By Lacey Desserault

A celebration for Día de Muertos will take place on the Washington State University (WSU) Tri-Cities campus to honor and celebrate those who have passed. The event is Thursday, Nov. 2 from 5 – 7 p.m. in the Student Union Building on the ���سԹ� campus.

The event is hosted by ���سԹ� MOSAIC Center for Student Inclusion, Dreamers Club, Foodies Club, and the Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. A variety of activities will be open for all ages, including arts and crafts, live entertainment, music, and food trucks. A community altar will also be provided for individuals to honor loved ones through photos and cherished items.

“My understanding of Día de Muertos is that it is a time for family, friends, and community to come together and honor those that we have loved,” said Kauser Gwaduri, coordinator for the MOSAIC Center for Student Inclusion. “We can celebrate their lives, their impact in our world and in our hearts, and make sure that those who are currently living take time to celebrate each other and where we are now. By honoring and celebrating our deceased, they continue to live on in our memories and in our hearts.”

Día de Muertos is a primarily Hispanic tradition and is typically celebrated in the beginning of November to remember the deceased. Traditionally, altars, or ofrendas, are built to display memorabilia and photos of loved ones, along with favorite foods and beverages, to encourage the importance of family and memories.

Raul Contreras, assistant director of the Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, appreciates the opportunity to celebrate on the ���سԹ� campus each year. “My favorite moment was being able to place a photograph of my paternal grandparents on the altar. This is where I truly got to experience the true meaning of Día de Muertos. They passed away before I got to celebrate my graduation from WSU with them. For a moment in time, I felt their presence with me. I knew I could finally give them a tour of the campus I spent so much time in. Their love was with me one more day. I’m glad I’m able to come back and partner with ���سԹ� to help give students the chance to honor and remember their loved ones,” he said.

Click here for more information on the Día de Muertos celebration.

By Lacey Desserault

In recognition of Hispanic Heritage month, Washington State University (WSU) Tri-Cities hosted a multi-dimensional series of events that highlighted the lives of Yakima Valley farmworkers from the 1960s and 70s and their fight for improved working and living conditions. Using photography, guest speakers, film, and writing the ���سԹ� campus community and the greater Tri-Cities region had the opportunity to experience, appreciate and celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of those whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The events inspired connection, compassion, and understanding through shared memories and storytelling.

The centerpiece of the Hispanic Heritage month events was the exhibit, “Rooted: Irwin Nash Photographs of Yakima Valley Farmworkers”. Nash originally started taking the photos as part of a freelance magazine piece on Yakima Valley agriculture, but it turned into a deeper documentation of Chicano livelihood. Nash captured over 9,400 photographs between 1967 and 1976, which had been previously largely unknown, displayed scenes from the daily lives of the Yakima Valley farmworker community. The experiences, stories, and perspectives seen in the photos, inspired visitors to share their stories and help document previously undocumented histories.

“The scenes captured through these photos reminded us of the enduring determination that defines the farmworkers’ resilience. Capturing the essence of these resilient farmworkers from 1967 to 1976 created a bridge from the past to the present, where we now reflect on the sacrifices made and the dreams we pursue. Not only did they work in the soil of the fields, but they planted seeds of a better future,” said Haydee Guzman, program coordinator for the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership and the driving force behind the exhibit and events.

The Nash exhibit and series of events was powerful for the ���سԹ� campus, which is the most diverse campus within the WSU system. Approximately 50% of students identify as people of color, with of the majority of those identifying as Hispanic.

“Bringing the Irwin Nash photograph collection to the ���سԹ� campus created an opportunity for us to understand the community we are a part of, the history of our region and, for many of us who are Latino/a/x, to understand our roots. As an extension of the exhibit, we were able to host knowledgeable speakers to educate us, share personal stories, and inspire us to act in compassion and in justice for the predominantly Latino/a/x families who continue to do the toughest jobs that contribute greatly to our region and society,” said Laura Sanchez, director of student services.

In addition to the Nash exhibit, ���سԹ� hosted speakers, films, and writing events that encouraged learning, conversation, and reflection about migrant farmworkers and their contributions to the region.

Speaker Series

Several community leaders who had connections to the photos in the Nash exhibit were invited to speak about migrant farmworker movements, culture, and experiences. These campus events allowed students, staff, faculty, and the community to share their personal experiences in relation to the photos, ask thought-provoking questions, and learn more about migrant farmworkers in the Yakima Valley.

At a community reception, WSU Regent Enrique Cerna shared his personal experiences growing up in a farming family. The reception also brought together several families whose relatives were photographed and displayed in the gallery, establishing personal connections with the art.

Human rights commissioner and lifelong labor activist Lupe Gamboa presented his efforts in labor movements across the Yakima Valley, and how those movements impacted the future of farm labor. He shared a glimpse into the hard work and dedication that the movements required for implementing positive change.

Superior court judge and farmworker labor lawyer Michael Fox spoke with students and staff about his experiences in protests and trials that fought for farmworker labor rights. His dedication to the cause was evident as he spoke about the struggles and successes he faced from a legal perspective.

Film

Two films were shown as an opportunity to provide context to the gallery of photos and help individuals feel comfortable asking questions and participating in conversations about migrant farmworkers and the labor movements.

The first film was a recording of a keynote address celebrating National Farmworkers Awareness Week hosted by the College Assistance Migrant Program at WSU Pullman, titled “Amplifying the Voices of Farmworkers”, which shared the story of Dolores Huerta, a leader in the United for Farmworkers Rights movement. The lunch and learn event encouraged students to view the address and discuss the significance of the individuals that lead the movement and how they related to the people in the photos.

The second film titled “Cesar Chavez” centered around Chavez’s leadership and activism in advocating for farmworkers, and inspiring others to fight for positive change.

Writing

To promote personal reflections on the topics discussed and learned, students and staff were invited to participate in several writing sessions. The participants were encouraged to develop their own understanding of the lives of migrant farmworkers from the displayed photographs and reflect on how they relate to the people around them.

���سԹ� Counseling and Wellness hosted a poem writing session, which allowed participants to utilize a creative outlet for their emotions and thoughts surrounding the topic of migrant farmworkers.

Two reflective writing sessions were also hosted, one for students and one for staff and faculty, which encouraged attendees to express their questions and thoughts in a longer format and think creatively and freely about their personal connections to those in the photographs.

The gallery of Nash’s photography was a meaningful and impactful addition to campus, providing understanding, connection, and conversation surrounding Yakima Valley farmworkers. Though the photos showed a glimpse of the harsh reality for many families, it also displayed the joy and pride of each family and the legacy they passed on to future generations. Many visitors were able to connect emotionally with individuals and scenes in the photos, and some even recognized family members and relatives within them.

“Credit and commendations are in order for WSU and Mr. Irwin Nash,” said Miguel Puente, who spoke at the Irwin Nash community gallery reception about his family’s connection to the photos. “The ‘Rooted: Irwin Nash Photographs of Yakima Valley Farmworkers’ provided a valuable glimpse into the lives of farmworkers. The natural and unscripted scenes captured in black and white are timeless and powerful illustrations of the important contributions and inspiration that farmworkers have always contributed but rarely are recognized for. The collection triggered fond memories and untold stories amongst relatives, friends, and total strangers on the rich history of farmworkers in our region and beyond.”

Joel Aleman, a student at ���سԹ�, described the impactful connection he felt with the photos. “It’s inspiring to be reminded that, despite the hardships that we and our parents and even their parents have gone though, they toiled to get us to where we are now. I’m excited and determined to make sure that I leave a better path for those that come after me.”

Though the gallery was temporary for the ���سԹ� campus, the WSU Libraries Digital Collections will continue to make viewing the photos accessible through their website.

By Lacey Desserault

Taking part in local Juneteenth celebrations and commemorations can be as important to understanding the spirit of the holiday as learning about the history behind it.

It’s a message Razan and Reem Osman, sisters who attend ���سԹ�, want to share widely with members of the university community. Through their involvement in annual Juneteenth events held in the Tri-Cities, the pair originally from Sudan not only learned about the history and traditions associated with Juneteenth, but found a place within the tightknit local community.

“Juneteenth is a great opportunity for the WSU community to participate in events alongside members of the communities around our campuses,” Reem Osman said. “You can read about Juneteenth, but you don’t understand it until you feel it and are a part of it.”

In the days leading up to Juneteenth each year, the Tri-Cities community hosts several events ranging from roller skating events and fun days at Kurtzman Park to a Miss Juneteenth pageant. Festivities conclude on June 24^th with a gospel celebration that recognizes the suffering that took place prior to the end of slavery in the United States.

Razan Osman is currently the Tri-Cities reigning Miss Juneteenth Queen. In order to earn that honor, she participated in classes on African American culture as well as institutions like Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs, alongside her fellow contestants in the months leading up to the pageant. Contestants are judged most significantly on their responses to questions posed by judges as well as their talents, La’Quita Thornton, a member of the Miss Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant committee, noted.

Participating in the pageant gave Razan Osman the opportunity to engage with black business owners and community members as well as cultivate the confidence to be more outgoing.

“When I talk to people in places where I’m usually the only black person in the room, I feel more confident thanks to my past experiences and can take the opportunity to tell people about myself,” Razan said.

Both Osmans have also been involved in the ���سԹ� Black Student Union, a club that Reem helped to establish and now leads as president. After graduating this coming spring, Reem hopes to be an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in her chosen field of computer science.

Kauser Gwaduri, student services coordinator for the MOSAIC Center for Student Inclusion at ���سԹ�, will be tabling at community Juneteenth events on behalf of the center. There, she and other WSU employees will be helping members of the community connect with WSU resources and explore opportunities for resume building and career development as well as sharing information about different ���سԹ� student groups.

While it was a significant step for Washington State and WSU to make Juneteenth an official holiday, the university needs to use it as a means of extending its land grant mission and be a genuine part of communities across the state.

“Our mission requires us to be practical, to be hands on, and so I would love and highly encourage our WSU community to find Juneteenth celebrations in their communities,” Gwaduri said. “Get perspectives on how valuable that experience of freedom is for communities, share in the joy of education, and support the university staying connected to our community by letting them know we are here for them and going to have open ears and continue to find ways to support them for our joint benefit as one Washington State.”

The Tri-Cities Juneteenth Community Council is organizing events throughout the month of June, with more information available on its . WSU Global is planning a Juneteenth movie night on June 19 from 5-7 p.m. The campus will be screening “Daughters of the Dust” via Zoom and the event is open to all members of the WSU community. More information is available on the .

������RJ Wolcott, WSU News & Media Relations

RICHLAND, Wash. – Washington State University Tri-Cities, the MOSAIC Center for Student Inclusion and the ���سԹ� Career Center will be hosting a Women in STEM event on Thursday, March 23 from 5:30-7 p.m. on the ���سԹ� campus in the East Auditorium and via Zoom.

The event features a panel of multiple women in various STEM-related fields discussing their experiences, obstacles and accomplishments. The panelists include Kimberly Harper, a physical scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest Site Office located at Pacific Northwest Laboratory; Jenny Kadinger, engineering manager at Washington River Protection Solutions and Carina Ocampo, ���سԹ� adjunct professor of science and an environmental scientist with Central Plateau Cleanup Company.

Kauser Gwaduri, ���سԹ� student services coordinator with the MOSAIC Center for Student Inclusion and one of the organizers of the event said, “It is vital that we have events such as ‘Women in STEM’ because STEM fields still have a long way to go for gender equality. Women and other genders bring important skills, perspectives, and innovative ideas to their companies, and organizations will only grow from hiring more diverse populations. Before we can get to hiring, we need our students to know that STEM careers ARE a possibility for them and that professionals are there to help guide the way.”

The event is open to ���سԹ� and CBC students, staff, and faculty and the public. Registration is required to attend in-person and via Zoom. Please contact TriCities.Mosaic@wsu.edu for any questions.

RICHLAND, Wash – On Jan. 17, Washington State University observed, for the first time, the National Day of Racial Healing (NDORH) to reflect on shared values and build relationships based on trust and mutual respect. The day included activities at each of the WSU campuses to promote healing from racism, one of our biggest and most impactful community challenges.

Kersten Bergstrom, chair of the National Day of Racial Healing Pedagogy Working Group, member of the ���سԹ� NDoRH planning committee and lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences said the day is meant to act as a catalyst for individual and community action toward racial healing. “It is with intentional compassion and truth-telling that we may begin the healing process. This process will be sustained by deepening our understanding of self-care, community care and by embracing the WSU and Tri-Cities community around us.”

The day’s activities began with a virtual opening ceremony featuring a panel of participants from across the WSU system discussing the topic “Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation across the Washington State University System”. Robert Franklin, an assistant professor of history on the ���سԹ� campus and assistant director of the Hanford History Project participated on the panel with Shayla Reid, a third-year medical student; Lois James, associate professor in the WSU College of Nursing; Connie Nguyen-Truong, a tenured associate professor in the WSU College of Nursing; and Julian Ankney, from the department of English at WSU Vancouver. Panelists offered their perspective on questions such as: What does racial healing mean to you? Why is it important to keep in mind that racial healing is not a one-size fits all approach? and What is one thing on a community level that is needed in order to be impactful and equitable?

Franklin, a historian who teaches students about systems and practices of racial exclusion and resistance said, “The National Day of Racial Healing gives us the space to sit with history, with ourselves, and with others in compassion and healing. To hopefully understand and process the past and not, as the adage is often said, “to be doomed to repeat history.”

On-campus events and activities scheduled throughout the day gave students, staff and faculty opportunities for reflection, meditation, and creative expression and to connect with resources to support mental health, physical health, racial healing, social justice and community belonging.

Sylvia Rangel-van Breda Vriesman, student counselor and wellness coordinator at ���سԹ� and member of the ���سԹ� NDoRH planning committee promoted virtual mental health support spaces throughout the day for students across the WSU System. For her, the day was an opportunity to reflect on the toll that racism takes on our mental health and well-being “The events of racism are evident all around us. This is an opportunity to reflect on how racism systemically impacts us – because of this occurrence, everyone can benefit from doing this process-oriented work,” she said.

Kauser Gwaduri, coordinator of the MOSAIC Center of Student Inclusion and member of the NDoRH planning committee discussed the importance of community within the healing process saying,“ Fostering community is central to who I am and to the MOSAIC center. The National Day of Racial Healing is a chance to expand our communities and to heal and grow together”.

The Chair of the WSU National Day of Racial Healing committee, Trymaine Gaither said the events on the ���سԹ� campus demonstrated our shared commitment and decision towards racial healing. “I am grateful to the students, staff, faculty, guest speakers, and volunteers who made this day possible,” he said.

The day concluded with a virtual closing ceremony with musical performances and a video message from each of the six chancellors about what racial healing means to them.

The ���سԹ� NDoRH planning committee is hopeful that next year, we can continue these efforts towards racial healing “in and out of the classroom”. As Gaither commented during the closing ceremony, “healing is our decision”.

MEDIA CONTACT(S)

Leslie Streeter, Office of Marketing and Communication, (509) 372-7333, leslie.streeter@wsu.edu

RICHLAND, WA – In honor of Pride month, Washington State University Tri-Cities’ MOSAIC Center for Student Inclusion is partnering with the Uptown Rainbow Connection to host a free gender fluid closet event June 29 – 30 from 1 – 7 p.m. in the Student Union Building, room 120, on the ���سԹ� Campus.

This event allows individuals to explore outfits and accessories of various sizes and styles in a judgement-free zone. All the clothing and accessories have been donated and are available “as is”.

The MOSAIC Center, which stands for Mobilizing Opportunities for Student Advocacy, Inclusion and Culture, is a home to student resources to enhance equity and inclusion, a place to discover more about various cultures and a central location for ���سԹ� students to dialogue and learn about current social issues.

The Uptown Rainbow Connection is a nonprofit organization on a mission to make the Uptown Shopping Center a safer place for the queer community. Through partnerships and events with the shops and restaurants located in the Uptown Shopping Center, they hope to bring a greater sense of connection and safety for everyone.

���سԹ� is located at 2710 Crimson Way in Richland.

For more information about the Uptown Rainbow Connection visit their Facebook page:

Richland, Wash. – The Washington State University Tri-Cities MOSAIC Center for Student Inclusion, in collaboration with Wavelengths Salon, will hold an LGBTQ+ Panel at 6 p.m. Feb. 22 in the East Auditorium on campus and via Zoom. The event will feature a panel of community members across the LGBTQ+ spectrum and allies who will share their experiences and answer questions from the audience.

Learn about the experiences, aspirations and work done by LGBTQ+ members and allies that help make the Tri-Cities a more inclusive environment. Conversations will center around panelists’ sexual and gender identities, the impact of allyship and representation for their own coming out stories, dreams for inclusive and safe spaces in the Tri-Cities and more. Each panelist brings their perspective and relationship to the forefront to create awareness and representation in the community.

Panelists include:

• Faith Gambetty (she/her) – a transgender woman and co-owner of Wavelengths Salon
• Seth Johnson (he/him) – a transgender man
• Cassandra Loomis (she/her) – a parent of a transgender boy
• Luis Madigral (he/him) – a gay Latino therapist
• Pastor Marj (she/her) – a lesbian pastor
• Scott Rogers (he/him) – a straight ally and local attorney
• Gemini Stark (they/them) – a nonbinary hair stylist at Wavelengths Salon

RSVP for in-person attendance at . COVID-19 guidelines and requirements will apply. The Zoom registration link is .

 

���سԹ� ���سԹ�

���سԹ� is located at 2710 Crimson Way, Richland, WA 99354. Find campus maps at tricities.wsu.edu/campusmaps.

���سԹ� is located on shared traditional homelands of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. As a leading public research university with a focus on energy, environment and agriculture, ���سԹ� delivers career-connected learning and innovative research that addresses economic and social challenges.

MEDIA CONTACT(S)

Brenda Alling, Office of Marketing and Communication, 360-546-9601, brenda_alling@wsu.edu

By Maegan Murray, ���سԹ�

RICHLAND, Wash. – A panel hosted by the Washington State University Tri-Cities College of Arts and Sciences on Thursday, Oct. 7, will examine the rise of national and international Nazi and white supremacist organizations throughout the 20^th century and their relationship to each other and to Nazi movements.

The panel, titled “The Holocaust, Neo-Nazism and White Supremacy,” takes place from 4:15 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. via Zoom. It is being held in cooperation with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the WSU Center for Arts and Humanities. It is made possible by the Curt C. and Else Silberman Foundation, which supports programs in higher education that “promote, protect and strengthen Jewish values in democracy, human rights, ethical leadership and cultural pluralism.” The presentation is open to students, faculty and staff at ���سԹ�, as well as the larger WSU system and other university campuses.

To register to attend the virtual panel, visit

“This panel presentation marks a pertinent opportunity to explore how white supremacist groups rise to power and their impact on not only our nation, but the world,” said Robert Bauman, ���سԹ� history professor and academic director for the College of Arts and Sciences. “Especially given recent events regarding social injustice in communities in our own country, this panel will present perspectives that will help shed light on how these groups arise in the first place and the ways communities have responded to those groups.”

The panelists featured include:

• Richard King, professor and chair of humanities, history and social sciences at Columbia College of Chicago
• Kristine F. Hoover, associate professor in the master of arts organizational leadership program and director of the Institute of Hate Studies at Gonzaga University
• Rebecca Erbelding, historian of education initiatives at the William Levine Family Institute for Holocaust Education of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Bauman will serve as the moderator for the panel.

For more information about the presentation and panelists, visit tricities.wsu.edu/event/the-holocaust-neo-nazism-and-white-supremacy.

 

Disclaimer: “The US Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Center’s mission is to ensure the long-term growth and vitality of Holocaust Studies. To do that, it is essential to provide opportunities for new generations of scholars. The vitality and the integrity of Holocaust Studies require openness, independence, and free inquiry so that new ideas are generated and tested through peer review and public debate. The opinions of scholars expressed before, during the course of, or after their activities with the Mandel Center do not represent and are not endorsed by the Museum or its Mandel Center.”