HAMPTON — The Citizens’ Unity Commission’s Diversity College is now offering a third level of classes that residents can take.
Launched in 2004, the Diversity College program is a free set of classes designed to educate individuals about the value of diversity, unity and inclusion in contemporary workplaces and in the community, said Latiesha Handie, executive director of the Citizens’ Unity Commission.
Since the beginning of the courses that year, there have been more than 1,200 participants in the multi-level course that now has three levels of classes.
The classes have to be taken in sequential order and are targeted at both internal and external members of the city, Handie said.
Any city employee or resident can take the classes. If there’s space available, the classes are open to non-residents.
After completing the classes, participants get a certificate and are honored at the Citizens’ Unity Commission annual awards ceremony.
The classes are taught by service-matter experts and range from gender, race, sexual orientation, body image, religion and how all of those topics interact with the community around them.
Each class is conducted once a week on Thursdays at varying times during the year:
- Level 1 – 4 weeks
- Level 2 – 6 weeks
- Level 3 – 5 weeks
Level 3, the newest level, will focus on equality versus equity, social justice and links between diversity and inclusion.
Handie said the classes and subject matter has evolved over the years to expand from conversations just on race.
The classes hope to highlight what makes a community diverse and then train its participants on how to include everyone in that community.
To find out how to sign up for the Diversity College, click here.
To learn more about the Citizens’ Unity Commission, click here.
