GRANT TO PROMOTE UNIVERSITY DIVERSITY
By Vannessa Rodriguez
Comment Contributor
In the fall of 2012, Bridgewater State University began a new grant opportunity called the Promoting Diversity Grant.
There is $30,000 in this grant to be divided between student and faculty groups who would like to encourage diversity and social justice on campus.
This funding can be used for programs, projects, workshops, series, events and other creative initiatives.
The chair of the grant committee, Laurent Troland, wants this grant to “inspire new and unique programming that will directly benefit the students.”
Students and faculty groups can apply and money is dispersed four different times per year to provide more opportunity for different types of projects.
“We really want to have enough people apply for it in order to use the entire grant money,” said Ryan Greelish, the grant communications coordinator.
Last year, the grant was used to contribute to Africa Awareness Week, which provides students with a greater knowledge and awareness of Africa.
During that week there were many different music, dance, and art events, as well as lectures on social change, political instability and immigration.
It was also used for And Still We Rise, which is a theatrical performance by and about those who survive and come through drug addiction, domestic assault, and homelessness.
Anthropology professor Diana Fox also used this money to help fund and promote a documentary she worked on about the Fondes Amandes Community Reforestation Project.
This documentary is about a group of people in Trinidad who are working to restore the forest in which they live. Over the past 30 years, 60,000 seedlings have been planted and now the people of Trinidad live atop 150 acres of forest.
This film will be shown on October 2 from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Moakley Auditorium.
The grant can be used for a variety of things whether it be documentaries or bringing in guest lecturers and its mission is to encourage programs like And Still We Rise and Africa Awareness Week.
“It is a great opportunity for students, staff, and faculty to create programs devoted to diversity and social justice,” said Greelish.
Commuter Hub graduate assistant Jessica Levy is encouraging students to apply for the grant.
“This grant really enables offices like this one to make a difference in the school,” Levy said.
This year the application deadlines for the grant are October 4, November 1, and February 14..
For more information and to apply for this grant check out http://www.bridgew.edu/StudentAffairs/DiversityGrant.cfm.
Vannessa Rodriguez is a Comment contributor. Editor-In-Chief Greg Dudek edited this story. Email him at gdudek@student.bridgew.edu.
