Harmony Walk bridges ethnic differences

By Octavia Hill
Staff Writer
Oct. 1, 2009

Photo by Tony Lewis

Director of Office of Multicultural and Minority Affairs, Robert Canida II, encourages people to appreciate student diversity.

Not as many people attended UNCP’s sixth annual Harmony Walk on Sept. 16 this year, but it was still a celebration.

The rainy weather held off until the end of the event, permitting the Harmony Walk to be a success.

Before the rain began, students and faculty celebrated diversity one step at a time in front of the University’s water amphitheatre. The ceremony followed with a unity walk from the amphitheatre to the UC Annex led by the UNCP marching band. A banner competition was judged during the walk and results were announced in the Annex. The National Council of Negro Women won the competition.

“It has been a pleasure for the past years of the Harmony Walk to bring everyone together. The Harmony Walk bridges differences and a time to appreciate student diversity,” said Robert Canida II, director of the Office of Multicultural and Minority Affairs.

The collaboration, unity and commitment started with Office of Multicultural and Minority Affairs, Disability Support Services and the Center for Leadership and Service.

Harmony is defined as the combination or adaptation of parts of elements, or related things, so as to form a consistent and orderly whole, agreement and accord. UNCP often celebrates on one accord. One purpose of the event is building and strengthening relationships of diversity through leadership and communication. The end of the walk led to the Annex building with the guest speakers Natasha Lake and Cortina Caldwell. The two guest speakers talked about their leadership roles while they were in college. They began an organization called Dream Catcher.

This led to volunteer and community partnerships between the students and the community. Lake and Caldwell also will be coming back to UNCP in the future.

Photo by Tony Lewis	Photo by Tony Lewis
Miss UNC Pembroke 2009, Katy Locklear, and Miss UNCP’s Carolina Princess 2009 both participate in the Harmony Walk held Sept. 16 at the University’s water amphitheatre. Locklear also spoke at the event about her experiences growing up in a multiracial home and about what diversity at UNC Pembroke means to her.	Organizations taking part in the Harmony Walk display banners for the banner competition which was judged during the walk from the amphitheatre to the UC Annex.

Photo by Janna Blue

The UNCP marching band led the Harmony Walk from the amphitheatre to the UC Annex.