RRC launches a campaign to interact with its diverse students

By Sydney Lockhart

Red River College is looking to further improve diversity and inclusivity on campus.

RRC’s Self Identification Campaign was released on Tuesday with a poster campaign called I AM RRC and survey emails sent to all RRC students. The campaign aims to collect data on the diverse population of RRC to help develop diverse programs and practices on campus.

Vakul Chanana, 19, a student at Red River College’s Roblin Center. “All humans are the same, we come to know people and cultures and learn about their religions and languages. I plan on taking the survey.” //SYDNEY LOCKHART

Margarita Natcheva works in the International Education Department at RRC and was featured in I AM RRC.  

“I needed to feel welcomed and included by others when I came to North America,” she said. “When people care and they are open-minded and inclusive, they help to create a welcoming environment for new students, especially international students.”

Natcheva moved to the United States from Bulgaria for a high school exchange and then her host parents offered to pay for her post-secondary education. She said she found a home in the diverse community of people that surrounded her.

“I get emotional because I haven’t been home in so long, so everyone who is a part of my life became my family.”

Natcheva said she believes this campaign will help people feel more included in RRC and bring diversity into others’ lives.

Shadoina Anderson is a Financial Services student at Red River College. “Diversity is important on campus because we have a large percentage of international students. We want them to feel involved, comfortable and included.” //SYDNEY LOCKHART

Although the Self Identification Campaign is aimed at empowering people to accept their identities and the diverse culture around them, Joy Hiebert, Supportive Employment Consultant for RRC, signed up for the poster campaign with others in mind.

Hiebert has a disability and she said she saw this as an opportunity to share her message.

“I hope that by me coming forward and declaring it might help others feel it’s safe for them to do the same thing,” she said. “Being able to put a face to a name to reach out for support, I can help people access resources.”

Hiebert said she believes the inclusion of people with disabilities needs to become regular and differences should not divide people.

“Labels are for jars, not people.”

Natcheva and Hiebert are only a couple of the people featured in the poster campaign. Keep a lookout for posters around campus to hear more stories and learn about the importance of diversity.

To take part in the survey and for more information go to rrc.ca/identify.