DiversityNewsletter4-2017

CONNECTIONS





The Business of Relationships Diversity and Inclusion

Newsletter








































































[email protected] Issue 4, April 2017

A Note from the Chair Diversity Committee’s Mission

2017 is upon us and with it comes the promise of great growth and RCGC wishes to express its
change. As a nation and institution of higher learning, we continue to strong commitment to the goal
work toward and strive for full participation and equality of all citizens, of diversity, respect, civility and
upon whose shoulders the responsibility for upholding these principles inclusion on our campus. The
rests. America is a multicultural society dedicated to inclusive promotion and retention of a
participation in our democracy; our laws and our social policies have diverse faculty/staff and
evolved over time to reflect this strong commitment. RCGC’s Diversity student body is essential to the
Committee strives to build upon the diversity of our community to success of our institution as a
establish a more inclusive educational environment. We have published collective body as well as our
this first newsletter called “CONNECTIONS” to provide guidance, support, respective professional pursuits.
articles and updates on the Diversity Committee’s initiatives to promote Diversity brings to our campus a
an environment of “Respect, Civility and Inclusion.” broader and richer
environment, which produces
Colleges, Universities and other organizations have found that achieving
creative thinking and solutions.
real and sustained diversity and inclusion programs, initiatives, and As such, RCGC embraces and
committees is a multifaceted task– one that requires a more encourages diversity in all
concentrated approach. For this reason, the Diversity Committee aspects of its activities. RCGC is
considered it necessary to create a newsletter to help our community committed to creating and
navigate the difficult tasks encountered during the journey for maintaining a culture that
meaningful diversity and inclusion. This newsletter is designed with the supports and promotes diversity
goal of helping our campus foster a culture of inclusion that addresses and inclusion.
the multifaceted tasks facing colleges. “CONNECTIONS” aims to provide
resources necessary to establish, modify or maintain diversity efforts, Purpose & Intent
shift the instructional standard to include leadership models found in
Diversity Committee: serves as
diverse communities, embrace collective methods to outline a new and
a review advisory and
more inclusive institutional diversity standard, and to develop knowledge
recommending body to the
and capacity for greater diversity and inclusion success across all levels.
appropriate Vice President to
It is my sincerest hope that the RCGC community can attain significant promote diversity in all RCGC
and meaningful diversity and inclusion programs. activities- academic, co-
curricular and administrative.
Ya Vanca Brooks, Chair,
The Diversity Committee also
provides strategies for infusing
Diversity Committee
multiculturalism into all aspects
of the campus community and
encourages a respectful
workplace.



[email protected] Issue 4, April 2017

Below is a list of venues in our area hosting Autism Awareness Night

events for Autism Awareness: When: April 27

Sensory Friendly Films Where: Adventure Aquarium in
Camden, NJ
When: April 6, June 1 & 29 (Recurring almost every month)
Where: AMC Theatres in Allentown, Bensalem, Philadelphia, Springfield What: For families with kids on
and West Chester, PA, and Cherry Hill and Hamilton, NJ. the autism spectrum.
Special features: The lights are turned up, the sound is turned down and
guests may walk around, dance or sing during the film. Special Evening for Special
Details: Check with your local theater for movie schedules.
Needs

Kid Zoo U at the Philadelphia Zoo When: May 10 (Recurring a few
times per year)
When: Opens April 13 (Ongoing programming)
Where: Sahara Sam’s Oasis in
What: Permanent indoor/outdoor children’s zoo where visitors get West Berlin, NJ
hands-on with animal care.
Special features: Access to
Special features: Braille, sign language and a picture-exchange most water attractions with a
communication system for kids with autism. quiet room for resting. Lights &

Who: The Philadelphia Zoo worked with the Center for Autism Research audio throughout the park are
at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Overbrook School for turned down to accommodate
the Blind. guests with sensory issues.
Details: Exploration included with regular admission. Details: Tickets are offered at a
discounted price. Visit the
Huddle Up for Autism website for more information.
When: April 14 Sensory-focused activities

Where: Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia When: Ongoing programming.
What: Meet-&-greets with Eagles’ players, games, arts & crafts and field Where: Delaware Children’s
& locker room tours. Museum in Wilmington, DE
Special features: Child specialists, quiet rooms and gluten- What: Activities vary; Kids can
free concessions stands available. To prevent overwhelming guests, the squeeze noodles in vegetable
event is limited to 5,000 attendees. oil, dig for mystery items buried
in dry rice or beans or play with
Who: Collaboration between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Center for
goop made from cornstarch
Autism Research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
and water.
Details: Event is free, but advance registration is required, and spots fill
up quickly! Special features: Sensory-
focused activities in the art
Variety Day studio, a quieter, confined area
of the museum.
When: April 20
Details: Check website for
Where: Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA current programming.

What: For families with kids with physical and/or developmental
disabilities.




[email protected] Issue 4, April 2017

RCGC Cares!


The Center for Counseling and




Wellness Services Goal for 2017

The focus for the Spring 2017 semester is on the

“The Eight Dimensions of Wellness” and “Shedding

the Stigma of Mental Illness.” Both themes will be
We extend this invitation to you
featured during the Annual Health and Wellness Fair, to attend


“Passport to Wellness,” on April 19 (please save the A Career Readiness and
Fashion Show Event
date and plan to attend).
Featuring the students of Rowan
College at Gloucester County

Proceeds from the event fund
the
AAWCC RCGC Scholarship
Endowment

Thursday, April 27, 2017
7 p.m.

Rowan College at Gloucester
County
For confirmation of date, time and location Fine Arts Center

please check RCGC’s portal; the Counseling and
$25 General Admission
Wellness Services Information Board; or feel free
$5 with student ID (available
through Student Life)
to stop by the Counseling and Wellness Services

office (room 206) or call 856-415-5236














[email protected] Issue 4, April 2017

April is Autism Awareness

Dates for your Diary- April to May 2017
Month!

nd
1) April 2 is Autism Awareness
Month
2) Nat’l Tartan Day –4/6/2017
http://www.wincalendar.com/Nati
onal-Tartan-Day
3) Palm Sunday 4/9/2017
http://www.wincalendar.com/Palm
-Sunday

4) Passover Starts 4/11/17
http://www.wincalendar.com/Passover Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a
5) Good Friday 4/14/17 range of conditions characterized by challenges
http://www.wincalendar.com/Goo with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech
d-Friday and nonverbal communication, as well as by
6) Passover Ends 4/18/17 unique strengths and differences. We now know
http://www.wincalendar.com/Pass that there is not one autism but many types,
over caused by different combinations of genetic and
7) Annual Health and Wellness Fair environmental influences. The term “spectrum”
4/19/2017 reflects the wide variation in challenges and
8) Divine Mercy Sunday 4/23/17 strengths possessed by each person with autism.
http://www.wincalendar.com/Divin Autism’s most-obvious signs tend to appear
e-Mercy-Sunday between 2 and 3 years of age. In some cases, it
9) Holocaust Remem. Day 4/23/17 can be diagnosed as early as 18 months. Some
http://www.wincalendar.com/Holo developmental delays associated with autism can
caust-Remembrance-Day be identified and addressed even earlier.
10) Lailat al Miraj 4/24/17
http://www.wincalendar.com/Lailat
-al-Miraj
11) Suit A Student Event 4/27/17

12) Suit A Student 4/27/2017
Diversity and Inclusion Resource Center
Diversity Website Under Construction
 Colleges Struggle to Meet Mental Health https://www.rcgc.edu/Diversity
Needs of Students
Send us your thoughts, comments,
http://www.foxnews.com/story/2006/08/2

9/colleges-struggle-innovate-to-meet- publications, planned events,
mental-health-needs-students.html announcements, and your campus wide

 Student Mental Health Programs Diversity initiatives.
http://www.cccstudentmentalhealth.org/d CONNECTIONS will be circulated on the 2
nd
ocs/SMHP-Diverse-Racial-Ethnic- Monday of every month. Please make all
Students.pdf
st
submissions by the 1 Monday of the month
 Rosie King: How Autism Freed Me to Be to [email protected]
Myself
http://www.ted.com/talks/rosie_king_how
_autism_freed_me_to_be_myself



[email protected] Issue 4, April 2017