Tag: KCKCC

KCKCC launches Center for Global Transitional Justice

by Kelly Rogge

Kansas City Community College has launched a new center known as the Henry M. Louis Center for Transitional Justice to promote global transitional justice, peace, multicultural education and global friendship.

The center will publish a quarterly journal, “The Citizen Diplomat,” convene annual transitional justice conferences and organize a freedom and peace luncheon in the fall semester.

The Henry Louis Center, which was approved by the KCKCC administration earlier in March, will be beneficial to the local community, state, national and international communities.

In the past, the center, acting as an educational institute, had conducted conflict resolution workshops and simulations for high school students and hopes to continue with that tradition. The center also plans to organize hands-on workshops, lectures and conferences for local communities.

“Transitional justice is concerned with how individuals, governments and societies deal with the unpleasant past,” said Ewa Unoke, associate professor of political science at KCKCC and coordinator of the Henry project. “Transitional justice deals with such issues as truth telling, punishment, pardon, accountability, healing, catharsis, reparative justice, restorative justice, reconciliation, national recovery, truth and reconciliation commissions and the International Criminal Court.”

The center’s new project, “Transitional Justice and Counter-Terrorism: Establishing a Post-Conflict Agenda for Societies in Democratic Transitions” began in February 2014 after 10 KCKCC students participated in the recent National Model United Nations at Harvard University in Boston.

The Louis Center, along with the Student for Global Peace and Ralph Bunche Society, jointly sponsored the trip.

“The Henry M. Louis Center for Global Transitional Justice is a great asset for the KCKCC,” Unoke said. “Our students, will write for the transitional justice journal, take transitional justice classes and conduct researches abroad. KCKCC faculty interested in the theme of transitional justice will have the opportunity to be published and also participate in transitional justice conferences, workshops and researches locally and abroad.”

If grants are approved by the State Department, the new project will bring together journalists, government officials and the community from the United States and Africa. The center will conduct workshops abroad in collaboration with a few KCKCC faculty and students.

“In an age of anger, fear and terrorism, transitional justice is a timely theme in international relations, post-conflict reconciliation and national recovery,” Unoke said. “Professor Henry Louis was a global extrovert who led hundreds of KCKCC faculty on numerous trips worldwide. Our aim is to continue Henry’s legacy by facilitating global links among KCKCC community, governments and human rights communities abroad. We invite individuals and organizations who believe in human rights, peace and reconciliation partnerships to join us.”

Unoke holds a doctorate degree. His major fields of study were international relations and comparative politics. He is a transitional justice and subaltern scholar who is a former Biafra Child soldier and prisoner of war. He has taught for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in Liberia at the College of Insurance and Risk management. Unoke has also taught transitional justice at Howard University, Lincoln University and currently at KCKCC.

For more information on the Henry M. Louis Center for Global Transitional Justice feel free to contact Professor Ewa Unoke at [email protected] or 913-288-7318.

Spots still open for KCKCC’s Innovation Summit

by Kelly Rogge

Limited spots are still available to pre-qualify for Kansas City Kansas Community College’s 2014 Innovation Summit.

The KCKCC version of the popular series “Shark Tank,” the Innovation Summit is one of the premiere start-up pitch competitions in the region. The event, which is in its third year, is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 4 in Upper Jewell on the KCKCC campus, 7250 State Ave.

The purpose of the summit is to inspire entrepreneurs, individuals and educators to innovate; connect people and organizations; mentor and promote Kansas City’s entrepreneurial spirit and engage and facilitate community leaders so that they can promote entrepreneurship as a vital part of the culture and economic health.

Innovation Summit partners include KCKCC, State Street, the Kansas Small Business Development Center, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the Wyandotte Economic Development Council, KCSourceLink, the KCK Women’s Chamber, the KCK Chamber of Commerce, the KCK Black Chamber of Commerce, the Women’s Business Center, the Central Avenue Betterment Association, the Leavenworth County Development Council, Youth Entrepreneurs Kansas, Emporia State University-KC and SCORE.

“This event is our local ‘shark tank,’ but at a different level,” said Marisa Gray, business development liaison for Workforce Development at KCKCC. “The excitement around this event is contagious. We get to bring the idea makers, the financial supporters and the testers all in the same room at the same time. In addition, you will be inspired by those that are willing to share their journey of entrepreneurship.”

After a keynote address and presentation from Kansas City, Kan., Mayor Mark Holland, participants will have a chance to walk through the Elevator Pitch Exhibit. This is an opportunity for selected entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas in front of investors, other entrepreneurs, business leaders and venture capitalists for a chance to win a portion of the $10,000 State Street Perfect Pitch Award. After a short break, exhibit winners will be announced, and the top six earners in each division qualify for the three-minute pitch competition.

There are two divisions in the perfect pitch competition – the general division, for those 19 and above and the high school division, for those who are 14 to 18-years-old. Three chances are available to qualify for the State Street Perfect Pitch competition. Each pitch person will be given three minutes to pitch an idea, followed by three minutes for questions from the judges.

There are three final qualifying dates for the summit. All are on the KCKCC campus. These dates:

• March 18

• March 20

• March 26

Those who qualify for the perfect pitch competition are then allowed to set up an exhibit and share their ideas during the Elevator Pitch Exhibit at the Innovation Summit. Exhibitors will give a 30 second elevator pitch and attendees will invest their Monopoly money in those ideas that interest them. The top six earners (three from the general division and three from the high school division) move onto the State Street Perfect Pitch Competition. First place in each division receives $2,500; second place, $1,500 and third place, $500.

For more information on the Innovation Summit or to register for one of the qualifying dates, call 913-288-7284 or email [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. Information can also be found online at www.kckcc.edu<http://www.kckcc.edu>. Select Workforce Development and then Innovation Summit.

KCKCC recognizes pioneering professor Melanie Jackson Scott

Melanie Jackson Scott (KCKCC photo)

by Kelly Rogge

As the community collectively celebrates diverse histories during each month, one of Kansas City Kansas Community College’s prominent professors and the first director of the Intercultural Center leaves her footprints on KCKCC’s history.

Professor Melanie Jackson Scott was instrumental as the first African American in several professional roles at the community college. One significant role that contributed to the campus climate, culture and education was being the first African American female director to initiate, enhance and expand a new departmental area within the college – the Intercultural Center.

“To be the first person of color in any professional role creates new in-roads that require a tenacity of spirit that is not always welcomed initially when it is a new approach to the status quo of an organization,” she said.

Looking back, Scott said she is still amazed at where diversity education has come since she started at the college more than 30 years ago and her role in that evolution. A big part of the focus on diversity at KCKCC was the creation of Intercultural Center.

“Diversity education is crucial to the mission and purpose of our institution in preparing our students to navigate successfully in our global society,” she said. “A multi-ethnic, global consciousness needs to be cultivated both for its general educational value and for its practical utility in a world of increasingly interdependent economies and cultures.”

The Intercultural Center, which was a unique concept for a community college campus at the time, came out of an Intercultural Task Force established in the mid-1990s. The task force conducted an internal assessment of diversity on the KCKCC campus as well as the academic curriculum needs and human resources concerns. There were no blueprints to follow among community colleges in the state of Kansas. However, based on the assessment, the need for diversity and inclusion was identified and KCKCC was able to develop a Mission Statement, goals and objectives that challenged the institution to be a transformational community college; serving multicultural and international education. Scott, a professor in the Social and Behavioral Science Division, said the results of the assessment determined that the college was ready to move forward toward a more inclusive environment.

“Looking at KCKCC’s history of a primarily Eurocentric/monoculture environment, with the lack of diversity among our college employees and recognizing that diversity education needed to be imbedded across the curriculum, the diversity task force helped to revitalize campus diversity initiatives,” Scott said. “As co-facilitators of the task force, CeCe Prieto Morehouse (retired KCKCC ESL director) and I advocated for a visible, tangible and inclusive place for campus and community to come together for diversity orientation, programs and training,” she said. “Obtaining and construction of the physical space required for the Intercultural Center proved to be a challenge. In addition, financial resources, the need for full-time personnel and/or appropriate release time for planning and implementation were also problematic.  However, though perseverance and support of the administration, the Intercultural Center was opened in 1997.”

The Intercultural Center was designed to provide students, faculty and staff as well as those in the community with an environment that celebrates the cultural contributions of the diverse populations at KCKCC. Scott was one of two co-founders of the ICC, served as co-director and was the first full-time director until passing the torch in 2010.

“In addition to getting the Intercultural Center open, it was also important to have a cross catalyst group of employees join the conversations and make contributions to the strategy needed to fully embrace a multicultural environment and education” she said. Thus was born the Intercultural Council; open to any and all employees who wanted to commit their time. The council became the engine for multicultural organizational development and implementation was a collective effort minimizing fear of change within the college. Continuous encouragement of the campus community was needed in order to have ownership through involvement and participation. On-going diversity leadership training was needed, encouraged and acquired for employees at all levels including members of the Board of Trustees.”

A Community Advisory Board was established to get response from the local community. This added another level to intercultural relations. Through it all, Scott said she had “continuous support and encouragement” from students, employees of the college and the community.

“The Intercultural Center’s Mission Statement embodied fostering greater cultural interaction and education, provided a diversity of programs, cultural events and activities that enhance and promote cross cultural relations and builds campus spirit,” she said. “I would be remiss not to say that I did not have challenges and obstacles from individuals who had skepticism regarding the initiatives and programs from ICC.  However, I grew up with an open heart and open mind during a tumultuous time in history (the 1960s) and have learned to live a life enriched by the beauty of diversity and inclusion. When you are able to walk the talk, you tend to have a passion for your purpose and a desire to overcome the challenges required for success.

“As the first director of the Intercultural Center, I was able to devote full-time to the facilitation of diversity education and inclusion at all levels of the college and partnering with our local community. I was able to add a chapter to the college’s history in intercultural relations and provide leadership in transforming Kansas City Kansas Community College,” Scott said. “I am honored to see the impact that the ICC has had in promoting diversity and inclusion in all aspects of campus life,” she said. “I would like to think my leadership efforts helped to make an impact on hiring a more diverse campus community. In addition, substantial changes in the campus environment occurred by displaying the procurement of diverse art and artifacts from public and private entities.”

Scott said her roles as co-founder and director of the Intercultural Center has provided personal and professional growth opportunities. She said her role as an educator-professor is significantly gratifying and has provided the greatest impact with students and colleagues.

“KCKCC is still making history and this is an important time to acknowledge the progress made and understand that there is still much to learn and do as we move forward in recognizing our cross cultural histories,” she said. “I am also optimistic that the current leadership has and will continue with the mission, goals and objectives of Intercultural Center as they are connected to the ‘Mission and Purpose’ of the college.”

Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at Kansas City Kansas Community College.