Exploring Diversity People, Place, Culture, and Ecology Bonner Summer Leadership Institute 2007 Hosted by Oberlin College • June 3-6, 2007 A Special Thank You: The Bonner Foundation would like to thank Oberlin College for hosting this year’s Summer Leadership Institute. Staff and students have worked hard to make this event a rich one that celebrates diversity in the broadest and deepest ways, while also supporting the broader goals of building campus infrastructure, community impact, and student development. Thanks to: • President Nancy S. Dye • Dean of Studies Kathryn Stuart • Bonner Center for Service & Learning Staff: Beth Blissman, Donna Russell, Andy Frantz, Victoria Yacobozzi, and Jennifer Koerner • Director of the Multicultural Resource Center Eric Estes and MRC staff members who are helping to facilitate activities • Ombudsperson Yeworkwha Belachew • Student Leaders Charlotte Collins & Phoenix Forbes • Conference Services Staff including Heidi Chambers, Molly Tyson and others • Oberlin faculty, staff, and students who have helped to plan this SLI and make it a suc- cess • All of the workshop presenters (36 sessions offered) • All of the Diversity Reflection Sessions Facilitators, roughly 50 staff and students • Everyone (including the Bonner staff and students) who have worked hard to make this happen • and ALL OF YOU for being here to enjoy it with us. Exploring Diversity People, Place, Culture, and Ecology Table of Contents................................................................................3 Welcome to Oberlin............................................................................4 About the City and College................................................................5 About the Bonner Center for Service & Learning............................6 Full Agenda..........................................................................................7 Workshop Descriptions....................................................................13 Block 1.......................................................................13 Block 2.......................................................................15 Block 3.......................................................................17 Special Speakers at All-Group Sessions..........................................19 Out and About Service and Exploring Oberlin Options...................21 Evening Social Options......................................................................24 Restaurants.........................................................................................25 Diversity Reflection Sessions and Resources.................................26 Team Rosters for Sessions .....................................26 Clusters Listing for Diversity Session #2................31 All Bonner Service Roster........................................32 Ground Rules............................................................33 Definitions and Concepts........................................34 Being an Ally.............................................................35 Resources for Bonner Training & Enrichment.......36 Other Web-Based Resources..................................40 Other Logistics and Emergency Information....................................42 Campus Map........................................................................................43 3 Welcome to Oberlin from President Nancy S. Dye On behalf of the students, faculty, and staff of Oberlin College, I want to welcome you to the 2007 Summer Leadership Institute sponsored by the Bonner Foundation. Many members of our community, and especially the staff of the Bonner Center for Service and Learning, have been working hard to prepare for your visit. We send our greetings! Oberlin has great affinity with the mission, values and goals of the Bonner Foundation. All the Bonner principles – civic engagement, international perspectives, social justice, community building, diversity, and spiritual exploration– are part of the fabric of this college. As our motto, “Learning and Labor,” suggests, Oberlin has long been guided by similar principles that give specific meaning and purpose to an excellent education. These include commitment to the life of the mind; conviction that music and the arts are central to human existence; commitment to social inclusion, diversity, equality, free exchange of ideas, and respect for all points of view; internationalism; responsibility for steward- ing the natural environment; and commitment to informed social and political engagement. Oberlin has always held a conviction that men and women can change their communities —and the world at lar- ge—for the better. Oberlin, throughout our history, has taken pride in the ways our students and alumni have dedicated their intellects and their art to understanding human needs and finding constructive ways to meet them. We challenge and cultivate the creative spirit, encourage the process of discovery, expect mastery of craft, and promote development of the intellect. At Oberlin, the pursuit of knowledge is taken within a culture of integrity and driven by desire for achievement. We are honored to partner with the Bonner Foundation in co-sponsoring this Summer Leadership Institute. We hope that every one of you –whether you are part of the Bonner family, students, or faculty from the Ohio Campus Com- pact network or other regional colleges, or representatives from community agencies– will find the presentations engag- ing and enlightening for the essential work you do every day. Welcome to Oberlin College and the Summer Leadership Institute. I hope you find these days invigorating and inspir- ing. President Nancy S. Dye ...and from the Bonner Foundation staf on behalf of the Bonner Foundation, we thank Oberlin College for hosting and collaborating with us to share the 2007 Summer Leadership Institute. We are thrilled to be together as a community, one that is characterized by the spirit of friendship and Bonner Love and a shared commitment to make the world a better and more equitable place. We wel- come you and hope that we will all embrace the themes of this Summer Leadership Institute: to explore diversity in its broadest and deepest sense, better understand its connection to our daily work, to grow as individuals and as a commu- nity, and to uncover the potential we have to collectively impact ourselves, our communities and our world. Thank you! 4 Oberlin’s Rich History The roots of Oberlin College reach back to 1833 when two young missionaries, inspired by Alsatian pastor John Frederick Oberlin, resolved to found a college and colony on the western frontier “where they would train teachers and other Chris- tian leaders for the boundless most desolate fields in the West.” Currently, the city of Oberlin contains over 8,600 resi- dents and was voted the best college town in the state by Ohio magazine. Commenting on Oberlin's rare combination of architecture, cultural attractions, and collegiate enthusiasm, Ohio Week recently called Oberlin "a jewel in Ohio's crown." Oberlin College Oberlin College, an independent coeducational institution, holds a distinguished place among American colleges and uni- versities. Oberlin was the first college to grant undergraduate degrees to women and historically was a leader in the edu- cating of African Americans. The College uniquely combines an outstanding professional school of music with a leading undergraduate college of arts and sciences. The Conservatory provides flexible programs to prepare students as profes- sional musicians and teachers of music. Deeply committed to academic excellence, the College of Arts and Sciences offers a rich and balanced curriculum in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Within that framework the College expects that students will work closely with the faculty to design an educational program appropriate to their own particu- lar interests, needs, and long-term goals. Recognizing that diversity broadens perspectives, Oberlin is dedicated to recruit- ing a culturally, economically, geographically, and racially diverse group of students. Interaction with others of widely dif- ferent backgrounds and experiences fosters the effective, concerned participation in the larger society so characteristic of Oberlin graduates. Oberlin seeks students who are talented, highly motivated, personally mature, and tolerant of divergent views. The Conservatory of Music in particular seeks talented musicians with considerable potential for further growth and development. The Town of Oberlin Oberlin has it all - the quiet life of a small town, the services of a large city, and the music and art of the world. It has been called the most cosmopolitan small town in America. The community has a rich and diverse history, representing many different cultures and interests. Oberlin's charm can be found in its many tree-lined streets, its historic downtown with unique shops and a variety of restaurants, and most importantly, in its people. In addition, a bike path winds through the commu- nity, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and athletes. Easily accessible by five major highways, Oberlin is just a half hour drive from Cleveland and only twenty minutes from the shores of Lake Erie. The City of Oberlin has a rich and diverse history, representing a spectrum of cultures and interests. Until about 1861, Oberlin was a crucial stop on the Underground Rail- road for fugitive slaves who passed through on their way to Canada. This heritage will soon be further celebrated by the construction