In a presentation Tuesday night at the Alumni House, project leaders who were given diversity grants by the Earl W. and Hildagunda Brinkmman Foundation showcased the culmination of their yearlong work for members of the University community.
“This grant started out as a donation from the Earl W. and Hildagunda Brinkman Foundation, given to [professor of psychology Elizabeth] Gardner, who formed a committee dedicated to finding a way to use the money in the most effective way and the Student Diversity Grant program,” said Ashley Toombs ’07, who was on the advisory board that selected grant recipients.
Gardner approached Toombs to serve on the advisory board for the grants from both an administrative perspective and an advisor for the four grants.
“It quickly evolved into a project that I personally felt very connected to. Promoting diversity of all kinds is a key part of the Strategic Plan of the university and this is a wonderful way in which students can showcase the reality of diversity here at Fairfield,” said Toombs.
There were four proposals that submitted applications to receive these grants. Fairfield Roots Awareness Project (FRAP), Collegiate Closet, and Project Peg were direct winners.
“While The Elevation of Hip Hop did not receive the actual grant funding, they have since received subsequent support and funding from this grant, as well as other divisions of the university,” said Toombs.
Each of the four projects have already had events take place and will continue to do so through the end of the week.
“Collegiate Closet” surveyed the student body on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender issues.
Last week, the project leaders presented a three-step program to the Board of Trustees on how to improve the climate regarding these issues on campus.
FRAP surveyed the university community on its ethnic roots and created a map that reflects the cultural makeup of Fairfield students.
Project Peg started with a group of women on campus who discussed body image and transformed into a movement that uses art, poetry and theater to demonstrate how all individuals are beautiful.
The Elevation of Hip Hop held a variety of events related to Diversity Week events.
The projects are a way of showing the diversity that exists on campus.
“The projects are truly phenomenal and illustrate the fact that despite people’s negative feelings. Fairfield is a campus with diversity of many types and has potential to grow through the educational awareness that these projects are providing, as well as the funding and administrative support that is coming from the top down. It truly is a university wide initiative,” said Toombs.
Every year new submissions will be encouraged, but the Grant Advisory board hopes to see a continuing growth for the current projects, Toombs said.
The issues presented in the projects “have the ability to not only make people think and talk about controversial and difficult topics, but they also have the power to call people to action,” said Toombs.
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