MCC co-hosts healthcare cultural competence panel

MCC is teaming up with two local nonprofit organizations this week to host a panel discussion focused on the creation of culturally competent healthcare organizations and providers throughout Greater Kansas City.

Cultural Competence Panel

The event, to be held at the MCC-Penn Valley Health Science Institute, is sponsored by Harmony and supported by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Young Latino Professionals group. The panel will be held Tuesday, July 19, 5:30-7 p.m.

Panelists include Carla Gibson from REACH Foundation, Gaby Flores from Children's Mercy Hospital and Sandy McIlnay from the Health Science Institute. Darryck Dean, president of Harmony, will moderate. The event is free and open to the public; all MCC students and employees are invited to attend.

Harmony is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing appreciation for cultural diversity and eliminating intolerance. This week's panel is part of a quarterly dialogue series the organization puts on to explore various aspects of diversity and inclusion.

MCC honored for LGBT equality efforts

The Human Rights Campaign, the country’s foremost authority on civil rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities, presented MCC with an award last week in recognition of the college’s policies and practices that support LGBT employees and constituents.

The award was presented by HRC’s Kansas City chapter at their fifth annual Corporate Celebration of Equality on Thur., March 31.

MCC was chosen for the honor because of

Rangel appointed to Guadalupe Center's Board of Directors

Juan Rangel, director of community engagement at Metropolitan Community College, was recently appointed to the Guadalupe Center's Board of Directors. Rangel joined MCC in 2006 as director of business development for the district.

"It is a real honor to serve on a historical Latino organizational board that is creating change with many,” said Rangel. “MCC wants to continue building strong relationships in the community. Being a conduit to the Latino community along with others can keep supporting MCC’s strong mission to benefit everyone."

Rangel is a known local and regional public speaker and he has developed and delivered motivational programs and specialized trainings for a number of area organizations. He also serves on the boards of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, Truman Medical Centers, UMKC Women’s Center, NWMSU Foundation Board and Heartlands Men’s Choir.

Women business owners share expertise

MCC-Penn Valley continued its women's history month celebration with "Enterprising Women," a networking showcase of local women entrepreneurs. The event was coordinated by Chris Kelly, MCC supplier diversity program coordinator.

Featured presenters included: Mary Anne Auer of Wexford Labs, Linda Norfleet of Ruth Burke & Associates, Brenda Clark of BC Collection custom jewelry, Lindsay Aydelotte of Herlife magazine, Audrie Seeley of Andrie Seeley Landscaping, and Desta Watson of Divine Floral designs.

Panelists shared lessons learned and gave advice to attendees wishing to start their own businesses.

MCC-Maple Woods builds positive, diversive experience through AURI

Dedicated to fostering a positive, diverse learning atmosphere for students and employees, the MCC-Maple Woods Awareness, Understanding, Respect and Inclusion (AURI) Council is working to get students, faculty and staff involved in making "The Woods" a community leader in diversity.

The AURI Council seeks to promote intellectual discourse, open and honest communication, and opportunities to understand and learn from other cultures and perspectives. The council is working to define diversity beyond the normal, physical indicators, such a gender or race, to bring attention to the many types of people present on any campus. Ability, age, economics, religion, sexual identity or orientation and political views are just a few of the other "differences" that contribute to a colorful, diverse environment.

Co-chairs Crystal Johnson, history faculty, and Deb Cougill, assistant to the president, have assembled a group of faculty, staff administrative and student representatives to address the various issues associated with promoting a diverse campus.

Involved in faculty hiring? Don't miss this webinar!

If you are involved with the process of hiring new MCC faculty, MCC human resources invites you to attend this webinar on research strategies for recruiting and retaining faculty of color. The webinar, conducted by the American Association for Affirmative Action, will be followed by a discussion to determine if any of the strategies can be successful at MCC.

Recruiting and Retaining Faculty of Color: Strategies, Roadblocks and Incentives
presented by Dr. Marybeth Gasman
Administrative Center Boardroom
Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010
1-2 p.m. webinar (please arrive at 12:45)
2-3 p.m. dialogue

MCC-Maple Woods closes out another diverse Storytelling Celebration

MCC-Maple Woods closed out its 11th annual Kansas City Storytelling Celebration with a spectacular performance full of song, story, laughter and lessons. Held Nov. 2-6, 2010, the yearly festival attracted more than 20,000 visitors to over 100 venues in the Kansas City Metro area.
This year’s program featured diversity on many levels, from the guests to the tellers themselves. Seniors, pre-schoolers, school children, adults and members of several cultural backgrounds were all included in the event. There was a rich diversity among the festival’s featured storytellers as well, with the Mexican-American heritage of Olga Loya, the African American history and experience of Bobby Norfolk and Elizabeth Ellis’ portrayal of the more subtle but equally-rich heritage of the American South. Thom and Sarah Howard rounded out the featured line-up with their own take on the local area.

In addition to the line-up of visiting tellers, several regional tellers shared their unique experiences as well. Tellers from Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Illinois and Missouri embodied the diversity within middle America, from the Native American traditions highlighted by Jim “Two Crows” Wallen, to the Missouri Ozarks aura of Mike and Nancee Micham.

Three new events were added to the festival this year, reaching out to students to share their own stories with a Story Slam open mic night and partnering with one of Kansas City’s museums to enrich local history. The Story Slam event gave students, community members and storytellers alike the opportunity to share their experiences about one of the diverse-yet-shared things: family. Partnering with Kansas City’s unique Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, featured storyteller Bobby Norfolk brought two of the city’s brightest Negro League baseball stars, Satchel Paige and James “Cool Papa” Bell, to life. Olga Loya, sharing stories of her rich Hispanic heritage, gave a special performance at the Mattie Rhodes Art Center, one of Kansas City’s Hispanic culture centers. Loya educated and entertained the audience about the Day of the Dead, one of Latin America’s most-celebrated holidays.

Performances at local libraries, schools, senior centers and Boys & Girls clubs, along with workshops filled out the week-long celebration, which culminated with the festival’s flagship event, the Storytelling Spectacular. Bobby Norfolk, Olga Loya, Elizabeth Ellis and Thom and Sarah Howard performed a family-friendly event with folktales and stories from their very different but still similar backgrounds.

MCC-Blue River Salutes National Hispanic Heritage Month

If you enter in the east entrance of the Education Building on the MCC-Blue River campus, your eyes will instantly be drawn to a vibrant, colorful display featuring National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Amy Slater, the Campus Life and Leadership coordinator, is responsible for Blue River’s creative cultural display. Slater says “it is important for everyone to realize that so many different cultures, races, etc. have made the world what it is today.”

The month long celebration started yesterday and lasts through Oct. 15. According to the National Heritage Month website, it began in 1968 under Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration. In 1988, Ronald Reagan expanded the celebration to thirty days. This year’s national theme is “Heritage, Diversity, Integrity and Honor: The Renewed Hope of America”.

To learn more about the celebration and the contributions of valiant and famous Hispanics, visit the National Heritage Month website here.

More Information:

Famous Hispanics in History

Hispanic Heritage Month on Biography

MCC-Maple Woods Bookstore carries handmade fair trade items

As MCC campuses make an ongoing effort to support small businesses, the MCC-Maple Woods bookstore is taking it a step further by supporting global economic development – offering handmade bags purchased as part of a Fair Trade Federation exchange. The bags, which are handmade in Kathmandu, Nepal, are crafted from organic fibers native to the area by local artisans.

Fair Trade is a movement dedicated to equalizing trade practices on a global scale. Local specialties, items and handicrafts are purchased from local artists and vendors, often at a slightly higher price, while cutting out as many outside individuals as possible. The money flows to the workers themselves and infuses the local economy while supplying higher-quality items. All producers must meet conditions laid out by the Fairtrade Labeling Organization that ensures safe and effective practices for workers and the environment.

Message from Mark James - Transition

Good afternoon students and colleagues of MCC,

On July 1, 2010 I will assume the responsibilities of chancellor of MCC. As chancellor, I will become your biggest advocate. During a recent campus town hall meeting I was asked what my top priority would be. I gave a multi-part answer because of the intricacies of our many challenges. When I finished my answer, the astute questioner succinctly summarized for me that my job as chancellor will be, “to keep the doors open”. I readily accept the charge but I will go one step further--not only will I keep the doors open, but I will aggressively look for new doors for MCC to walk through.

While all public institutions are faced with significant economic challenges, MCC has unprecedented opportunities before us. However, before we can maximally avail ourselves of these opportunities, we have to get our house in order, and this starts with creating a culture of unity of effort. Working with the Chancellor’s Cabinet, I will challenge everyone to think and work beyond their immediate sphere of influence in making MCC fiscally sound for the future and more effective in preparing students, serving communities, and creating opportunities. We have some tough decisions ahead and we are going to tackle them together, not in organizational stovepipes or silos. While unity of effort will be the enabler, the following priorities will be my focus during fiscal year 2011:

· Identifying Revenue Growth Opportunities
· Budget – FY12 and Beyond
· Updating of Policies
· Communication

In the coming weeks, I will share more specific ideas within each of these strategic areas. As we move forward, I will work to ensure our workplace is civil, lawful, ethical, respectful, diverse, inclusive, responsive, enjoyable, and transparent. Helping me in this endeavor, will be my chief of staff, Kathy Walter-Mack. Kathy has served as the chancellor’s director of urban affairs and inclusion for the past year and has proven invaluable in resolving internal issues while improving MCC’s external relations. Kathy brings years of legal and policy experience in the field of education as she previously served as chief counsel for the Kansas City, Missouri School District as well as owned her own consulting business. Kathy has readily accepted my challenge to take on the “24/7” responsibility of serving as my chief of staff. Her skills and experience will serve MCC well. Please see her attached bio for further details.

These are challenging but exciting times for MCC. Together, we will excel, achieve, and remain a recognized cutting-edge leader in higher education. We are one MCC.

Sincerely,
Mark

MCC participates in business opportunity fair, receives awards

Dorothy Miller is presented her award at the MidAmerica Minority Business Development Council’s Business Opportunity Fair 2010.

MCC was one of 62 exhibitors to participate in the MidAmerica Minority Business Development Council’s Business Opportunity Fair 2010, held on May 27 at the Overland Park Convention Center. Dorothy Miller, purchasing director, and Chris Kelly, program coordinator for supplier diversity, staffed the MCC booth.

The fair recognized and celebrated the achievement of mainstream corporations that were successful in doing business with minority business enterprises in the amount of $50,000 or more between January and December of 2009. Miller accepted two awards on behalf of MCC or contracts awarded to World Wide Technology and Zones.

Kelly participated in the Business One on One segment of the tradeshow, which allowed participants 10-minute sessions to speak with participating corporations about upcoming contracts, procurement opportunities and best practice ideas.

The keynote speaker for the fair was Dr. Randal Pinkett, chairman and CEO of BCT Partners, who is well-known for his win on NBC’s hit reality show, The Apprentice.

The MidAmerica Minority Business Development Council serves as an advocate for the minority business community. The council’s foremost objective is to facilitate greater corporate purchasing volume with Minority Business Enterprises.

James introduced during COHO presentation

Chancellor Designee Mark James was introduced to members of the Coalition of Hispanic Organizations (COHO) during the June 4 monthly meeting held at MCC- Penn Valley.

During his presentation he discussed his background and MCC’s partnerships with Alta Vista Charter High School and Plaza del Nino Day Care, a partnership between the Guadalupe Center and MCC. He also expressed MCC’s continued commitment to work with the Hispanic community.

COHO is an umbrella group of more than 20 Latino-focused organizations in both Missouri and Kansas which have joined together to improve the quality of life for Latinos through networking, advocacy and collaboration.

James, Miller and Kelly recognized for continued support of minority suppliers

At the 24th Annual Awards Luncheon, held on Jan. 21, the MidAmerica Minority Business Development Council (MAMBDC) recognized appointed board members and the achievements of those who have excelled in support of minority businesses.

At the luncheon, Mark James, executive vice chancellor/chancellor designee, was recognized for his new appointment to the MAMBDC board of directors. James was appointed to the board based on his contributions to the community, his vision and leadership.

Dorothy Miller, director of purchasing, received the Buyer of the Year Award for her accomplishments in increasing minority participation with MCC. This award is presented to a corporate purchasing agent or buyer who effectively solicits qualified minority business enterprises.

Chris Kelly, program coordinator, received the MBE Coordinator of the Year Award. This award is presented to a corporate MBE coordinator who effectively solicits qualified minority business enterprises and encourages minority purchases within the company. Kelly is responsible for the implementation and coordination of MCC’s supplier diversity program.

Both Miller and Kelly are involved as volunteers on the Purchasing Advisory Committee and Minority Business Coordinators Committee, respectively. Their participation in monthly meetings has been valuable to minority businesses in addition to their help with programs, events and mentoring.

MCC began the minority business program in 1989, and has carried the commitment to be inclusive of diverse suppliers since that time.

MAMBDC is known for success in promoting business relationships between corporate members and minority businesses. MAMBDC is a nonprofit service organization that focuses on increasing business development opportunities between majority and minority businesses.