Leadership Across Cultures

Chris Malone, EOP, and Amy Lewis, an intern at the CCLC, participate in a trust activity at the 2007 Diversity Summit.

If you haven’t heard anything about the JFR LEADership Program or the Multicultural Center lately, it’s because they’ve been “under construction.” They have merged to create a new, more dynamic entity: the Cross Cultural Leadership Center (CCLC), said CC Carter, director. “The Multicultural Center was a building with no programming,” he said. The Cross Cultural Leadership Center will put on the JFR LEADership programs and provide services to “any and all student organizations,” not just those with a multicultural emphasis.

Events such as the Spirit of a Woman Conference, LEAD STRONG High School/Junior High Leadership Conference, and Diversity Summit are now held under CLCC’s umbrella. “We are focused on bringing diversity into the concept,” said Carter. “The event may not be targeted toward diversity, but is put on by diverse groups connecting around a common goal.” He gave the 2007 high school/junior high leadership conference as an example, where people from Agriculture, Women of Excellence, and student volunteers cooperated in planning the event.

Drew Calandrella, vice president of Student Affairs, said the center will play an important role in the education of CSU, Chico’s students. “With CC Carter providing oversight, CSU, Chico has embarked on a new paradigm for leadership and cross-cultural development,” he said. “With occupations spanning continents, graduates of colleges need to be able to provide leadership and develop a certain level of cultural familiarity with people from cultures different than theirs.”

The center is staffed by program coordinator Erica Flores, eight paid student interns, and 15–25 volunteers, said Carter. This summer, the center will relocate to Meriam Library 172, former home of EOP. Carter hopes faculty and staff will visit the new location, saying, “Here is a nucleus of students who want to get involved—what a wonderful laboratory for faculty and staff who want to be a catalyst for new efforts and programs.”

—Anna Harris, Public Affairs and Publications