Past Diversity Series Events
2023-2024
Calling all Poets!
Thursday, November 30, 12 p.m. | YVC Campus | Hopf Union Building (HUB) Activity Area
Are you interested in publishing your poetry? Join the Diversity Series for a poetry workshop where you’ll learn how to craft a poem, submit your work, and get feedback from other poets. Event starts at 12 p.m. in the HUB.
The American Buffalo: Film and Yakama Speaker Panel
Wednesday, November 15, 7 p.m. | YVC Conference Center, Yakima Campus
Yakima Valley College celebrates Native American Heritage Month with a special event featuring Yakama Nation biologists and scholars commenting on a new documentary from renowned filmmaker Ken Burns. The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature approximately 1 hour of film cuts from “The American Buffalo” followed by a panel of prominent Yakama tribal members.
“The American Buffalo” takes viewers on a journey through more than 10,000 years of North American history and across some of the continent’s most iconic landscapes, tracing the animal’s evolution, its significance to the Indigenous people and landscape of the Great Plains, its near extinction, and the efforts to bring the magnificent mammals back from the brink.
The panel will feature Kristi Olney, lead biologist for the Yakama Nation Wildlife Resource Management Program; Jon (JD) Shellenberger, a Yakama artist, archaeologist and entrepreneur; Darwin Sockzehigh, bison technician lead for the Yakama Nation Wildlife Resource Management Program; and Emily Washines, a YVC adjunct instructor of ethnic studies and author of the blog Native Friends, which explores Indigenous history and culture.
YVC History Instructor Kenneth Zontek will serve as host for the event. Zontek is author of “Buffalo Nation: American Indian Efforts to Restore the Bison,” a history of bison restoration efforts that also explores Native peoples’ pursuit of political and cultural autonomy.
Corporate funding for “The American Buffalo” was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and by The Better Angels Society and its following members: Margaret A. Cargill Foundation fund at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation; Diane and Hal Brierley; The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment; John and Catherine Debs; Kissick Family Foundation; Fred and Donna Seigel; Jacqueline Mars; John and Leslie McQuown; and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Tudor Jones. Funding was also provided by The Volgenau Foundation.
La Chola Conference
Friday, October 13- Sunday, October 15
YVC’s Diversity Series continues with the 2023 La Chola Conference on the Yakima Valley College Yakima Campus, October 13-15. The conference theme is: “La Chola Xola: Reclaiming Indigenous Guerillera Identities 4 Celebrating Ceremonia in Chola Spaces.”
For more information about this contact diversityseries@yvcc.edu
Strategies for College Success as a First-Generation Student
Monday, September 25| 2-4 p.m. | YVC Conference Center
YVC’s Diversity Series, along with TRIO Student Support Services is pleased to welcome educator, administrator and author Jeremiah Sims. Sims will present, “Strategies for College Success as a First-Generation Student.” During the talk he will share his personal journey through community college and ultimately UC Berkeley, as a first-generation college student. Also a TRIO alumni, Sims will teach students his self-developed strategies for college success.
2022-2023
Jessica Hernandez, PhD, Author Presentation
Thursday, April 27 | 2:30 – 4 p.m.
Yakima Valley College’s 2023 Diversity Series, in conjunction with the Climate and Environment student club and the Associated Students of Yakima Valley College (ASYVC), will host noted Indigenous scientist and community advocate Jessica Hernandez, PhD for an author presentation in April. Hernandez will share key themes and research for her award-winning book, “Fresh Banana Leaves: Healing Indigenous Landscapes through Indigenous Science.”
Hernandez will talk about her book, followed by an audience Q&A, on Thursday, April 27 from 2:30-4 p.m. in the Deccio Higher Education Center, Building #8, Parker Room and via Zoom.
Leading up to Hernandez’s campus visit, YVC will host book discussions on Wednesday, April 5, and from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in Hopf Union (HUB), Building #9, MLK Room and via Zoom and Wednesday, April 19, from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in the MLK Room and via Zoom. Discussions will be led by members the Climate and Environment club. YVC students can obtain a free copy of Hernandez’s book at the ASYVC office on the Yakima or Grandview campus. Community members can order a copy of the book online.
2021-2022
The Life and Work of Tomás Villanueva with Graciela Villaneuva
YVC’s Diversity Series celebrates the life and work of local activist Tomás Villanueva. Graciela Villanueva will share her father’s legacy and how he helped shape the Yakima Valley through his social justice and activism for farmworkers. A Q&A will follow the lecture. Local artist’s Bertha López and Christie Tirado will share artwork honoring Villanueva that will be on display at YVC.
Virtual Conversation with Rubisela Gamboa
Diversity Series Yakima Valley College’s 2022 Diversity Series will present a virtual conversation featuring Rubisela Gamboa, a scholar who has explored the undocumented migrant experience and grew up on the Yakama Reservation. Gamboa’s talk will focus on surviving segregation and racial violence, drawing upon an understanding of the historical Chicana/o experience.
Virtual Workshop Series Featuring Counselor James Vega
Diversity Series Yakima Valley College’s 2022 Diversity Series will present a series of three virtual workshops featuring counselor and scholar James Vega over the coming month. The free events will be held on Wednesday, April 27, May 4, and May 11 at 10:30 a.m. PST. Q&A Session will follow each lecture by Vega.
Workshop 1 (April 27): Using the Aztec Calendar/Mexika Sunstone Participants will: Learn how to use the comprehensive Indigenous Tonali Booklet by Maestro Jaime, Tlakatletzin Learn how to find one’s cosmic identity, characteristics, and career paths Learn how to start living each day with an increased purpose to reach one’s full potential Learn about the 20 days known as the solar day Start a journal to enter the art, poetry, thoughts, feelings, and questions. Discuss the activities to do in preparation for the next workshop.
Workshop 2 (May 4): How to Use the Ancient Indigenous Codices Charts Participants will: Learn how to use the Tonali Booklet: Birth Chart, Mexika Solar Year Charts, 20 days/Tonali, 20-day segments/Vientena, and 13 Day Birth Cycle/Ze Trezena Learn how to understand the ancient sunstone to find out about one’s characteristics, gifts and career paths Review previous session activities and journals. Discuss the activities to do in preparation for the next workshop.
Workshop 3 (May 11): How to use the Ze Trezena/13 Day Birth Cycle information Participants will: Learn how to help others discover how they can reach their full potential. Learn how to determine a person’s birth information by using knowledge gained during these ancient Indigenous teachings. Share their experience with these three sessions. Share their Indigenous Codice shield or collage or artistic creation. Review of previous sessions, activities, and journals.
32nd Annual Students of Color Conference
The 32nd Annual Students of Color Conference – “Cancel Misinformation, Regain Truth.”
Check out SOCC on social media: