Women of Color Leadership Network’s ‘Body Politics’ at UMass Amherst Receives Voice of Inclusion Medallion

Feb. 3, 2009

Contact:

Hind Mari 413/545-1671

AMHERST, Mass. – Body Politics, a program of the Women of Color Leadership Network (WOCLN) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has been named winner of the 2009 Voice of Inclusion Medallion Award. The award is given to exemplary programs by American College Personnel Association (ACPA), an 85-year-old leading student affairs and higher education association with nearly 9,000 members representing 1,500 institutions nationally and internationally.

Hind Mari, director of WOCLN since 2006, and member of ACPA since 2000, nominated Body Politics for the award because of what she saw as the perfect fit in reviewing the ACPA award criteria. “What we are doing with Body Politics is essentially responding to an assessed or measured need in the areas of multiculturalism and diversity; we are achieving an expressed outcome; and we have a well-developed and creative design that can translate to other institutional environments—all of what ACPA is looking for,” Mari says.

Early in the fall semester, WOCLN solicits applications from women of color in the Five Colleges and in the community to participate in Body Politics, a two-semester commitment that involves sharing personal stories through creative writing, movement, dance and performance. This year’s program will conclude with two theater performances in Bowker Auditorium on April 16-17. A DVD and published anthology will also be made available. This year’s Body Politics program is directed by Iris Jacob, author and graduate student in the social justice education program.

In the tradition of ACPA award winning programs, Body Politics will be featured at the organization’s upcoming convention to be held on March 28-April 1 in Washington, D.C.

Body Politics is made possible through contributions from the UMass Arts Council, Student Affairs Cultural Enrichment Fund, Commonwealth College, Five College Multicultural Theater Committee, and Asian Americans for Political Awareness organization.

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