Appalachian State University will bring the world to Boone on March 23 for its 9th Annual Diversity Celebration.

Beginning at 3:00 p.m., the Plemmons Student Union will go global as the community gets an up close and personal look at various cultures from around the world.

The Diversity Celebration encourages students and university employees to celebrate and become more aware of a wide variety of cultures, says an event spokesperson. “The celebration allows people to celebrate their differences and become united in common interests.”

This year's Diversity Celebration will include visual performances, storytelling, dance and instrumental performances representing numerous cultures from around the world, as well as related interactive activities and refreshments.

Susan King and Tracey Wright are returning as co-chairs of the celebration’s hardworking planning committee that consists of ASU staff, students, and faculty from a wide range of departments.

A key player among the group, King states, is Dr. Sarah Spier-Bergstedt of the Office of International Education and Development, who has been a member of the committee for the last three years.

“Sarah has a rich personal history of living and visiting in numerous countries. She is also a dancer and last year introduced a new feature for the celebration called ‘World Music and Dance Workshops.’

“Utilizing the expertise of dance instructors from the university and community as well as the offerings of ASU student groups, Sarah built a very popular platform for watching, learning and experiencing multiple dance forms from many cultures. It was so popular that we decided to bring it back again next year.”

Dr. Spier-Bergstedt says her participation in the celebration is a natural extension of her professional position, which she sees as helping to create, promote and structure intercultural learning opportunities both on the university campus and in the local community. The Diversity Celebration brings these two populations/communities together in a synergistic way, integrating the arts to celebrate world cultures on a variety of levels.”

Dr. Spier-Bergstedt describes her position as director of International Outreach at ASU, as  “a one-person area within a larger comprehensive Office of International Education and Development that provides resources for learning and teaching about world cultures and develops and promotes intercultural programming and training initiatives to serve the campus, local and regional communities.”

The main goal, she states, is to deepen global understanding and to increase the level of intercultural communication and global competency skills among Appalachian students, staff, regional schools, and community members through promoting cross-cultural sharing, learning, and exchange opportunities.

“Specifically, I am developing our ‘AS-U-GO’ program to K-12 schools in our eight-county area of northwestern North Carolina, inviting schools to host ‘World Culture Days.’”

She describes her World Music and Dance Workshop (within the Diversity Celebration) as participatory workshops, led by students, community members, and App State faculty reflecting a wide range of cultural dance forms and music. These workshops are an opportunity for all ages to learn a new movement and dance form they may have never tried.

The Diversity Celebration is funded in part by the Office of Equity, Diversity and Compliance, the Office of International Education and Development, the Office of Multicultural Student Development, Black Student Association, ASU Parents Association, ASU Staff Council, the Hubbard Center, the Black Faculty and Staff Association, Watauga County Arts Council with Grassroots funds from the North Carolina Arts Council, and a number of individual and business donors.
Admission is free, so come dance, play, eat and learn on this trip around the world that begins in Boone.

For more information, go to www.celebration.appstate.edu.


 

“Knowledge is the key to tolerance.”

To gain a new perspective on the lives of others around you as well as around the world

“At this predominately white college, a lot of the students, especially freshmen, have not experienced another culture. Cultural celebrations give students the opportunities to view and maybe understand more about cultures different from their own. Also, by learning about other cultures, students can develop respect and open-mindedness for other cultures.”

“To overcome ignorance and prejudice.”

“Diversity is our strength.”

“We are all diverse people. And celebrating our differences, as well as our common interests, helps unite and educate us.”

“To understand others’ perspectives, to broaden our own, and to fully experience and educate ourselves.”

“In a word, heritage.”

“Through each other's diversity we become more aware of our own. Not only do we become more aware, we gain a sense of pride for the diversity of our own culture.”

“Understanding people and their backgrounds is crucial to personal and community growth.”

“Diversity makes the world go round!!