BriTe SiGnaL Alliance is holding a diversity day event for a day of fun and free food with Sinclair students.
In the past, BriTe SiGnaL has held rallies, but according to Kara Brown, the Faculty Advisor for the Alliance and an Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, they only focused on LGBT and she was looking for a different message this time.
“We want to do something different than a rally because we didn’t want it to be activism focused because what that meant was a lot of the other clubs felt like they didn’t belong. Most of our speakers were very LGBT focused and I don’t want it to be that way. I want it to be everyone is invited and everyone’s included,” Brown said.
According to Brown, the event is meant to unite everyone at Sinclair and give reassurance to the diverse groups at the college.
“I want everyone to feel like they have a voice and a place and they’re just as welcome as everyone else. A lot of this goes back to the climate in the country and the community right now. A lot of people of diverse groups are feeling threatened and uncertain,” Brown said.
Brown also emphasized that the event is mainly just to have fun with different groups on campus and that everyone is welcome to come. She wants this to be a day to relax and not just focused on diversity and taking a stand, although Brown says that is important to do.
The BriTe SiGnaL Alliance placed an emphasis on “not just us, but everybody,” Brown stated. She said that the group wanted to include everyone and not just an LGBT crowd.
“Nobody’s really done this if you think about it. Each individual group has done it around this area, but nobody has stood together for one big thing. If it goes well, I hope it sends a strong message that Sinclair’s not that kind of place,” she said. “We’re not the kind of place where a Muslim student is going to be afraid to go to Sinclair here. Or that a trans student feels like they can’t go to school here.”
Brown stated that in this current environment, many diverse groups are feeling uncertain and she wanted to plan a day of fun that also took a stand.
BriTe SiGnaL planned the event one week before finals so that any student could come outside, have fun, relax and eat the free food that will be provided.
The event will be held outside of Building 10 at the rolling hills. It will take place on Tuesday, April 18 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Laina Yost
Managing Editor