Clark College pre-nursing student Nushi Alam shared her story with Clark students, faculty, and staff at the Spring Student of Color Luncheon on April 16. The free event is presented each term by Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Multicultural Student Affairs. The purpose of the student luncheons is to allow students and employees to hear inspiring stories, connect with faculty, and meet new friends, consider different career paths, and identify community resources and potential mentors.

Alam is involved in Clark’s student government and is the Associated Students of Clark College student relations and promotions coordinator.

Before she was born, Alam’s parents immigrated from Bangladesh in South Asia to Vancouver, Washington. She was born and raised in Clark County, where people of color are in the minority.

“There is a lack of a South Asian community here,” she said. “It is predominantly white.”

All through school she rarely had anyone in her classes who looked like her. She did not know anyone else in school whose parents were from Bangladesh. Throughout grade school, middle school, and high school, she knew maybe five other students who were Muslim. She was different.

As a girl, she learned Bangladeshi dancing. When her family attended mosque or Bangladeshi weddings, they dressed in traditional clothing.

“I used to be embarrassed wearing my traditional clothing in public after mosque,” she said.

While Alam’s classmates focused on getting a tan during the summer, her skin already was darker than theirs.

She said, “I grew up with Mom telling me, ‘Don’t go out in the sun too long. You’re going to get darker.’”

“But what’s wrong with dark?” Alam posed to the crowd. She added, “Regardless of how you look, regardless of beauty standards in America, you are beautiful.”

Experiencing microaggressions

Growing up in Vancouver, Alam has experienced prejudice, microaggressions, and rude comments from classmates and even from strangers. More times than she can count, she has been asked where she is from.

Her reply: “Here. I was born and raised in Vancouver.”

But often, the person has not accepted her answer and asked, “Where are you really from?”

She added, “Almost weekly, someone tries to tell me who I am.”

People often assume she is from India. Recently, she was at the beach with a friend when another girl told her, “Oh, you’re Indian!”

A coworker at a past job told her she was Pakistani “because Bangladesh was part of Pakistan like 100 years ago,” she said.

During the luncheon, Alam defined microaggressions as normally unintentional behaviors or comments that convey negative or discriminatory attitudes towards marginalized groups.

She gave some examples of microaggressions she and other people of color have experienced:

• “Where are you really from?”
• “I love how your hair feels!”
• “You’re so exotic.”
• Assumptions about how a group of people smell
• Assuming all South Asians are doctors, engineers, internet technology professionals, etc.
• Asking if you have a nickname because your real name is “too hard to pronounce.”

Alam said, “Nushi is my nickname. I love my nickname. It’s what my family has always called me.”

How stereotypes have affected her life: “The concept of intelligence. I took really hard classes, and people assumed I was smart. Yes, in my household, I am expected to do very well (in my classes), but don’t assume that all South Asians are smart.”

Assumptions about dating: “In South Asian cultures, dating is almost nonexistent. People assume I will date within my own race—and only date someone who looks like me.”

On showing her emotions in front of her parents: “Crying is not a thing. If you cry, you will be considered weak. You can’t show emotions or be upset.”

Alam’s creative outlets for coping: “I tend to go to my friends to vent. It is good to let those emotions out.”

Her advice on how to be an ally:

• “Stay educated. Be open-minded. If you are researching a culture or country that you know little about, look at several sources.”
• “If you have friends who are people of color, ask them questions, but do it respectfully.”
• “You can learn from media (books, movies, TV, YouTube, and more), but don’t rely wholly on media to learn about a culture.”

Alam spoke about the importance of representation, of being visible, being seen, and feeling appreciated and empowered. It has not been easy finding characters in media who look like her and have similar backgrounds and experiences. Then she discovered a Netflix series titled “Never Have I Ever” that features a South Asian young woman as a main character.

“I was excited to find a show about someone who looks like me,” she said.

Alam recommends these stories that feature South Asian characters:

• The Henna Wars a young adult novel by Adiba Jaigirdar
• Never Have I Ever Netflix series, four seasons
• Bridgerton season 2 on Netflix
• Mean Girls (2024) movie produced by Paramount Pictures

Learn more social equity definitions

Find more social equity definitions on the Clark College Equity Centered Strategic Plan here.

On Wednesday, February 28, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion hosted a Black Student High School visit, where more than 100 students visited Clark College. Held during Black History Month, the event was designed to introduce local Black students and students of African descent to Clark and consider it a pathway to college, university, careers, and beyond. The event was organized by Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, NAACP Vancouver, Vancouver Public Schools, and Evergreen Public Schools in close collaboration with Student Affairs.  

The participating students attend Fort Vancouver High School and Hudson’s Bay High School in Vancouver Public Schools, and Mountain View High School and Union High School in Evergreen Public Schools. 

Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Vanessa Neal said, “The energy in the room was reverberating off the walls! Coming together to share in joy, engage in shared learning and activities, and provide a culturally affirming space for Black students and those of African descent was the intent of the event—and participants found this, and more.” 

She continued, “As someone who was encouraged to continue my educational journey, it is my honor to introduce Clark College as a pathway to continued education to a new generation of high school students who are Black and of African descent. As representation matters, this event allowed students to engage with Black faculty and staff from the college, the NAACP, the Boys and Girls Club, the President of Clark College’s Black Student Union (BSU), as well as teachers and administrators from various high schools. We were excited to offer swag bags, campus tours, soul food, and intentional connection.”  

Students were attentive during presentations in Gaiser Student Center. Both Dr. Karin Edwards and Vanessa Neal delivered a welcome message to students and were also joined by Tanisha Harris, who delivered a message from Senator Maria Cantwell’s office. The keynote address was presented by Melissa Williams, policy associate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC). 

Other presenters included: 

• Sarita Williams, Principal, Lincoln Elementary School, explained the history of the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The song is often referred to as “The Black National Anthem.” The lyrics were written in 1900 by NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson; his brother, John Rosamond Johnson, composed the music. 
• Cezanne Tyner, Vancouver Public Schools, led a community-building activity 
• Chris Hullum, Black Student & Family Engagement Advocate, Vancouver Public Schools 
• Dani Depuy-Grobbel, Associate Director of Dual Enrollment, Clark College 
• Bridgette Fahnbulleh, representing NAACP ACT-SO, provided information about ACT-SO as well as water bottles, hats, scarves, gloves, and books for students.  
   

NAACP ACT-SO  

A video introduced students to the NAACP ACT-SO achievement program (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics). Each year, high school students nationwide start a journey to sharpen their skills through ACT-SO. From visual arts and business to performing and culinary arts, participants work with community-based volunteers for a year to develop projects and performances. The experience culminates in local and national events where students compete for scholarships and other rewards. 

Campus Activities 

A highlight was a delicious soul food lunch catered by Ja’Das Soulful Eatz.  

Following lunch, students had a guided walking tour of the campus and were able to engage with Clark College’s Black Student Union President, Chishayla Kimmons, pictured left. 

After a full, fun four hours on campus, students gathered on the stage in Gaiser Student Center for a group photo. Talking excitedly with each other, the students filed out of Gaiser to their buses. Their excitement continued when they returned to their high schools. 

Vanessa Neal said, “One of our partners shared that when students returned to classrooms, their faces were still lit up with joy from attending the event. Thank you to everyone who approached this event with care and intentionality.”   

Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 

ODEI is committed to serving all students, with a focus on systemically non-dominant groups (Jenkins, 1995-present) as they navigate Clark College. We help foster and retain a diverse college community, which includes students, faculty, and staff. 

Clark College’s goal of fostering a social and equitable college community is in part directed by the State (SBCTC), which has charged all community and technical colleges to lead with racial equity. ODEI is committed to serving people from systemically non-dominant populations as they navigate Clark College by helping to foster and retain a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff. 

Our office supports individuals with their academic, personal, and professional development, as well as provides training and educational resources for all members of the college community around diversity, inclusion, power, privilege, inequity, social equity, and social justice. 

Learn more: Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (clark.edu) 

More than 600 people attended the fifth annual Northwest Regional Equity Conference (NWREC) from February 21-23. Clark College’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion partnered with Southwest Washington Equity Coalition and their Advancing Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion learning series to produce the event. The entire conference was offered via online modality.

It is gratifying to experience the growth and continued impact of the Northwest Regional Equity Conference. The first conference in 2020 had 250 participants. This year, our fifth year, we had more than 600 participants! We hosted 36 workshops and provided nine students with scholarships to attend the conference, thanks to donors.

Our intentional partnership with the Southwest Washington Equity Coalition (SWEC) allowed us to expand attendance and deepen our collective approach around diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism work. I am proud of the NWREC planning team and the many people who made the conference happen. A heartfelt thank you!

2024 NWREC quick statistics:

• Participants: More than 600
• Workshops offered: 36
• Student scholarships provided: 9

Conference keynotes represented intersectional identities and covered topics including LGBTQIA+, immigrant experiences, and Black liberation with a common thread of what it looks like to build towards the future we want while staying grounded in hope.

Workshops covered topics including academic instruction, student and employee support, equitable policy development and decision-making, community care, strategies for disrupting harm, cultural competence, identities and intersectionality, and professional development.

Conference highlights included:

• Keynote Dante King revealed the totality of how White supremacy and Anti-Blackness are codified into the American legal system, institutions, and everyday life.
• Kendra Duncan, Clark College’s BAS-Teacher Education Chair and tenure-track faculty member discussed diversifying the educator workforce in Clark County, the new Bachelor of Applied Science in Teacher Education (BASTE) program, and Clark’s partnership with Vancouver public schools’ para-educator pathway.
• Clark College’s D. Harris presented a workshop on the impact of representation of Black people in popular media.
• Clark College English faculty Chris Smith and Cydney Topping presented the ways language/accent bias and discrimination persist in and outside the classroom.
• Clark student Tammy Pham presented a workshop Neurodiversity and You: Why Brain Differences are not Deficits.
• Another workshop focused on applying a racial equity framework to the auditing of campus policies and procedures.

Colleges that presented workshops include:

• Clark College
• Bellevue College
• Columbia Basin College
• North Seattle College
• Portland Community College
• Renton Technical College
• San Jose State University
• Shoreline Community College
• South Puget Sound Community College
• University of Washington Bothell
• Washington State University Vancouver
• Western Oregon University

Workshop presenters represented a host of nonprofits and agencies, including:

• American Civil Liberties Union Washington (ACLU)
• Clark County Community Services
• Equity Consortium
• Puget Sound Sage
• Southwest Washington Equity Coalition
• Vancouver Public Schools
• Washington Coalition for Police Accountability
• Washington State Department of Health
• Washington State LGBTQ Commission
• YWCA Clark County

Thanks to these conference sponsors:

• Southwest Washington Accountable Community of Health
• HAPO Community Credit Union
• Community Foundation for Southwest Washington
• Clark College
• CareOregon
• Inatai Foundation

Refer to the complete conference agenda: Agenda (clark.edu)

Learn more: NW Regional Equity Conference (clark.edu)

Chef Earl Frederick has cooked elegant meals for discriminating diners—from a former president to Club Med movers and shakers.  

But the Clark Cuisine instructor’s roots started with humble, downhome cooking. As a boy, he learned to cook alongside his grandmother, Susie Lovely Lewis in her kitchen in small town Ellenville in upstate New York. 

Chef Earl shared his story—and his delicious food—with Clark students, faculty, and staff at the Winter Student of Color Luncheon on February 6. The free event is presented each term by Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Multicultural Student Affairs. It provides opportunities for students to be encouraged by inspiring stories, meet faculty and new friends, consider different career paths, and identify community resources and potential mentors. 

Chef Earl designed the luncheon menu to represent Black History Month—with a nod to his beloved grandmother and her specialties: fried chicken, collard greens, cornbread, and red velvet cupcakes. To that, he added some of his favorites, including pork loin and Jambalaya with Cajun sausage.  

The delicious meal was prepared by Clark’s Cuisine students under the watchful eye of Chef Earl, who emphasizes cooking from scratch with no shortcuts. His students smoked pork loin and made Cajun sausage.  

Cooking with grandmother 

While appreciative Clark diners savored the meal, Chef Earl shared family photos and told his story. A child of separated parents, he divided his time between the big city of Yonkers, New York, and small-town Ellenville. Family is important to Chef Earl. His grandmother had 13 siblings, so he was surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins.  

One uncle got him interested in sports, encouraged him to play basketball, and got him to consider college. Another uncle modeled growing your own food and being sustainable.  

Because his father was a preacher, he says he grew up in the church. “I’m a preacher’s kid,” he said. “Church wasn’t just Sunday for me. It was every day—and all day on Sunday.” 

In the church kitchen, he helped his grandmother prepare meals for the congregation.  

He said, “At one point, I realized I was the only boy helping in the kitchen.” 

But he didn’t care. He liked to cook. And he was good at it. 

He shared an old photo of the church choir of his youth. He said, “All of those people never made it past sixth grade. On her deathbed, my grandmother told me to get an education. No one could take it away from me.” 

He did follow his grandmother’s advice to get an education, but his educational journey included bumps in the road and detours. 

Navigating rough patches 

When he was in high school, like many teens, he made some choices that did not please his family, particularly his beloved grandmother. Eventually, he was missing so many credits that he would not be able to graduate with his class. 

He was introduced to the local alternative school and told: “Either you don’t graduate, or you go here.” 

So, he enrolled in Ulster BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) Career & Technical Center. One of the selling points was its culinary program.  

“This place saved my life,” Chef Earl said. 

Chef Earl holds a baking and pastry diploma from Oregon Culinary Institute, a certificate in hospitality administration from University of Hawaii at Manoa, an associate degree in culinary arts from Johnson & Wales University, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Warner Pacific University. He also is a certified American Culinary Federation executive chef. 

After graduating from Johnson & Wales University at age 19, his first job was working in the kitchens at Walt Disney World. Throughout his career, Chef Earl has worked in kitchens in Intel, Club Med, and Nike, and taught culinary skills to Job Corps students and The Portland Kitchen, an after-school culinary and job skills program. 

Paying it forward 

Chef Earl has volunteered his expertise to many nonprofits focused on food, including serving on the board of directors for Vancouver Farmers Market.  

In 2017, Chef Earl returned to the alternative school where he entered the pathway to become Chef Earl. He visited the culinary arts classroom, shared his expertise, and led a food preparation demonstration. It was a full-circle experience for him. He advised students to never destroy relationships they could benefit from later. Read about his visit here. 

In 2022 he was named a NextLevel Postsecondary CTE Leadership Fellow through the Association for Career and Technical Education. 

Chef Earl has been teaching Cuisine students at Clark College since 2016. What he enjoys the most about teaching at Clark is “engaging with the students. I also enjoy when they come back and visit and tell me how successful they are!”  

His grandmother would be proud of his achievements. 

Most memorable meal 

Although he has prepared countless delicious meals, one of the most memorable was when he was a chef at Club Med Crested Butte, a ski resort in Colorado.  

“I had the opportunity to cook for former President Jimmy Carter, then with the Carter Foundation. I made Duck à l’Orange, a classic French dish,” he said. “I still remember that day. Jimmy Carter told me it was the best he’d ever tasted!” 

Chef Earl’s words of wisdom 

• “Food is my life. Bringing people together. Breaking bread together. Community.” 
• “When I was young, I went through a time when I was getting into trouble. My grandmother said, ‘You represent my name. Don’t put any bad ju-ju out there with my name.’” 
• “On her deathbed, my grandmother told me to get an education. No one can take that away from you.” 
• “I’m a preacher’s kid. Church wasn’t just on Sunday for me.” 
• “There’s nothing you can do about the past, but you can change the future.” 
• “Never burn bridges because you never know if you need to cross them again.” 
• “Don’t just talk about it. Be about it.”  

Advice to students 

“Building relationships is important. You never know how that person can help you in the future.” 

“Be persistent. I applied for more than 150 scholarships in the days before the internet. I applied for many scholarships where I thought I wouldn’t have a chance to get it—but I got it because I was the only student who applied. I got 53 scholarships. I applied for this teaching job at Clark College three times before I was hired. Don’t give up.” 

Fun Facts about Chef Earl 

• He writes and performs spoken word poetry 
• Favorite spoken-word poet: Earl Simmons aka DMX 
• Favorite dish to make: Jamaican curried oxtail with rice and peas  
• Favorite food to eat: New York pizza or fresh pasta 
• Favorite restaurant: Cochon in New Orleans, LA 
• Go-to comfort food: Cast-iron fried chicken, braised collard greens, rice and cornbread 

Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish

Tanna Engdahl, Cowlitz Tribe Spiritual Leader, sat on the stage in Gaiser Student Center and pointed to the image of a long, eel-like fish projected on the screen. 

“Does anyone know what this is?” she asked. 

Someone in the audience shouted, “Lamprey!” 

Engdahl nodded and asked, “Has anyone tasted lamprey?”  

In the sea of 130 people in attendance, only a few raised their hands. 

Engdahl laughed, “Well, I haven’t–and I won’t!” 

Engdahl captivated her audience of Clark employees, students, and the greater community during her presentation “Cowlitz: Then and Now” on November 21 in Gaiser Student Center. Held during Native American Heritage Month, the event was hosted by the college’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Employees who attended received Power, Privilege and Inequity (PPI) credit. 

“I am grateful to Tanna for connecting with the college community to share stories about the Cowlitz people,” said Vanessa Neal, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. “I also want to mention that Tanna was an essential member of Clark’s 2022 Strategic Planning Committee, has supported the development of the Land and Labor Acknowledgement we use today, and continues to be involved with our Social Equity Advisory Council. I continue to be grateful for Tanna and the intentional relationship that we – as a college – are continuing to build with the Cowlitz Tribe.”  

Engdahl’s presentation included taking time at the end to answer every question from the audience. She responded with thoughtful, informative answers.  

Weaving stories 

As Engdahl shared images on the screen, she told stories about her tribe’s history, culture, their struggle to have a homeland, and their environmental stewardship as they look toward the future. 

Engdahl talked about how her tribe lived before white Europeans began settling in the Pacific Northwest. The Cowlitz people followed a cyclical rhythm of living on the land. Most of the time, they lived in longhouses in large villages near rivers and streams for easy transportation via canoe. Some of the tribe followed harvest cycles to gather huckleberries, wapato, camas root, and to fish and hunt for game including deer.  

She shared how her people’s hands were rarely idle. They made everything they needed. They harvested cedar bark, soaked it in a creek to make it pliable, then wove it into dresses, capes, hats, sleeping mats, and more.  

Although there was always so much work to be done, her people also gathered for dancing, drumming, and storytelling. So many stories to tell! 

Engdahl spoke about how the presence of the white man changed her people. Their ships brought diseases that killed 98% of the Cowlitz people. Still, the white men kept coming. When the white men tried again and again to move her people from their homeland to reservations, the Cowlitz said “no.” Again and again.  

She spoke about how alcohol and drugs destroyed individuals and tore families apart. She also talked about the importance of the Indian Child Welfare movement “to keep our children with their people, their families.” 

Family and community—not just today but for generations into the future—is always at the forefront of everything the tribe does. 

Looking to the future 

Engdahl talked about how her tribe is being good stewards of their land. Long ago, her people harvested camas root, one of their staples in the diet. The Cowlitz are replanting camas in areas where it once thrived. Reintroducing camas bodes well for a future with sustainable native plants for indigenous foods.  

Another good sign for the future: The Washington Legislature passed legislation requiring Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State curriculum or other tribally developed curriculum be taught in all K-12 schools. Despite the mandate being unfunded, more school districts across the state are offering courses that tell the essential stories of our indigenous brothers and sisters. 

Engdahl emphasized a most important message: “We are still here.” 

She said there is much work to be done as the tribe moves forward. And more stories to tell.  

Engdahl teaches a course about the Cowlitz Tribe through Clark’s Continuing and Community Education program. She taught the class during Fall term and will teach it again during Spring term.  

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

Vancouver Mayor Pro Tem Ty Stober was the guest speaker for the Fall Queer Luncheon on October 10 in the Penguin Student Lounge. The free event is presented each term by Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The luncheon is designed to create community for students who identify as queer and allies.

Stober is one of seven councilmembers for the city of Vancouver. He is Mayor Pro Tem, which means he serves as mayor in the mayor’s absence. He has served on city council for eight years.

Stober is also gay. He told the group that only 0.23% of elected officials nationwide identify themselves as LGBTQ.

“Our voices are radically underheard in politics,” he said, noting that he is the only LGTBQ elected official in a geographic area that includes six Washington counties. “I am standing here today so that students can see that representation in government is possible.”

Stober grew up in Canby, Ore., a conservative small town in Clackamas County. He was closeted in high school.

“I wanted so badly to fit in that I put on as good an act as I could of being straight,” he said. “I lived in constant fear that I’d slip up and be exposed.”

He graduated from Canby Union High School and earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. He earned his MBA at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“I was very, very closeted when I was in college,” he said.

After grad school he was working in Baltimore when he met the man who would become his husband. They have been together for 20 years.

Stober first got involved in politics in 2009, when as a citizen, he canvassed for passing Referendum 71, which legalized domestic partnership in Washington. It was the first statewide referendum in the U.S. that extended to LGBT people the rights and responsibility of domestic partnership.

In 2012 he chaired the organization that backed Referendum 74, which legalized gay marriage. It became law in 2012. He has been a Vancouver councilmember since 2015.

Stober encouraged Clark College students to get involved with local politics. There are opportunities to attend city council meetings in person or online. People also can send an email to all the councilors. Learn more about Vancouver City Council meetings here.

“If you don’t feel safe in our community as an LGBTQ person or as a person of color, come speak at city council,” he said.

Stober invited people to start by getting involved in Vancouver by providing public comment to a variety of community projects in an online community forum, BeHeardVancouver.

“You need to tell us what you want,” Stober said. “If you want affordable housing, say, ‘I want affordable housing.’ If politics interest you, reach out to me.”

Stober has a two-decade career in sales, marketing and operations, with leadership experience in medium-sized, publicly traded and entrepreneurial organizations. He last served as an energy efficiency program manager for an organization supporting all utilities in the Northwest.

Upcoming DEI events:

• Students with Disability Luncheon, Tuesday, Oct. 24 at noon in PUB 161
• Students of Color luncheon, Tuesday, Nov. 7 at noon in PUB 161

To learn more, visit the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’s website.

Ty Stober, Council Seat 5

Current Assignments and Certifications

• National League of Cities: Vice Chair – Race, Equity and Leadership Council
• National League of Cities: Board of Directors and Board Policy Committee
• National League of Cities: First Vice President, LGBTQ+ Local Officials
• National League of Cities: First Tier Suburbs Council – Past Chair
• C-TRAN Board of Directors
• Vancouver Strategic Planning Executive Steering Group
• Vancouver Fire and Police Pension Boards
• Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (alternate)
• Metro Policy Advisory Committee (alternate)
• SW Regional Transportation Council (alternate)
• Association of Washington Cities Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership
• National League of Cities University Bronze Certificate
• Community Involvement
• NAACP, Member

Photo: Susan Parrish/Clark College

An attentive crowd of 80 students, faculty, and staff gathered for the Spring Queer Luncheon on June 8 during Pride Month. The free event is presented each term by Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

A panel representing Clark students, faculty, and staff shared their journey toward discovery of their queer identity, their search for building community, and their challenges including feeling safe and navigating family relationships. The panel was moderated by student Sonia Talero Pachon. Panelists were:

• Student Matty Quinn
• Student Serenity Raewyn
• Alyssa Voyles, Director of Employee Equity, Outreach & Engagement
• Professor Christina Smith

Here is some of the panel’s discussion:

What was your journey toward discovering your queer identity?

“By the time I was 5 or 6, I knew.”

“Society tells us what’s acceptable. Parents have opinions. But I can re-embrace who I am. I feel a lot of us are constantly evolving.”

“I was in a toxic relationship because I was uncomfortable with who I was.”

What are some of the ways you have found to build community and support within the LGBTIQ+ community? And within Clark College?

“In the college’s Queer Agenda, we are about creating a safe space where people could be themselves and make friends.”

“It was through the amazing people at the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion where I started to find community.”

“I spent a lot of time in the Diversity Center, connecting with others. That’s when you find the most genuine people. You find the commonalities.”

“Community doesn’t just have to be in a physical space. I may not have a large in-person community, but I have developed a community online.”

What are some of the challenges you’ve had?

“Being part of the community, but still not feeling completely welcome.”

“I want to feel not just comfortable, but safe. I felt safer in Portland but moved to Vancouver. I don’t go out to eat in Vancouver.”

What are some ways you have found to advocate for the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community?

“For me, it’s showing up for others in the way I didn’t have.”

“I’m visible to my students.”

“My advocacy doesn’t necessarily come from standing with a sign that says Black Lives Matter or Love is Love—although I have done that—but it’s relationships. How we treat each other.”

What advice would you give your younger self or other people about being part of the LGBTIQ+ community?

“I have a good friend who in his late 30s attempted suicide several times. He decided in his 40s to live authentically. It is never too late to be yourself.”

“Find queer content you can identify with.”

“For Pride Month, let’s focus less on ‘Love is love’ and more on ‘Trans people are dying.’”

“I’ve always been the weird kid who didn’t have friends. I never went to any school dances. Don’t wait for an invitation that’s not going to come. Just go. Do the thing.”

“You have to walk through your own life. Find a way that’s comfortable for you.”

To learn more, visit the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s website.

Photo: Clark College/Susan Parrish

Graduates were celebrated at the Diversity Center graduation on June 7. 

Clark College President Dr. Karin Edwards challenged the graduates: “Don’t minimize your accomplishment. Be proud of it. Don’t ever forget where you came from. Be your true authentic self. Every day of my life, I remind myself I’m from the Boogie Down Bronx.” 

Three graduates participated: 

• Matty Quinn, Associate in Fine Arts (Fine Arts: Studio Arts AFA) 
• Rona Young, Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Services 
• Tracy Taylor, Associate in Applied Science in Supervisory Management 

Alum Dee Harris, Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion executive assistant, shared her story of living in a homeless shelter and being unsure of her future when a Clark College employee from Workforce Education Services spoke at the shelter about opportunities at Clark. Soon after, she enrolled at Clark and became a paralegal. Later she earned a bachelor’s degree. She has worked at the college for more than a decade. She has raised seven children.  

Dee said, “I never felt I didn’t have an opportunity at Clark College. This degree is yours. This is what you have accomplished. No one can take that from you.” 

In the keynote address, graduating student Matty Quinn shared their story of growing up in a low-income household that was unsafe and toxic. They first enrolled at age 18 but dropped out because “my life was a mess.” 

Later, when they decided to return to college, their mother was critical and unsupportive. Matty got help in therapy and returned to Clark. 

Matty said, “The past couple of years have been one of the biggest journeys of my life. I no longer have connections with people who bring me down. I’ve made my own family here.” 

Matty also took on leadership roles as a Student Ambassador and a peer mentor.  

“I was finally proud of myself,” they said.  

Next, Matty will be starting an internship as a paraeducator to help the future generation of kids and artists. 

Interim Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Vanessa Neal, closed with this inspiration: “Change is a constant part of life. You’ll face challenges and adversity. You’ll meet people who don’t understand you. Embrace your curiosity. Follow your opportunities. Lean into your courage over fear. Honor your truest self. Remember what matters and keep going.

Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish

Clark College celebrated Juneteenth on June 6 by gathering during lunchtime for barbecue, screening of a film, and celebrating community. The event was organized and sponsored by the college’s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and culinary programs.    

From its Galveston, Texas origin, Juneteenth is a federal and a state holiday celebrated on June 19 to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S. Celebrations take place across the U.S. and beyond with focus on community and family gatherings, reflection, cuisine, and continued solidarity toward social justice. Clark College celebrated Juneteenth early on June 6 to accommodate academic and holiday schedules as well as to uplift the broader community Juneteenth Freedom Celebration, which Clark College will be involved in.  

Clark College’s Juneteenth celebration was a free event open to all students, employees and community members, and included:   

• Food prepared by Chef Earl Frederick, Culinary Arts Professor in the Tod and Maxine McClaskey Culinary Institute at Clark College, and cuisine staff and students. Chef Earl and crew served up marinated pork loin, coho salmon, Cajun shrimp, chicken thighs, braised greens, Southern-style cornbread, sweet tea, sorrel punch, mini red velvet cupcakes, pecan pie, and more— at no cost to diners.   
• Screening of the film Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts presented by Dru Holley, the film’s director and producer. The film details the role played by Black soldiers throughout U.S. history. Premiering this summer in honor of Juneteenth, the film will air on PBS on June 12 and on World Channel on June 19 (Juneteenth).   

Cuisine instructor Earl Frederick said, “Barbecue is recognized as a Black contribution to American culture. It was slaves who passed through the Caribbean, cooking animals over pits on sticks. This style of cooking called barbacoa translates now into what we know as Southern barbecue. They also picked up seeds from hot peppers in the Caribbean, which became an important flavoring for the pork in the South.”  

Frederick said his maternal grandmother, a sharecropper from North Carolina, told him stories about the significance of barbecue.   

“My grandmother told me that barbecue is something that Blacks and whites in the South share. When tobacco was harvested in the fall, it was all-hands-on-deck with Blacks and whites working together doing the harvest.”  

Workers hung tobacco leaves in tobacco barns that have slats to let air through. To prevent spoilage, this work had to happen quickly, so a big oak fire was built to cure, dry, and smoke the tobacco. Throughout the night, workers stoked the fire, which accumulated hot coals.   

Frederick explained, “The tradition developed to roast a pig using those hot coals. People dug a hole in the ground, put hot coals in the bottom of the pit, put a grate over the coals, and put a butchered pig on the grate to slowly cook the pig. Everybody—black and white—ate the pig together. Something that didn’t happen any other time.”  

Clark had its first Juneteenth celebration in June 2020. President Joe Biden signed the legislation that made Juneteenth a federal holiday in June 2021, making it the 11^th official federal holiday.  Since 2022, Juneteenth also has been recognized as a state holiday.  

What is Juneteenth?  

Juneteenth (“June” plus “nineteenth”) is a federal holiday observed each year on June 19. Juneteenth was first celebrated in Texas, where on June 19, 1865, in the aftermath of the Civil War, enslaved people were declared free under the terms of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation. Learn more at https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth. We encourage folx to research how to get involved with organizations and community events to celebrate Juneteenth and get involved in support of diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism.

Photos: Clark College/Vanessa Neal

Clark Queer Agenda kicked off Pride Month with its first-ever clothing swap on June 1. Students chose clothing new to them. Clothing was neatly stacked on tables in PUB 161. One table had jackets. Another held pants, another shirts, another dresses.  

Although many students donated clothing, students did not have to contribute clothing in order to shop. Blake chose a black overcoat and paired it with eggplant pants. Leilani found a peach shirt and black pants with multiple decorative zips. Lillian chose a lime green crop top with metal chain straps. Xoxia chose a black lacy button-up shirt.  

It was also just a hangout space where students could connect. One student played acoustic guitar while others sat around chatting. 

Alexsander Havens, president of Queer Agenda said the group promoted the event through its Discord server of about 70 students. ASCC President Casey Figone had posters made to hang around campus. 

Students engage in Mutual Aid 

The event was brainstormed during a Queer Agenda meeting when students were discussing future plans for the club and a desire to get more involved with advocacy. 

The idea of mutual aid was introduced by Jill Forgash, a student success coach who works in Clark’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion office and Cassandra Walsh, a Student CARE intern at Clark who is earning a master in social work degree at Portland State University. The group had expressed interest in arranging a clothing swap, and the event was a perfect fit with mutual aid. 

At its core, mutual aid is simply students helping other students.  

“Students in the group already were doing mutual aid without realizing it,” said Jill Forgash. “They share resources. They share clothing. They bring home-baked goodies to meetings.” 

“As the students started planning the clothing swap, we advocated for the event to be student run, student centered,” said Walsh. “It’s been cool to see this idea on paper and then see them run with it.” 

Forgash looked around the room and said, “This is a powerful example of community building.” 

Queer Agenda plans to offer a clothing swap at least annually, if not each term. In the future, they may partner with other clubs such as Black Student Union and Theater and would like to connect with other students interested in mutual aid. 

Clark Queer Agenda 

• Meets every Thursday at 11 a.m. in the Diversity Center (GHL 220) 
• Contact Alexsander Havens or Alyssa Voyles 
• Follow on Instagram: @clarkqueeragen

Photos: Clark College/Susan Parrish