2002 NACA National Convention in Indianapolis

The following are comments abstracted from a discussion at the NACA National educational session, “ Great Times for All: Multicultural Programming at a Predominantly White Campus," hosted by Josh Dunson, Real Peoples Music, and Michael Nejman, Harper College.

More than 100 NACA delegates attended this session.  Our initial list of "goals/needs," as generated by participants included:

• Ideas for multicultural programming

• How to work with multicultural centers and clubs

• How to attract a diverse audience to a program (also, how to "evolve" the audience)

• How to be inclusive when developing student programs (balance in programming)

• Working with co-sponsorships

• How to involve international students in the process

• Developing a program on "classism."

Michael Nejman reviewed a Top 10 list of Multicultural Programming Strategies, emphasizing "Building Bridges with Faculty" as the best way to insure a broader, more diverse audience.

Josh Dunson shared his perspective as an associate member who represents performers from various cultural backgrounds and provided these handouts.

Guest panelist Eddie Howard, Jr., Director of Student Activities, Georgia State University, emphasized the importance of providing an open, friendly, welcoming environment. It's important to note that "everyone is invited" to multicultural programs, not just members of the target group.

The discussion was then opened up to the entire audience.  These are highlights:

• Problem: Students are segmented and the music business is segmented.  One tactic: Cross-over Groups (musical groups that appeal to more than one market) at a large campus event (i.e. Spring Fling, Welcome Back to School Bash, End-of-Semester Bash, etc.).  Mixed success. Sometimes everyone is pleased and others the needs of none of the groups are met.

• Ongoing inclusion of all target groups on campus.  Bucknell has had a successful Presidents Council where presidents of all organizations work together on a continual basis developing trust.

• Be inclusive in programming, even for target groups NOT currently on your campus.

• Introduce free programs to expose students to diversity-related programs.

• Use opening acts to attract diverse audiences (but be careful to make sure the two cultures don't clash!).  It's tasteful to have a jazz act open for a hip-hop group, but a country act probably won't work as an opener for a rap show.

• Allow time for change to occur!  Don't expect multicultural programming to be successful on your campus over-night!

• Integrate signing and access for the disabled at events; be sure videos are sub-titled for hard-of-hearing and deaf students.

• Best way to insure attendance at events is to build alliances with various clubs on your campus.  Never book performers for a target group unless members of that target group are involved in the decision-making.

• Start small with reachable expectations.  

• Use acts that can offer more than just one area of interest.  For example, a comedian that offered comedy AND program on alcohol abuse.

• Consider programming multicultural events throughout the ENTIRE year, not just during designated celebratory months.

• Press your administration to support diversity programming by attending events and participating. As leaders, they need to be good role models!

• Programming boards need to self-educate themselves about diversity issues and programs.  Consider leadership retreats that focus on this goal.

  Some BIG successes: 

• One school staged a multicultural retreat for various club leaders early in the fall semester so that they could work together on programming later in the year.

• Another school had a free program which taught whites "steppin’."  This is a great way to share cultures while having fun!

• One student said that programs that "allow us to learn as much about them as they learn about us" are very effective. Share cultures!  Emphasize dialogue!

• A staff member said to develop and promote a programming board's or college's mission statement that emphasizes diversity.  Then, make sure it is prominently displayed on fliers and posters.

• Save money by using local acts that offer music that is diverse and multicultural.

•  One of the colleges had a very successful "Carol & Lights Holiday Celebration" that was inclusive of Kwanzaa, Ramadan, and Hanukkah.

• Another school produced a game show that focused on diversity-related questions.  

In the 75-minutes we had together as a group, we were able to address a great many of the initial "goals and needs" list, but it's obvious that this is an important topic that needs to be addressed in a longer workshop.  Please let Dawn Thomas at NACA know if you'd like this topic addressed at future national conventions.

Edited by Michael Nejman & Josh Dunson.(www.realpeoplesmusic.com); if you circulate this document, please credit the authors.  c/2002.