m.: Dustin Clark, WVC History faculty, will discuss “Misconceptions and Misperceptions of Islam.”
• 11 a.m.: Jaime Ramirez will lead participants in a moment of silence.
• 11 a.m.: WVC Tribal Outreach Liaison Lynn Palmanteer-Holder will present “Standing, Falling and Surviving Racism: A Critical American Indian Perspective.”
• 11:30 a.m.: Dr. Karen Alman, WVC Communications faculty, will present “We Belong: Combating the Impostor Syndrome.”
• 12 p.m.: Vanessa Gutierrez of the Northwest Immigrants’ Rights Project will discuss DACA.
• 12:30 p.m.: Northwest Justice Project will give a “Know Your Rights” performance skit.
• 1 p.m.: Anne Cubilié, Central Washington University Associate Provost of Academic Affairs, will give a presentation about “Migrant and Immigration as Human Rights: Global Frameworks and Local Concerns.”
• 2 p.m.: Jenny Pratt of the YWCA and Erin Tofte-Nordvik, WVC Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, will close the ceremony on the Wenatchee campus.

The Omak campus event will be held throughout campus including in the native garden, campus courtyard and Hazel Allen Burnett Hall from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Pratt and Richardson, in addition to Omak Mayor Cindy Gagne, will give welcome speeches in the native garden. A native honor song will also be performed.

The Omak event will includes speakers, student stories, a film showing and a concert:

• 10:30 a.m. in the campus courtyard: Livia Millard, WVC at Omak Multicultural Affairs Coordinator, will discuss “Social Construction of Race.”
• 11 a.m.: Lynn Palmanteer-Holder, WVC Tribal Outreach Liaison, will discuss “Standing, Falling and Surviving Racism: A Critical American Indian Perspective.”
• 11:30 a.m.: Jessica Rehms of the Northwest Immigration Rights Project will present “Know Your Rights.”
• 12:30 p.m.: Dr. Karen Alman, WVC Communications faculty, will present “We Belong: Combating the Impostor Syndrome.”
• 1:15 p.m.: WVC instructor Dr. Joan Qazi will present “Understanding Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice.”
• 2 p.m. in Hazel Allen Burnett Hall: Film showing of 13^th, a documentary by Ava DuVernay. The film explores race, justice and mass incarceration in the U.S., and is named after the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits slavery. A question and answer session will follow the film.
• 5 to 7 p.m. in Omak Civic League Park: Adrian Xavier Reggae Band will perform.

Sponsors for these events include: WVC College Assistance Migrant Program, Chicano/a Studies, Student Senates (Wenatchee and Omak), the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office and Omak campus Multicultural Affairs; YWCA; Columbia Valley Community Health; Central Washington University; Wenatchee City Diversity Advisory Council; Together for Youth.