The event I attend was
the RIC’s Unity Center Commemorates 20th Anniversary. Here is the
link to the event http://www.ric.edu/news/details.php?News_ID=2625.
I was invited to this event
by Dr. Mark Gunning and Keri Rossi-D’entremont. I took SPED 300 with Dr.
Gunning, and Keri is the director for the office of disability at RIC. I
receive services at the disability service center, this is how I know Keri.
http://www.ric.edu/disabilityservices/ I
sat at a table of eight, with other peers who also have disabilities of their
own, some learning and some not. They were a couple of peers who I say next too
who are part of the Advocacy and Beyond Club (ABC). Their club website is down,
but you can find them in this directory. http://www.ric.edu/unitycenter/studentgroups.php#Advocacy_and_Beyond_Club
This event was a buffet
dinner, food was good. They were entertainment such as, music, speakers,
poetry, spoken-word. The key notes speakers were inspiring in their speeches.
The theme of the night, was of course, the celebration of diversity at RIC and
in the world general. The minority population for undergrad at RIC is 25%, which
according the Unity Center, is very important.
An underlining theme of
the night was social justice and oppression. The subject of social justice and
oppression was present in a well-fashions manor, but still had push-pull effect
for those whose adversity stem for inequality. This brought me back to the
Ullucci article, which explains how social systems, poverty, and myths that victim
blame, all effect the adolescent’s development and education. Myths like, “The Bootstraps Myth, The
Individual Faults Myth, The Educability Myth, and The Culture of Poverty Myth.”
These myths were occasionally address throughout the night.
I really had a good time
that night. I was able to catch up with Dr. Gunning again, connect with new
peers, and be inspired from not only the diversity that is at RIC, but the
passion in addressing inequalities that impeded social progress.
Oh, and one more thing. I was unable
to take any pictures… But! I bumped into Dr. Bogad, she can be alibi for my attendance
to Unity Center celebration event.
