Community celebrates peace and diversity at UNCP’s Harmony Walk

By Sonia Jackson
Staff Writer

Photo Courtesy of University Relations Robert L. Canida II (right), director of mulitcultural and minority affairs, walked alongside Dr. Joy Weeber (center), UNCP coordinator of counseling advising and transitioning.

More than 250 UNCP students, faculty, staff and community participated in the Harmony Walk on Sept. 21.

The walk was in observance of the International Day of Peace and celebrated diversity.

Robert L. Canida II, director of multicultural and minority affairs, led the walkers from the UNCP amphitheater, past the clock tower, where they fell in step with UNCP's boisterous marching band and continued past the library to the University Center lawn.

"It was awesome. It touched my heart to see the richness and diversity that our university and our community has to offer to the global society," Canida said.

Several campus organizations participated in the march holding vibrantly colored banners that were as diverse as the walkers themselves.

Lili Zhan, a freshman international student from China, said she enjoyed the Harmony Walk because it made her happy to "speak to many American students" and tell them about China's culture, while she herself learned more about the American culture.

Photo Courtesy of University Relations The International Student Organization brings even more diversity to UNCP.

Dr. Joy Weeber, the guest speaker for the Harmony Walk and UNCP coordinator of counseling, advising and transitioning for disability support services, said that harmony isn't static. It's an on-going process that takes practice and everyone working on it together.

"I hope that…we're not afraid to talk about the hard stuff because talking about the hard stuff is part of creating harmony," Weeber said.

It's important to not just acknowledge differences people have, Weeber said, but also to honor them and the contributions those differences bring to the community.

After the walk, participants were met with free refreshments. Different campus organizations set up tables on the lawn to encourage students to volunteer their time to various community service projects.

The Leadership and Service Opportunities Program had a table where students interested in tutoring and/or mentoring could volunteer.

Photo Courtesy of University Relations The Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity walked with posters supporting the Harmony Walk.

The Save Our Seniors project, set up by the Zeta Phi Beta sorority, had a table for interested volunteers to help place donation boxes on campus and around town to provide care packages for the seniors in the community.

All the banners made by organizations and dorm buildings for the Harmony Walk were judged in the University Center. Canida presented awards to the top three places. First place went to the Latin American Student Organization, Second place was awarded to the International Student Organization and LSOP won third.