Diversity/cultural arts series kicks off Friday

A second season of interesting topics and cultural performances kicks off Friday as UNMC opens the 2009-2010 Diversity Lectures and Cultural Arts Series with a play about Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

About EDN Employee Diversity Network is an inclusive employee group that embodies the talents and strengths of all UNMC faculty and staff members and focuses on education, mentoring, networking and professional development. Additionally, EDN supports UNMC’s vision to embrace the richness of diversity to build unity by promoting education and activities that weave cultural competence into the fabric of UNMC.

Friday’s play – titled “Frida Behind the Mirror” — starts at noon in the Eppley Science Amphitheater. It was written and directed by Joao de Brito and includes a performance by UNMC employee Athena Ramos.

“Our committee has a special lineup of distinguished presenters and performers that highlight a variety of themes relating to broad diversity issues,” said Linda Cunningham, president of the Employee Diversity Network and diversity specialist in UNMC’s Human Resources Department. “We hope the UNMC community will continue to enjoy these educational events and join us in the planning of future events.”

Once again, the EDN and UNMC’s Human Resources Department will co-sponsor the series, which runs from October to June and features cultural performances, scholarly lectures and presentations about diversity topics that face our community and world.

The series ends in June with a cultural arts festival in the Sorrell Center courtyard that will include food, music and art.

Other events this fall will include:

• Oct. 15 – Disability Awareness Month — “Life Stories: Ability Awareness — Disabling The Myths.” A panel discussion moderated by Mark Smith of UNMC’s Munroe-Meyer Institute. (College of Nursing Cooper Auditorium); and
  
• Nov. 12 – Native American Heritage Month – Alpha Marie Goombi will perform Native American storytelling and dance. (Durham Research Center Auditorium).

All events are from noon to 1 p.m. and offer free lunches to the first 50 attendees. For more information, contact Cunningham at 559-7294 or lcunning@unmc.edu.