Jennifer Matti, a student in the Academic Upgrading for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Adults program is featured in the new Diversity Matters calendar by GBC’s diversity, equity & human rights services. Photo: Karen Nickel/The Dialog
“Diversity Matters at George Brown College,” is a new campaign by the diversity, equity & human rights services (DEHRS). The campaign launched on Sept. 19 at the School of Design building, consists of a video and a 2013- 2014 school year calendar featuring 17 George Brown College (GBC) students.
The students were asked to respond to three questions, What do you think of when you hear the word diversity? Why is diversity so important at GBC? How does diversity at GBC prepare you for the workforce? All answered on the video. The calendar showcases some of the the students with their answers.
“In the spring students were approached and offered incentives, such as a Timmie’s gift card, to participate in the video project,” said Vivek Shraya, positive space co-ordinator and human rights advisor. “The students that contacted us are featured in the video and the calendar.”
“Originally it was only for the video, but then the calendar idea came as an opportunity to make one of our own, instead of outsourcing like we did last year. We used the students and statements from the video to put it together,” said Shraya.
Jennifer Matti, a student in the academic upgrading for deaf and hard-of-hearing adults program, communicating through ASL, said, “If I hadn’t socialized with different individuals, I might not have had an opportunity…to discover what it is that I want to do.” She is featured on the August 2014 calendar’s page.
The calendar also announced another new initiative from DEHRS called, “Educating through the HeART”. This programme blends human rights and diversity topics with arts based educational workshops ranging from a Disability Arts Cabaret on Oct. 11 to a summer film series in 2014.
The calendar can be picked up from the DEHRS offices at Casa Loma, room 102; St. James, room 126; and Waterfront, room 230.
