Source: Doug Benson, 785-532-1926, bensonml@k-state.edu;
and Candi Hironaka, 785-532-6085, cpitts@k-state.edu
Web site: http://www.k-state.edu/cchw/
News release prepared by: Nellie Ryan, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu

Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009

K-STATE'S COMMUNITY CULTURAL HARMONY WEEK FEATURES CELEBRATIONS AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR EVERYONE

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University will celebrate Community Cultural Harmony Week Sept. 20-25.

"Community Cultural Harmony Week helps us create more diverse learning environments in our classrooms, our work and social situations, and thus helps us lead richer and more interesting lives," said Doug Benson, K-State professor of modern languages and one of the week's co-organizers.

The event is in its 22nd year and has spread beyond the borders of K-State to include the Manhattan community and the Manhattan-Ogden School District. It is recognized as a true learning experience and celebration of diversity, Benson said.

"It is a time when everyone's voice can be shared and heard by others, and an opportunity to open up critical dialogue within a community that cares about its citizens," said Candi Hironaka, senior associate director of the K-State School of Leadership Studies and co-organizer of the week.

The week will start at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, in Aggieville's Triangle Park. It will feature presentations by representatives from the city of Manhattan, USD 383, K-State and Barbara Baker, the former K-State graduate student who founded the week in 1988. The Peace and Harmony Walk will follow Anderson Avenue to St. Isidore's Catholic Student Center and then return to Triangle Park. Also Sunday, the movie "The Tiger Next Door" will be shown around 8 p.m. at the Sunset Zoo, 2333 Oak St. The film, part of the Movies on the Grass film series, examines the large number of tigers kept in private captivity in the U.S.

Community Cultural Harmony Week events, all free and open to the public unless otherwise noted, also include:

* Monday, Sept. 21 -- The Campaign for Nonviolence Fall Rally will start at 11 a.m. at the K-State Student Union courtyard. Dance performances and food will follow at noon in the courtyard. This opening reception for Community Cultural Harmony Week is sponsored by Brandon Clark and the K-State Alumni Association. The K-State Peace Pole dedication will be at 12:45 p.m. on the lawn of the UFM Community Learning Center, Manhattan Avenue and Thurston Street. As part of the Community Cultural Harmony Week Film Series, the movie "Jerusalem is Proud to Present" will be shown at 7 p.m. in the Union's Forum Hall. The film, directed by Nitzan Gilady, is in Hebrew, with subtitles, and English. The film is sponsored by the Union Program Council.

* Tuesday, Sept. 22 -- Singer/songwriter Javier Mendoza will perform from noon to 1 p.m. in the Union courtyard. The performance also is part of K-State's Hispanic Heritage Month celebration and is sponsored by the Union Program Council. Leslie Hannah, assistant dean and associate professor of English at K-State at Salina, will discuss "Media Myths and Stereotypes About Native Americans" as part of the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications' Media Professionals Day. His presentation will be from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in Room 212 at the Union. More information is available by contacting Gloria Freeland at 785-532-0721 or gfreela@k-state.edu. The Asante Touring Company, a subsidiary of the Asante Children's Theatre of Indianapolis, will perform from 7-9 p.m. in the Union's Grand Ballroom. The performance will examine the life of Martin Luther King Jr. through the lens of the hip-hop generation. The performance is sponsored by the American Humanics Student Association, Student Governing Association's Diversity Programming Committee.

* Wednesday, Sept. 23 -- Student Panel on Diversity will be at noon in the Union courtyard. The question-and-answer session will feature student representatives from various colleges and will be moderated by Deborah Muhwezi, Tilford-Dow scholar. An art exhibit, "Kansas Women," by Jennifer Randall opens in the Union's Kemper Gallery and runs through Oct. 13.

* Thursday, Sept. 24 -- Jon Nakamatsu will perform at 7:30 p.m. at McCain Auditorium as part of the McCain Performance Series. Tickets start at $12 for K-State students and $24 for the general public. Discounts for K-State faculty, children and military are also available. Tickets can be purchased at the McCain Auditorium box office, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, or by calling 785-532-6428.

* Friday, Sept. 25 -- Justin Akers-Chacon will discuss immigration at 10:30 a.m. in the Union's Big 12 Room. Akers-Chacon is the co-author of "No One is Illegal." His speech is sponsored by Alianza and K-State Libraries' Dow Chemical Multicultural Resource Center. The Community Cultural Harmony Week banquet and recognition of student scholarships will start at noon in the Union's K-S-U Rooms. Reservations and payment are due by Friday, Sept. 18. For more information, contact Greek Affairs at 785-532-5546 or greekaffairs@k-state.edu.

More information on Community Cultural Harmony Week events is available by contacting Hironaka at 785-532-6085 or Benson at 785-532-1926, or online at http://k-state.edu/cchw/