Nicole Villarreal

Social Media Project Proposal

Center for Multicultural Education Presents First Fridays

The Center for Multicultural Education (CME) has been on the University of Northern
Iowas campus since 1971. Since then, the mission has been to foster success in racial and
ethnic minority students, contribute to the cultural competence of all students, and promote an
appreciation of diversity in the University community. The CME fulfills that mission in many
different, creative and educational ways. By providing services and programs that are, as always,
open to all students, faculty and staff along with the community the CME is continuously raising
awareness, appreciation and educating the public about the diversity, not only on our campus but
nation wide.
Starting last year, The Center for Multicultural Education began holding an event called
First Fridays, and it has become a tradition ever since. The event takes place the first Friday of
every month. Each month the CME will focus on a different culture. It is the CMEs way of
bringing the culture to campus without any traveling. Last year some of the cultures that were
acknowledged and at a First Friday event was Hispanic, Native American, African American, and
Chinese culture.
During this free event there are a number of different ways The Center of Multicultural
Education educates the public on the specific culture. There are many different and free activities
such as arts and craft, educational speakers, performances, games, contests, and taste testing.
Every First Friday is designed to educate the public about one individual culture, and by bringing
those types of activities to campus, everyone who attends, is given the chance to embrace and
submerse themselves in the that culture first hand. Along with the help of many different student

organization such as the Hispanic Latino Student Union, Black Student Union, International
Student Association and many more, each event is designed and crafted carefully.
The CME is kicking off the semester with celebrating Hispanic Heritage month. This free
event takes place October 5th, starting at 5 p.m. The CME encourages all students, faculty, staff
and members of the community to take part in this educational experience. According to the
2013-2014 UNIs Fact book about three percent of the students on campus identify with being
hispanic. This event not only educates the public to a culture they might not be familiar with but
also a gives the student who do identify with that culture, an event and space to feel free and
comfortable celebrating their culture.