A multicultural focus
Since its creation in 1986, the Frederick Douglass Institute (FDI) of KU has provided students a way to help their community by promoting multiculturalism and equality, following in the footsteps of Frederick Douglass, an influential author and orator of the 1800s who brought attention to the cruel realities of slavery.
The Institute offers scholarships, forums and exhibits that help students and community members across the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) gain a deeper understanding of diversity and social equality. These issues are discussed frequently at the various conferences that FDI organizes in an effort to bring students from throughout Pennsylvania closer together.
Currently this group is preparing its students for the FDI Collaborative Undergraduate Research Conference at Bloomsburg University, in which schools will discuss themes centered around issues of diversity, globalization and social justice. The “Walking in the Shoes Of…” program is aimed at mentoring teens in the foster care system by having them participate in on-campus activities for a day and to help generate interest in higher education opportunities provided by the university.
Various groups and discussion series have also budded from the central idea on which the FDI was founded. The Frederick Douglass Institute Faculty Writing Group meets regularly to share their own thoughts and opinions through writing, regarding the equality of campus living and discussing the many cultural backgrounds of students who attend KU. There is also the FDI Discussion Series, which facilitates dialogue surrounding social equality and understanding amongst students and faculty. A forum of students has been created for individuals of different backgrounds to interact with and establish ties among each other. FDI’s The Discussion Series also exposes students to underrepresented groups within the the university and stimulates a growth of understanding for them to appreciate.
FDI also organized the Friend of the KU Frederick Douglass Institute, in which participants can take part in the FDI mentoring program. Those interested in getting involved are presented with many options. One can mentor a colleague, which is angled to help graduate students search out teaching opportunities at universities around the globe. One can also mentor a KU undergraduate student.
These are just some of the objectives and responsibilities that the FDI take on. The number of members in the group is still growing, and FDI is always looking for motivated individuals to give back to their communities through the various programs it offers. With more cultural understanding on our campuses, students can have a clearer vision of the subtle cultural differences that make KU such a diverse community.
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