Multicultural Student Advisory Board

Mission

The Multicultural Student Advisory Board is a diverse group of students committed to anti-racism education and racial reconciliation that acts as a voice for the Calvin community. We seek to nurture an environment in which an appreciation for diversity can thrive to model Jesus Christ’s kingdom of people from every nation, language, and tribe.

Goals

The central goal of the MSAB is two-fold: to educate group members about social justice and inequality, and to educate the Calvin community. This will be accomplished by:

1. Raising awareness of local and national social justice issues in order to educate group members through article reading, news media and online resources on.
2. Providing safe space during meetings for members to share and exchange perspectives on information learned.
3. Providing opportunities for members to explore their racial and ethnic identities.
4. Creating engaging, informative programming throughout the academic year to explore themes of racism (institutional and personal), inequality, and social justice.

Duties

1. Work on a team of 10-12 peers
2. Plan annual UnLearn Week events during the 2nd week of October.
3. Serve as participants in any Martin Luther King Day Celebrations.
4. Help with facilitation of Black History Month events.
5. Collaborate with other college offices and individuals to develop additional programming throughout the year that connects with a central theme or coincides with the cultural heritage calendar.

Ideal Candidate

Members of the MSAB vary in racial/ethnic background, class level, major, and experiences. This diversity brings together an interesting mix of perspectives and opinions. Members must be willing to share their life experiences, learn from the experiences of others, and be open to new ideas and perspectives. Students should have some basic knowledge of racism, inequality and social justice.

Studying abroad or taking an off-campus interim does not automatically disqualify a candidate from being selected.

Time Commitment

The group meets once a week for an hour and is responsible for sponsoring one campus event per month. Occasionally throughout the semester (usually the beginning of fall semester and during interim) one-on-one meetings are scheduled with the group advisor.