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| Understanding each other's differences while embracing our own individuality |
 Diversity: A Blind Perspective
By Kristen Johnson, Student - PVCC
People see me as I traverse the halls of PVCC with my white cane tapping the ground in front of me. But do they know what the cane is used for? Typically the answer is no. Sometimes people think in all seriousness that my cain is for wacking a person's shins or to trip them up or just used to make their lives miserable. However, this is not the case. The white cane is a tool used for navagation. Put simply it is my eyes. This is one adaptive technique that I use to navagate the campuss safely and efficiently. I know where I am on campus by using my cane to find land marks such as the benches on the main thoroughfair or the stairs that lead to the KSC and M buildings. These land marks help me orient myself to my surroundings and enable me to get where I need to go.
Another tool that I use is a program on my computer called “JAWS” or “Jaws for windows.” This text to speech program interfaces with the computer to read the text on the screen to me. This enables me to surf the net, work with g-mail, IM, and complete my homework.
Finally, the last piece of technology that I will discuss though there are many other aids to help me succeed as an honor student is the Braillenote. This is a blind person's equivelent of a PDA. With this I can take notes in class, take down a phone number, play games, perform scientific computations and many other things besides.
This is just a snap shot into the world of a blind person and though it looks foriegn and to some scary I am just a person like anyone else with the same emotional range, problems, ambitions and triumphs. In the end blind people have more incommon with their sighted peers then differances and that enables us to live together, mostly in harmony. |
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Reflections as a Diversity Coordinator for PVCC
By Ken Clarke, Financial Aid Advisor & Diversity Coordinator
Diversity is the individual differences we all have. For example: people are diverse by culture, ethnicity, gender, physical ability, sexual orientation, religion, perceptions, etc. By definition, diversity is all of the above, however that is only part of it. When one is attempting to describe diversity on a political, social, organizational, and institutional level it is quite different. As far as how diversity manifests itself on the PVCC campus, you must use the term inclusive to describe how diversity plays out on campus. In this context, diversity and inclusion must be presented as one. Diversity is who, and inclusion is how. This becomes the process by which we insure that all diversity is included - and has a voice or representation on our campus. Inclusion is how the campus includes the diversity of all to offer a truly reflective educational experience for all students and staff.
I would like to see more embracing of diversity and inclusion across the campus - both in and out of the classroom. Interculturalism is one of the more difficult aspects of diversity and inclusion. Focusing on these aspects tends to conger up a great deal of guilt regarding access, abilities, privileges & social justices. Diversity is the global identifier of diversity and inclusion while Interculturalism is the focus of the situation. I would never want to combine the two terms. They will never be one. The learning and growth comes from one day being able to deal with the differences. In our society, we have a fear of differences. We need to develop and practice dialogues regarding differences. When we are able to accomplish this, we can then capitalize on those differences for a stronger future.
There are no one-size-fits-all in analyzing the history of individual groups and what might lead to their greater inclusion in society and organizations. I have learned that there are a great many people around with a great deal of hope. I have discovered that many are interested in diversity and inclusion, but they do not know how to approach this anxiety-ridden topic. I have also learned that when approaching diversity & inclusion on a social justice level, many of us choose to avoid the discussion or try to discredit the research.
Looking back over the past couple of years, I have discovered some important things about our students. They have hope! They look for and want opportunities to be around - and work with students who are different from themselves. They want the college to offer those opportunities in a safe supportive environment. It has appeared to me that the younger the student, the more courageous they are in their pursuit to learn and understand differences in others. Additionally, many have gravitated toward the opportunity to practice their leadership skills.
We - as faculty and staff - need to ask ourselves if we are ready to meet their needs when it comes to diversity and inclusion. Do we embrace |
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 You Are Never Too Old to Learn
By Rhonda Swanson, Adult Re-entry Psychology Student
Strong emotions - such as fear - as well as other barriers, keep many adults from returning to education even though it is becoming increasingly more important for them to do so.
The millions of adult students who do break through the upfront barriers find themselves in a system built largely for - and around - traditional students. This well-worn path will not work for most adult learners. Therefore, their success rate in obtaining a degree or certificate is at risk even before they get started. Adult learners in the highest risk categories for not succeeding demonstrate four primary categories of need: first, they need guides and mentors; second, they need financial aid - including tuition reimbursement, grants and paid employment; third, they need a peer community; and fourth, they need a guided - and specific - academic plan.
Paradise Valley Community College is a place where adults can find the above resources in a supportive and encouraging atmosphere - if they know where to look. Paradise Valley Community College is making great strides in recognizing and serving the needs of the adult re-entry student, which currently represents approximately 46% of the entire population. The school provides counselors, academic advisors, free seminars, career counseling, and financial aid - just to name a few. The services provided to adult re-entry students are among the very best when compared to the universities that are simply too large to be able to cater to individual needs in the same way.
Adults generally need to get through the system differently than someone right out of high school. They need to learn the lingo associated with higher education. They need to be able to talk to someone who is willing to guide them as to where to go, what to do, and who to see when they need assistance - school related or not. They really need to know upfront about all the resources and friendly faces that they will encounter along the way. Advisors, tutors, career counselors, mentors, personal counselors, and the AWARE Club - Adults Who Are Returning to Education, a national non-profit organization - are all vital to the re-entry student’s survival.
AWARE and PVCC are working together in order o make sure that they are able to assist as many adults as possible to become successful students. When it comes to the age diversity on campus, it is not noticed by either the younger sect or the older very much. We are accepted, and usually appreciated, in the classrooms, team projects, and our own individual successes. We are able to make friends fairly easily with the younger generation. We are generally embraced by them - not ridiculed or neglected by our peers - young or old. |
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My Personal Statement of Transformation at Paradise Valley
By Jazmyne Lyons, Cultural Anthropology & Web/Graphics Design Student
My life has been a virtual rainbow of events – traumatic, dramatic, and exciting. I have always accepted my challenges in life to be learning experiences that are simply variances of colors in my “life rainbow.”
After being a homebound single parent with seizures for eight years while raising three children – one of whom is mentally challenged, I have become the virtual “butterfly” that has escaped from its cocoon. Perhaps because I have survived clinical death four times, I embrace all my life experiences. I am now a determined, focused, interdependent, and formidable woman. I know who I am, where I am going, and what my life’s purpose is.
My involvement in a variety of areas at Paradise Valley Community College would be representative of red hues of my life rainbow. Reds symbolize passion, and I am incredibly passionate about my learning process and my involvement with the school. One of my major passions is in creating new ways to help others. I currently am a Peer Mentor for two classes – College Success and Career Development for Cathy Mendoza & AAA College Success for Patri Mays, a New Student Orientation Leader, an Ambassador for Paradise Valley Community College, an officer in AWARE – Adults Who Are Returning to Education – the adult re-entry club on campus, and an Honors Student in Phi Theta Kappa. Because of my strong involvement in the school, I am also part of the PEAK umbrella of leadership program.
With a GPA of 3.85, I have been chosen to be an intern for the Maricopa District’s Diversity Infusion Program. This will combine my blue and purple hues. In spirituality, blue represents inspiration while purple represents creativity and meditation. This totally encompasses my being and who I have become while returning to complete my education.
It is my goal in life to promote peace through understanding. Through the internship, I will be able to begin to promote peace by bringing people together on the school’s website. The theme I am working with is, ”Understanding each other’s differences while embracing our own individualities.” If I can help people to understand each other, then that understanding will spread to others.
In the spring of 2008, I was awarded the Puma Paw award for excellence in Leadership. This is the second to highest award offered to the students of Paradise Valley Community College, and a person must be nominated by the faculty. I have been on the National Dean’s List, and the President of PVCC’s List for every semester that I have been enrolled at Paradise Valley Community College. Here is where my green hues have crept into my education. Green stands for calmness and tranquility. This is where my butterfly escaped the cocoon that I had found myself for far too long. I have found the place that I fit best, and I can only see my life improving from this point on.
The orange and yellow hues of my life were full of frustration and anger. I much prefer my tranquil life that I find myself in now. Only through the environment that I have achieved for myself now, can my butterfly truly grow into the beautiful part of nature that I know it will be. Only through finding my wings am I truly able to experience the world as I was meant to all along.
My purple hues really stand out in my personal and extra-curricular life. I am a writer and a creator. I currently am writing six different novels of different genres. It is my goal to have the first one finished and ready for publication during the up-coming summer. I have used my creativity to develop the AWARE logo for the campus, and I am currently working on three other logos for the campus. I love to work with desktop publishing creating such items as; flyers, banners, posters, and business cards. This creativity will be a huge part of my degree program.
I currently am working towards two degrees during my time at Paradise Valley Community College. My major is Cultural Anthropology, and my minor degree will be in Web & Graphic Design. My goal has been to be able to start a diversity magazine. My creativity will be challenged with the Diversity Infusion Program. However, the internship will allow me to test the waters before I work on my own magazine. Upon graduating from PVCC in the spring of 2010, I plan to attend Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona to obtain my Bachelor’s in one – if not both of the degrees.
One way or another, I plan to use my newly-gained knowledge in both areas to promote learning about each other and understanding the differences, while still maintaining our own individuality. Like the caterpillar that turns into the beautiful butterfly, I am encouraged to help individuals to see the beauty in everyone – as well as the beauty we each possess individually. |
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New Club on the Rise: PRIDE
~ Article in the Puma Press 2008
Co-authored by Violetta Papadakis and Richard Ricketts
 Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, after a two-year hiatus the PRIDE club has once again burst upon the scene with vigor and passion quickly becoming an active and influential organization within the PVCC community. This is thanks to Robin Williamson, Violetta Papadakis, Sarah Shucart, Cherie Lahey, BG Sims, and advisor Dale Heuser. The acronym P.R.I.D.E. represents our club as People Respecting Individuality Diversity and Equality.
With this foundation laid, our goal as an organization is to promote these attitudes and permeate them throughout the school and community. We intend on doing this by bringing seemingly controversial and “taboo” topics to the forefront through means of political activism as well as hosting and participating in a variety of charitable and social events. One of the recent charitable events the PRIDE club has contributed to was last winter’s Adopt-A-Family drive. We are also going to take part in the Relay for Life coming up in April. We will also be hosting a number of different speakers during our meetings and at various other times, to speak about hot topics including: substance abuse, the process of becoming a transgender individual, political topics affecting the LGBT community, and much more.
We want to open up the lines of communication with anyone and everyone who is willing to participate and take part in active listening. PRIDE is an up and coming club within PVCC and we are still very interested in acquiring new members. There are no requirements for becoming a member, anyone is accepted and you do not have to be a part of the LGBT community. We are open to all individuals, due to the fact that we are trying to educate the community about not discriminating against anyone for any reasons. Feeling accepted is a powerful aspect in self-esteem and we realize that there are many individuals who feel that they don’t fit in anywhere and we want them to know that we are ready and available for them to feel apart of something. As Dr. Seuss said: “Be who you are because those who matter don’t mind and those who mind don’t matter.”
To get into contact with PRIDE, please contact club advisor Dale Heuser (602) 787-7276. You can also check out their MySpace (http://groups.myspace.com/pvccprideclub) or their PVCC club website (http://www.pvc.maricopa.edu/clubs/pride). Meeting times are Thursdays from 5:15 to 6:45 in M223. If you would like to become involved or get more information about additional clubs at PVCC stop by the Student Life Center in KSC rm. 135.
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 American Sign Language
~ Judy Mohan
Professor of Sign Language
The Sign Language (SLG) course is being offer to anyone who would like to learn in a different way. The goal is to take students with little or no knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf Culture and provide them with the skills needed to communicate comfortably in a wide variety of situations in the Deaf community.
According to the Standards for Foreign Language Learning provided by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), "all the linguistic and social knowledge required for effective human- to-human interaction is encompassed in those ten words 'Knowing how, when, and why to say what to whom.'
Before the authors of Signing Naturally books designed the curriculum, they studied different approaches to second-language curriculum design. They sought an approach that emphasized interpersonal communication and that helped students achieve communicative competence.
The Sign Language (SLG) course is under Communication/Humanities Dept. and is offering 4 classes during daytime and 4 classes during evening. There are two different levels of learning ASL. Anyone who wishes to learn ASL will need to take first year: SLG 101 & 102 then following with SLG 201 & 202. It is fun and rewarding experience course for those who like to challenge in learning. This course is taught mostly by Deaf teachers and will educate the students the aspect of Deaf life by attending some events and social in Metro Phoenix.
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| If you would like to write an article.Please contact: Norma Chandler at norma.chandler@pvmail.maricopa.edu |
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