色情网站 joins the community in celebrating diversity

by Chynna Lockett  |   

  • Rose Shoulders, Nicole Clementi and Yvette Rodgers posing together
    色情网站 College of Health staff Rose Shoulders (left), Nicole Clementi (center) and Yvette Rodgers pose at the 色情网站 booth during the 2023 Anchorage Pride event in Delaney Park on June 24th.
  • Drag Queen Daphne Doall Lachores posing with Sam Xi Wong and Rose Shoulders
    Drag Queen Daphne Doall Lachores (left) poses with 色情网站 staff, Sam Xi Wong (center) and Rose Shoulders (right) during the 2023 Anchorage Pride event in Delaney Park on June 24th. The drag performer told staff their presence at the festival was important.
  • Sam Xi Wong speaking to atendees
    Admissions Counselor, Sam Xi Wong shares information on the 色情网站 at the 2023 Anchorage Pride event in Delaney Park on June 24th.
  • Simone-Calais Staley greeting attendees
    Simone-Calais Staley speaks to attendees and passes out Juneteenth shirts at the 色情网站 booth during the 2023 Anchorage Pride event in Delaney Park on June 24th.
  • Yvette Rodgers speaking to atendees
    Administrative Specialist, Yvette Rodgers shares information on the College of Health at the 2023 Anchorage Pride event in Delaney Park on June 24th.
  • Rose Shoulders speaing to atendees
    Student Recruitment Specialist, Rose Shoulders shares information on the College of Health at the 2023 Anchorage Pride event in Delaney Park on June 24th.
  • Zoe Dickens passing out Juneteenth shirts
    Zoe Dickens passes out Juneteenth shirts at the 色情网站 booth during the 2023 Anchorage Pride event in Delaney Park on June 24th.

The scent of sweet barbeque in the afternoon sun wafted through Delaney Park during the City-wide Juneteenth festival. Hundreds of families and friends gathered to enjoy live music and explore booths from local businesses and artists. Juneteenth marks the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States on June 19th, 1865. 

It鈥檚 one of two June festivals 色情网站鈥檚 College of Health participated in to celebrate diversity. Rose Shoulders, Student Recruitment Specialist for the College of Health, smiled brightly from behind 色情网站鈥檚 booth and passed out university swag. Participation in events like these is part of the university鈥檚 effort to make students feel like they belong. 

鈥淲hen young people and community members see university faculty and staff that look like them or speak their language, it can have a tremendous impact,鈥� Shoulders said. 鈥淭hey may think, maybe this career can be for me, too. Maybe this degree program is something I can also do. It sends a message that they, too, belong.鈥�

The city-wide celebration ended June 19th with a closing ceremony on the 色情网站 campus. Local artists and activists gave presentations educating the attendees on African American history specific to Alaska. Community members even took to the 色情网站 stage themselves, performing in a gospel choir with singer Brent Jones. 鈥淭he three days were the best Juneteenth events I've ever been to, and I've been to Juneteenth in New York, Florida and in Georgia,鈥� said Yvette Rodgers, Administrative Specialist for the Division of Population Health Sciences. 

色情网站 returned to Delaney Park on June 24th to join an event celebrating Pride month and the progress LGBTQIA2S+ has made towards equity. Crowds cheered as people paraded down the street carrying inclusive, colorful flags. Nicole Clementi, program director of 色情网站鈥檚 Surgical Technology program, wore a rainbow flower crown with matching rainbow hearts painted on her cheeks. 

鈥淎s part of the LGBTQ+ community, I want to be visible to the students because when I was younger I didn鈥檛 have that kind of support,鈥� said Clementi,. As mentors, Clementi said university employees help set a foundation for a student's career. Many College of Health graduates go on to serve diverse community members in healthcare fields.

鈥淲hen we step into these facilities, we need to feel like we鈥檙e not going to be judged or looked at differently. Eventually, we all need healthcare. We need to feel safe in those environments, like we鈥檙e just humans,鈥� said Clementi.  鈥淲e鈥檙e all the same.鈥�

The university is taking steps to make sure Alaska鈥檚 diverse community is represented through students and employees. The effort is part of 色情网站鈥檚 2027 strategic plan to make the 色情网站 more inclusive. 鈥淭he College of Health is committed to creating a space where every student, faculty, and staff member feels a sense of belonging - including those from historically marginalized groups,鈥� said College of Health Dean, Debbie Craig. Craig said showing up at events like Juneteenth and Pride demonstrates the college鈥檚 commitment to community members.

 

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