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Hamilton Alumni Review

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Inaugural Multicultural Reunion

Contact: Alumni Relations
Phone: 1-866-729-0314
October 11, 2007

Phyllis Holmes Breland ’80, Daniel R. Garcia ’84, and Torrence Moore ’92
Phyllis Holmes Breland ’80, Daniel R. Garcia ’84, and Torrence Moore ’92
A highlight of Hamilton's Fallcoming 2007 was the Inaugural Multicultural Reunion. Alumni from classes 1970 to 2006 gathered with current students to explore the special challenges and rewards experienced by Hamiltonians with diverse backgrounds. Discussion panels addressed practical issues confronted by this group of alumni in the working world in the Latino Career Panel and the Professional Ethics Workshop.

In another meeting seven panelists provided descriptions of their own experiences in the Multicultural Life on the Hill Workshop. Moderated by Associate Professor of Philosophy Todd Franklin, the workshop reinforced that both students in the past and today are interested in change.

Concrete suggestions were made by participants to develop a Multicultural Alumni Relations Committee (MARC) web page; compile a history of multicultural engagement on the Hill; create a "Celebrate Ourselves" news story of Hamilton firsts (as they pertain the multicultural community); put together a group of faculty, administrators, alumni and students to brainstorm issues of diversity; develop and hold informal sessions for multicultural students hosted by alumni of color; and further promote the Alumni Web site as a networking tool to connect alumni.

Other proposed initiatives described how MARC will be used as a resource for collaboration between the Career Center and alumni of color, to promote the programs hosted by the Dean of Students office for students of color, and to engage young multicultural alumni in off-campus networking opportunities in regions such as Metro New York City, Chicago, Boston and Washington, D.C.

Additionally, La Vanguardia, the Black Student Union and MARC hosted an exciting multimedia event, the iRep Fashion Show, which was attended by hundreds of cheering students, alumni and faculty.

The weekend culminated in a formal dinner on Saturday for alumni and students with the presentation of alumni awards to Phyllis Holmes Breland '80, Daniel R. Garcia '84, and Torrence Moore '92 for their service and contributions to the multicultural community.