The Guilfordian
February 6, 2015 | 3
. . J
NEWS
WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM/NEWS
GUILFORDIAN@GUILFORD.EDU
Zavaleta named Assistant Director of MED
Alumnus, co founder of Soy un Lider, to join faculty in Spring 2015 semester
BY ZACHARY LINDSEY
Staff Writer
Irving Zavaleta ‘08 became the new assistant director of the Multicultural
Educational Department starting the Spring 2015 semester. The MED primarily
works with people of color and the LGBTC^ communities and provides students
with educational, cultural and spiritual support.
Zavaleta expressed utmost gratitude and euphoria at being back and a part of the
Guilford community.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Zavaleta.
Zavaleta was the founder of Hispanos Unidos de Guilford, as well as cofounder of the
Soy un Lider Conference, an annual conference held at Guilford for underprivileged
Latino high school students. Before departing from Guilford, Zavaleta was also vice
president of Guilford’s anti-racism team and president of Community Senate.
Zavaleta wants students to be successful in the communities they serve after
Guilford.
“Building community and reaching out to as many students as possible is a primary
focus to the betterment of the multicultural education department,” said Zavaleta. “I
have desire and compassion for (not only) working with people but improving access
to higher education for individuals of all ethnicities.”
President of Community Senate and sophomore Jose Oliva expressed optimism
for the MED and Guilford community.
“The MED being better staffed will be a positive asset for the Latino community
on campus as well a better-equipped resource center for individuals of color,” said
Oliva. "
“I hope I can be a positive figure for my students,” said Zavaleta. “Students can
persevere in life with large amounts of positivity.”
Director for Educational Initiatives and Partnerships Jada Drew ‘07 states that one
of the MED’s goals is to serve the international student community better.
“I am exited that I get the opportunity to figure out how to make Guilford a
better place when it comes to diversity and inclusion,” said Drew
In addition. Drew admires Zavaleta’s wealth of knowledge when it comes to
professional development and making sure that students do what they need to do to
think about being successful.
“I think Irving is the perfect fit because he is very intentional about student
development, and that’s what made him stand out among the dthefr'candid^tes/”?*
said Drew. ' '
Sophomore and secretary of HUG Jennifer Urdaneta, remarked that the MED is a
positive environment for her to express her identity at Guilford.
“I’ve always had a great time at the MED,” said Urdaneta. “1 enjoy surrounding
myself with likeminded individuals who are able to speak Spanish. I’m able to be
myself. The MED is culturally understanding.”
One of Zavaleta’s long-term goals for the semester and years to come is working
on the intersection of various issues and understanding individuals’ perspectives.
“Creating a safe space for dialogues and conversations is key for me, so I want to contribute
to the MED’s development ofmakingit a safe space for everyone on campus,” said Zavaleta.
“I’m ready to reach out to as many students as possible.”
*
Irving Zavaleta '08 led a seminar on empowerment at Soy Un Lider in 2014.
Multicultural Education
Department is located in
King Hall, room 127
Students learn new skills at AVP workshop
BY ABE KENMORE
World & Nation Editor
The two women co-facilitating the Alternatives to
Violence Project workshop introduced themselves as
“Natural” Nancy and “Angelic” Angeline. It was Jan.
16, a Friday evening, and a handful of students, alumni
and others had gathered in the living room of Campbell
House, clutching cups of tea.
The participants’ first task was to choose an AVP
name of their own, just as the facilitators had, by adding
a positive, alliterative
adjective to their first
name. This would be
how they introduced
themselves for the rest
of the three-day retreat.
Between selecting and
• remembering adjectives
for everyone, the whole
room was soon laughing.
“(AVP) offers an
opportunity to meet new
people and engage with
them on a different level,”
said Kacey Minnick ’13 ,
one of the participants in
the workshop. “It offers
insight into how people
perceive violence and
nonviolence.”
First held in 1975, AVP
workshops were developed
at the Green Haven Prison
in New York, in response to the 1971 Attica Prison riot,
which led to the death of several inmates and guards. Since
then, it has spread to 35 states and 40 countries. While
most of the programs in the U.S; are still held in prisons,
there are numerous community workshops as well, both in
the U.S. and around the world.
According to “Natural” Nancy Shippen, workshops have
been run for Christians and Muslims in Nigeria, Hutus
and Tutsis in Rwanda and even the Kenyan police force.
“It’s a hugely powerful way to expand your knowledge
and experience while learning some useful skills,” said
Shippen.
Phoebe Hogue-Rodley, sophomore and member of
the Quaker Leadership Scholars Program, decided to
bring this workshop to Guilford along with sophomore
Eva Cosgrove, the Conflict Resolution Center and the
peace and conflict studies department. She had done the
workshop once before but wanted to revisit the training as
balance between discussion, activities and “light ‘n’
livelies,” or icebreaker activities, to get people moving and
give participants a break between heavy topics.
A major focus of the weekend was a series of role-plays,
giving participants a chance to practice their conflict
resolutions skills in various scenarios. Most of the incidents
were relatively benign, like arguments with parents or
neighbors. Others were more violent or dangerous. All
were things that could conceivably happen.
There was also time for more positive conversations,
including a time on Sunday to share something — a
poem, story, book
or
Doing the workshop for a second time affirmed my
feeling that AVP is important... and something we
should be pursuing at this college as part of our
mission statement.
Phoebe Hogue-Rodley, sophomore & QLSP member
song — that gave the
participants strength or
encouragement. The “light
livelies” got people out
n
room
of the small living
and moving around while
lunch gave people a less
structured time to build
community.
Houge-Rodley hopes to
have another workshop
later this semester.
“It’s a draining
workshop ... and I’m
working on ways to spread
AVP out and get students
the basic certification
with maybe fewer hours,”
she said. “I’m hoping to
make it an institution, like
Understanding Racism.”
Despite the long
a potential way to address injustice in the criminal justice weekend, all participants interviewed afterwards had found
system. something of value in the workshop.
“Doing the workshop for a second time affirmed “Everything ... was refreshing,” said Jesse Garvin, a first-
my feeling that AVP is important ... and something we year at Guilford Technical Community College who also
should be pursuing at this college as part of our mission attended the workshop. “I learned a few things about
statement,” said Hogue-Rodley. myself (I would recommend it) if for no other reason
The workshop is highly interactive and involves a than the camaraderie.”