JOHNSON CITY – East Tennessee State University is one of two Tennessee organizations to receive a grant from the Corporation for National Service supporting programs for this month's Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
This $3,000 grant, "A Celebration of Cultural Diversity," was awarded to design and implement a diversity education program on campus. A committee of faculty, staff and students designed and piloted curricula for members of the ETSU campus during the fall semester, and a "Train the Trainers" program is planned for King Day, Monday, Jan. 21, from 9 a.m.-noon in the D.P. Culp University Center's East Tennessee Room.
Although ETSU classes are not in session and offices are closed each year in observance of King Day, the ETSU community celebrates King's birthday as "a day on, not a day off," according to Dr. Deborah White, assistant vice president for student life and leadership.
Previous King Day of Service projects have included the development of homework labs for school children through the Johnson City Housing Authority and service projects for the Shout Youth Leadership Program.
White notes that the campus is "excited" to begin this year's program in diversity education, which will involve diversity training for all ETSU faculty and staff, as well as a variety of training opportunities for students. This training will impart knowledge of the types of diversity and includes the film, "Journey to a Hate-Free Millennium."
"It is especially timely that this program be funded and developed to help rebuild the trust that was shaken by events on Sept. 11, and to further a better understanding among various cultures in our community," White says. "We hope this Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be a celebration of service and understanding among the cultures of America."
Campus and community members interested in participating in the "Train the Trainers" program on Monday should contact White at (423) 439-5675 or whited@etsu.edu.