In 1987, the Hudson Institute published "Workforce 2000," a study that asserted that by 2000 -- now just four short years away -- cultural groups we now call "minorities" will be the majority in most U.S. cities. Indeed, right here in(Salt) River City, this very phenomenon is growing. In the Phoenix Union High School District alone, more than 60 percent of all current students are ethnic minorities. At the same time, 15 percent of the general population are ethnic minorities. This percentage doesn't necessarily include the growing numbers of immigrants and international visitors and guest workers, generated by multinational corporate employers.
What this means for the Maricopa Community Colleges is that the "culture" of each college is likely to change from a traditionally white Eurocentric focus to one that recognizes the contributions of various cultures, not only in the classroom but around the boardroom table as well. We are redefining our campus culture on a semester-by-semester basis. How do we prepare students for an increasingly global society? Where do we find an example of multiculturalism that works? Well, as we like to tell prospective students: Climb higher. Come to the Mountain. The faculty and staff of South Mountain Community College have long enjoyed the harmony with which the college's students coexist in cultural diversity. South Mountain's student population mirrors the Phoenix Union High School District with more than 60 percent of the student body being ethnic minorities. Ten percent of South Mountain's students are foreign born.
It was out of this cultural coexistence and a desire among South Mountain employees and students to share this with other colleges, that Rainbow Connection Experience was spawned. Borrowing its name from the song first popularized by Kermit the Frog, who taught us how wonderful it is to be green, Rainbow Connection Experience is a program that seeks to celebrate and embrace the cultural pluralism that is part of the human race, without diluting any of the colors and hues of the human rainbow.
The pilot program of Rainbow Connection, organized by myself and Janet Denson at GateWay, was presented in April of 1994, for students of the two most culturally diverse colleges -- GateWay and South Mountain. A trainer, who developed a similar program at Arizona State University, was hired to develop a "retreat" type program that could be held on the college campus, so that more students might be able to participate. Although the program was well received by students who participated, more than half dropped out after the first of three sessions. Our students have busy lives. We know that most are juggling jobs and families while attending college.
It became clear that there was a need to design an "overview" program, to provide larger numbers of students with a positive cross-cultural team-building program in a short period of time. We also wanted to provide participants with a number of resources for further learning through credit and non-credit courses, cross-cultural programs such as Anytown U.S.A., the National Coalition Building Institute, or the Center for Teaching Peace.
The current Rainbow Connection Experience was created by adjunct faculty members E. Mischell Powell, Peter Zwagerman and me in "modules" that can be used in whole or in 1-2 hour sessions. The complete program is available through representatives of the District International/Intercultural Education Committee on each campus or through the District IIE Office. The program "borrows" segments from other diversity training programs and the District's own curriculum for intercultural communication.
While we pursue continuing funding for Rainbow Connection, a full-day session is planned for April 27, at a cost of $85 per person, that is open to students and community members. Further non-credit sessions, under the Rainbow Connection "umbrella" are currently being developed for the Fall 1996, semester. Call 243-8030 for more information or visit the Rainbow web site at http://www.smc.maricopa.edu/.
The Internet Connection at MCLI is
Alan Levine
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URL: http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/labyforum/Spr96/spr96F6.html