Diversity Week celebration Oct. 7-11

Portuguese fado musician Cristina Branco

Diversity Week celebration Oct. 7-11

From a musical treasure that’s Portugal’s pride and joy to a discussion of human molecular genetics and race, there’s something for everyone at the University of Rhode Island’s sixth annual Diversity Week celebrations.

URI’s Multicultural Center will present a program of activities in celebration of the diverse personal heritages found in the campus community. From Oct. 7 to 11, workshops, films, exhibitions, a poetry slam, and musical performances will be open to the public at no cost.

“Diversity Week gives the community an opportunity to be exposed to our differences and to increase our knowledge, awareness, and skills in forming a civic community,” said Melvin Wade, director of the Multicultural Center. “Events such as these allow us to explore our connection to one another.”

In conjunction with the Honors Colloquium, Troy Duster, professor of sociology and director of the Institute for the Study of Social Change at the University of California, Berkley, will give the keynote address Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. Duster will discuss how biology has taught us to disregard race, yet it is now being used to identify racial differences in DNA.

The Diversity Video and Film Festival runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 8 and documents the lives of people living with a disability or social handicap. The films explore the attitudes of society toward diversity. The highly aclaimed Promises examines the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the eyes of children. Able to Laugh highlights the lives of six disabled comedians. Through their comedic discussion of their own lives they raise awareness about the issues faced by people with disabilities. Sound and Fury tells the stories of two families deciding to use cochlear implants for their deaf children. This medical procedure can produce hearing for many deaf children, but many feel it is genocide for deaf culture. Politics in Black and White discusses the experiences of people in interracial relationships.

On Oct. 9 at 8 p.m., soprano Roxana Tourigny, director of the URI Great Performances Series, will perform a repertoire of songs in ten languages entitled Exploring the World Through Song. This musical collection recognizes our differences while encouraging our resolution for unity.

Diversity Week concludes Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. with a performance by renowned Portuguese fado recording artist Cristina Branco. Fado music was brought to Portugal in the early 19th century by African slaves and has destiny, despair, love, and death as its main themes. It is performed by a singer accompanied by a Portuguese guitar and a classical guitar.

For a complete schedule of Diversity Week events, visit the Multicultural Center’s website at www.uri.edu/mcc.

By Nicole Duguay