April 5 - 12, 2019
World of Excellence at Appalachian

Diversity Celebration

The Diversity Celebration features a wide array of local music, eclectic dancing, delectable food, international films and festivals. Appalachian students, faculty, staff, K-12 schools, and members of the local community are all invited to join us in this celebration of cultures through art and entertainment.

The Diversity Celebration supports and enhances Appalachian State University's mission of "accepting the responsibility to be actively involved in addressing the educational, economic, cultural, and societal needs of the changing region, state, nation, and world," by providing a venue where diverse perspectives, cultures and values are accepted, appreciated and celebrated.

Featured events

  • Dr. Chad Black: Orderly Families, Orderly Streets: The Politics of Sex in Colonial Quito
    Apr
    5
    Dr. Chad Black: Orderly Families, Orderly Streets: The Politics of Sex in Colonial Quito
    Part of the 2019 Diversity Celebration
    Friday, April 5, 2019
    11:00am-12:15pm
    155 Plemmons Student Union (Tater Hill)

    The wake of what is now known as Quito's Rebellion of the Barrios led Royal officials to build a new infrastructure of surveillance, policing, and punishment that targeted the city's popular sectors and put the politics of illicit sex at the center of their strategy.

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  • APP Unidos Luncheon
    Apr
    5
    APP Unidos Luncheon
    Part of the 2019 Diversity Celebration
    Friday, April 5, 2019
    12:30pm-1:30pm
    102 Plemmons Student Union (Watauga River Room)

    APP Unidos welcomes members and students from the Hispanic Student Association to join Dr. Chad Black for our APP Unidos Luncheon during Appalachian State University's Diversity Celebration, World of Excellence!

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  • Amateur Drag Show
    Apr
    5
    Amateur Drag Show
    Part of the 2019 Diversity Celebration
    Friday, April 5, 2019
    6:00pm-7:30pm
    420 Plemmons Student Union (Parkway Ballroom)

    The amateur drag show, a theatrical performance of one or multiple genders by drag artists of all skill level, will be open to the community. Proceeds from the $5 admission fee will contribute to the Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) scholarship, which helps full-time, continuing students who have lost financial support from parents/guardians due to their LGBTQIA identity.

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  • NPHC Stroll Off
    Apr
    5
    NPHC Stroll Off
    Part of the 2019 Diversity Celebration
    Friday, April 5, 2019
    7:00pm
    Legends

    The National Pan-Hellenic Council proudly continues the tradition of stroll dancing in their Stroll Off during the Diversity Celebration. Stroll dancing involves a small group of people, using a series of rhythmic steps in synchronized choreography. This NPHC dance is a way of engaging the community in multicultural expression.

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  • Equity in Action with Bamby Salcedo as Keynote Speaker
    Apr
    6
    Equity in Action with Bamby Salcedo as Keynote Speaker
    Part of the 2019 Diversity Celebration
    Saturday, April 6, 2019
    9:00am-5:00pm
    Plemmons Student Union

    Equity in Action (EIA) is a student run conference at Appalachian State University geared towards educating all participants on issues and topics relating to diversity, equality, equity, and social justice.

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  • Diversity Week Kickoff Dance
    Apr
    6
    Diversity Week Kickoff Dance
    Part of the 2019 Diversity Celebration
    Saturday, April 6, 2019
    8:00pm - 12:00midnight
    Legends

    Different regions of the world will be represented at this year's kickoff dance party, open to everyone!

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  • BSA Soul Food Sunday - first come, first serve
    Apr
    7
    BSA Soul Food Sunday - first come, first serve
    Part of the 2019 Diversity Celebration
    Sunday, April 7, 2019
    2:00pm-4:00pm
    118 Plemmons Student Union (Summit Trail Solarium)

    Come enjoy an evening of soul food and “Soul Food.” Soul food is a term used for a type of cuisine traditionally prepared and eaten by African-Americans of the Southern United States. “Soul Food,” a 1997 comedy-drama film starring Vanessa Williams, Vivica A. Fox and Mekhi Phifer, is about traditions that hold families together, and what happens when those traditions are interrupted.

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  • Speak Your Truth Series (Discussion): Nepantla - Creating Space for Intersecting Identities
    Apr
    8
    Speak Your Truth Series (Discussion): Nepantla - Creating Space for Intersecting Identities
    Part of the 2019 Diversity Celebration
    Monday, April 8, 2019
    11:00am-12:00pm
    112 Plemmons Student Union (Multicultural Center)

    As the first generation in her family to be born and raised in the United States, Maria C.G. Hofman explores her identity as a Latina female and discusses how she navigates diverse spaces. Focusing on Nepantla, a concept with Mayan origin that considers the experience of those with liminal identities, Maria will discuss her intersecting identities and how the concepts of Nepantla have impacted her own growth and safety in prejudiced spaces.

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  • App Allies Training
    Apr
    8
    App Allies Training
    Part of the 2019 Diversity Celebration
    Monday, April 8, 2019
    1:00pm-4:00pm
    415 Plemmons Student Union (Rough Ridge)

    Appalachian State University is committed to fostering a learning community where the value and dignity of all persons is celebrated. Through education, advocacy programs and networking, the Appalachian Allies program exists to promote an open and affirming environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons by establishing a recognizable network of trained allies who provide support and information to the community.

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  • Speak Your Truth Series: I'm Out! And It's My Choice to Stay Out - Outing Vs. Normalizing LGBTQ+ Identities and Populations
    Apr
    8
    Speak Your Truth Series: I'm Out! And It's My Choice to Stay Out - Outing Vs. Normalizing LGBTQ+ Identities and Populations
    Part of the 2019 Diversity Celebration
    Monday, April 8, 2019
    4:00pm-5:00pm
    112 Plemmons Student Union (Multicultural Center)

    The act of coming out is commonly known as a moment when a member of the LGBTQ+ community reveals their identity, either publicly or privately with individuals or a small group of people. Those within the community understand that coming out and being open as LGBTQ+ is not something that happens once or even something that occurs within a limited time frame. Instead, coming out and living openly is a lifelong journey.

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  • Food Tasting
    Apr
    10
    Food Tasting
    Part of the 2019 Diversity Celebration
    Wednesday, April 10, 2019
    2:30pm-5:00pm
    201 Plemmons Student Union (Blue Ridge Ballroom)

    Expand your palate! Those who attend this year's food tasting can explore culture through food. Prepared with the celebration of inclusive excellence in mind, these dishes will speak to the senses in ways other aspects of the cultures represented may not.

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  • Identity and Ice Cream: Interactive Workshop with Free Snacks
    Apr
    10
    Identity and Ice Cream: Interactive Workshop with Free Snacks
    Part of the 2019 Diversity Celebration
    Wednesday, April 10, 2019
    4:00pm-5:00pm
    112 Plemmons Student Union (Multicultural Center)

    What makes up who you are as a person? How do you identify yourself, and how are you perceived by others? In what ways do privilege and oppression impact mental health? Join fellow Mountaineers in this important dialogue and learn more about identity and its relationship with mental health.

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  • Dance Classes
    Apr
    10
    Dance Classes
    Part of the 2019 Diversity Celebration
    Wednesday, April 10, 2019
    5:00pm-8:15pm
    137 Plemmons Student Union (Grandfather Mountain Ballroom)

    Dance classes include West African Dance, Capoeira, Scottish Country Dancers and the Swing Dance Club.

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  • Asian Festival
    Apr
    10
    Asian Festival
    Part of the 2019 Diversity Celebration
    Wednesday, April 10, 2019
    6:00pm-9:00pm
    420 Plemmons Student Union (Parkway Ballroom)

    Come join APPS and ASA for a night of Asian food, dance and culture. Featuring a speech from wonderful Laotian female filmmaker, Kulap Vilaysack, it is a night you don't want to miss!

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  • Bernice King Book Signing & Gathering
    Apr
    11
    Bernice King Book Signing & Gathering
    Part of the 2019 Diversity Celebration
    Thursday, April 11, 2019
    1:30pm-2:30pm
    420 Plemmons Student Union (Parkway Ballroom)

    Dr. Bernice A. King is a global thought leader, orator, peace advocate, and Chief Executive Officer of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center), which was founded by her mother, Coretta Scott King, in 1968. All students are invited to gather with Dr. King for a book signing.

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  • HOLI — Festival of Colors
    Apr
    12
    HOLI — Festival of Colors
    Part of the 2019 Diversity Celebration
    Friday, April 12, 2019
    12:30pm-3:00pm
    Sanford Mall

    Originating in Hindu culture, the festival of Holi welcomes the arrival of the spring season. During Holi, a colored powder (gulal) is tossed in the air. Created with natural and herbal ingredients, Gulal has made Holi popularly known as the “festival of colors.” Covered in vibrant hues, those celebrating become a symbol of humanity's unity.

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  • Poetry Slam
    Apr
    12
    Poetry Slam
    Part of the 2019 Diversity Celebration
    Friday, April 12, 2019
    3:00pm-4:00pm
    119 Plemmons Student Union (Crossroads Coffee House)

    Interested in reading your poetry? Students and poets of all writing levels are encouraged to celebrate poetic tradition through spoken word. Poems that explore themes of diversity, inclusion, identity, or other related topics are welcome!

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  • Follow the Queens! Henderson Springs LGBT Center 10th Anniversary Celebration and Drag Show After Party
    Apr
    12
    Follow the Queens! Henderson Springs LGBT Center 10th Anniversary Celebration and Drag Show After Party
    Part of the 2019 Diversity Celebration
    Friday, April 12, 2019
    9:00pm-11:00pm
    220 Plemmons Student Union (Whitewater Lounge)

    Join the Henderson Springs LGBT Center in celebrating 10 years on App State's campus, complimentary food and drink on us! We are excited to close the 2019 Diversity Celebration with a professional drag show and the after party in Whitewater Lounge.

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Schedule at-a-glance

Throughout the week
  • DuoLingo Competition
    Are you an App State student? Play DuoLingo to win a Lenovo 2-in-1 computer and tablet device, Dr. Dre Beats wireless headset with microphone, or a stadium bag of Mountaineer swag. To join, create a DuoLingo account with your Appalachian email and add msdoa@appstate.edu as a friend. The highest scores in any language will win! (winners will be announced on April 12) Contact hofmanmc@appstate.edu for more details.
  • SnapChat Geofilter
    Be sure to use the Diversity Celebration - W.E.@APP Geofilters as you snap selfies and photos during the week!
Friday, April 5, 2019
Saturday, April 6, 2019
Sunday, April 7, 2019
Monday, April 8, 2019
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
  • Diverse Abilities Awareness Day
    11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
    Sanford Mall
  • W.E.@APP Photobooth
    12 - 6 p.m.
    Plemmons Student Union International Hall
  • Rocío - Reception, Film Screening, and Q & A with the director, Dario Guerrero
    1 – 3:30 p.m.
    415 Plemmons Student Union (Rough Ridge)
  • Food Tasting
    2:30 - 5 p.m.
    201 Plemmons Student Union (Blue Ridge Ballroom)
  • Identity and Ice Cream: Interactive Workshop with Free Snacks
    4 - 5 p.m.
    112 Plemmons Student Union (Multicultural Center)
  • Dance Classes
    5 - 8:15 p.m.
    137 Plemmons Student Union (Grandfather Mountain Ballroom)
  • Asian Festival
    6 – 9 p.m.
    420 Plemmons Student Union (Parkway Ballroom)
  • Intelligent Lives film screening and panel
    6:30 - 9 p.m.
    417 Plemmons Student Union (Beacon Heights)
Thursday, April 11, 2019
Friday, April 12, 2019

University support

This program is funded in part by the Watauga County Arts Council and Grassroots Funds of the North Carolina Arts Council.