Mission

• To acknowledge differences, to be sensitive to them, and to support them.
• To promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by providing an inclusive, welcoming, and safe environment for everyone of all backgrounds regardless of: race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, differing abilities, age, socio-economic status, or individual differences.
• To commit to social justice and to social responsibility

Disclaimer

None of the expressive activities performed herein are necessarily representative of those of Lone Star College. Click here for the full disclaimer document.

Objectives

To offer educational and engaging opportunities which support people of different backgrounds and which increase awareness about the historical and current challenges that different people face. These opportunities may also feature the contributions that different people have made to our campus, to our community, and to our country.

Books Without Borders book club

Co-sponsored by The LSC-CyFair Library Books without Borders Book Club Online and by the LSC-CyFair Diversity Committee, the BWB book club reads and discusses books, both fiction and nonfiction, that highlight the literature, culture, environment, and politics of various parts of the world. Each month an LSC-CyFair faculty member facilitates the conversation. Click here for more details and a list of upcoming books.

Previous Events

In Celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month 2022

My Journey to the Open Sea...

Cynthia (Cyndi) Deleon Guerrero comes to us from the island of Saipan, the largest of 14 islands that make up the Northern Mariana Islands archipelago, a commonwealth of the United States. Cyndi moved to Texas almost 2 years ago with her family and has enjoyed the different scenery and weather of Texas, but most especially, the diversity of its residents.

Join us to hear Cyndi, a native Chamorro-Carolinian (Refaluwasch) who has served more than 22 years as an educator in the islands and is now Lone Star College’s CyFair Campus Diversity Manager, as she shares a brief overview of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, its history, its rich Chamorro and Carolinian cultures, and how each has impacted her life’s journey.

Cyndi will also share her Carolinian family’s legendary short story that had been passed on by her ancestors as told to her by her grandmother. She will share how the story’s life lessons provide a glimpse into the values and principles of this vibrant group of people called the “Refaluwasch".

Cyndi earned her bachelor’s degree in education from the Northern Marianas College and her master’s degree in International Teaching from Framingham State University. She has over 18 years of experience in higher education that include serving as a director of admissions and records, as a designated school official for international students, as a faculty member of the NMC School of Education (a 4-year degree program), as dean of academic programs and student services, and as the vice president for learning and student success at the Northern Marianas College. In these roles, Cyndi worked with populations of students, faculty, and staff from all over the world representing various backgrounds and cultures.

In her leisure time, Cyndi loves singing island songs, dancing cultural dances, and painting island sceneries.  She considers herself a voice for “Nesian Natives” (Micronesians, Polynesians, and Melanesians) and a strong advocate for equity in all dimensions of diversity.

May 5, 2022
10:00 am CST

Play recording (1 hr 12 mins)

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Diversity Conversations - Celebrating National Women's History Month

The Tipping Point

When I finally and fully transitioned in 2010 at the age of 45 it was the culmination of a significant part of a life-journey which I had started in my own mind, with my own self-awareness, on my own, in the loneliest way possible, and all of that at the age of four.

My name is Jessica Lynn and I am a transgender woman, originally from California. I now live in sunny Sutton Coldfield, in the West Midlands, England.

Through many experiences, despite living my life within the confines of the gender assigned to me in as rich and productive a way as possible, which included a sports scholarship for soccer, marriage, children, I knew I was not being true to myself, that I was suppressing my pain and I realized that I had to transition. Heartbreakingly, this led me to become the first parent in US history to have their name removed from their own child's birth certificate, despite testimonies from a court appointed psychiatric evaluator citing me as having an active and supportive loving role in all my children’s lives.

This, amongst several other experiences served as the catalyst for me to use my story to help educate about the transgender community. A community which is found, overtly or covertly, in practically every country, every culture, within history. A community which has always had the right to exist in every society.

I have now given over a thousand presentations, in 28 different countries across the globe and hopefully opened many hearts and minds, in society as a whole, to a real understanding of what it means to be transgender.

I do not claim to own every experience of that journey, but I also hope that that these presentations may make the taking of the first step a little bit easier for those who also may need to take it.

Through my presentations and workshops, I hope to improve understanding of what it means to be transgender, not just through my many experiences but also to allow the wonderful people I have met within this community feel empowered and supported to tell their own stories too.

March 9, 2022
1:30 pm CST

Co-sponsored by the LSC ODEI and by the LSC-CyFair Diversity Committee

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Diversity Conversations - Celebrating National Women's History Month

Think you know the real story of Thanksgiving? Or what "real" native Americans look like in the 21st century?

Join us to hear Dana Hedgpeth, a Native American journalist, with 25 years of experience at nationally recognized newspapers including the Washington Post, talk about issues of race, peel back the misrepresented and untold histories of the 1st Thanksgiving and American Indians, plus hear about the current issues facing indigenous peoples and their futures. And ask any questions you'd like.

Hedgpeth is a member of the Haliwa-Saponi tribe and has been involved in the Native American Journalists Association, along with several programs that mentor and coach young Native journalists. She writes breaking news at the Washington Post on the local staff and pursues stories on Native Americans.

March 7th,2022
1:22 pm CST

Play recording (1 hr 7 mins)
No password required

Co-sponsored by the LSC ODEI and by the LSC-CyFair Diversity Committee

Articles in the Washington Post by Dana Hedgpeth that may interest you:

• This tribe helped the Pilgrims survive their first Thanksgiving. They still regret it 400 years later
• We are still here
• The first Native American in the Olympics his his identity to stay safe
• An all-Native American NFL team was founded 100 years ago - to promote a dog kennel

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Diversity Conversations - Celebrating Black History Month

Minorities in STEM and Education

Laurette B. Foster, Ed.D is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Prairie View A&M University. She is a member of the National Association of Mathematicians (NAM), Mathematics Association of America (MAA), National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), Beta Kappa Chi National Institute of Science, American Association of University Women, Phi Delta Kappa International Educational Fraternity, Research Association of Minority Professors, National Association of Women in Mathematics, and the Benjamin Banneker Association.

Dr. Foster's talk will show how far we've come in promoting STEM and Education to the next generation of leaders and the progress which still needs to be made.

February 24, 2022
11:16 am CST

Play recording (57 minutes)
No password required

Co-sponsored by the LSC ODEI and by the LSC-CyFair Diversity Committee

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Diversity Conversations - Celebrating Black History Month

The Origins and History of the Environmental Justice Movement

James S. Hoyte, Lexington, MA, recently retired from his position as a senior administrator and lecturer in environmental policy at Harvard University. He is currently an Instructor at the Harvard Extension School and recently a Non Resident Fellow of Harvard's W.E.B Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research. Prior to his recent work at Harvard's Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research, he was Associate Vice President for Equal Opportunity Programs at Harvard University. He was also Lecturer on Environmental Sciences and Public Policy at Harvard College, Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, Faculty Associate of the Harvard Center for the Environment and member of the Harvard University Committee on Environment. While at Harvard he co-founded The Working Group on Environmental Justice. Mr. Hoyte came to Harvard in 1992 after a twenty year career as a lawyer, public policy consultant and government official, including serving as Massachusetts Secretary of Environmental Affairs.

In addition to giving the origins and history of the Environmental Justice Movement, Mr. Hoyte's talk will highlight environmental issues pertaining to Harris County as well.

Feb 16, 2022
9:00 - 10:00 am CST

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Strategic centrality of Latinos to the future of the United States - and our corresponding responsibility to the nation

Fernando Espuelas is a journalist, media and tech entrepreneur, CEO, and political strategist. He is the Host & Producer of "The Fernando Espuelas Show" and "Destino 2020 con Fernando Espuelas" on Univision. Espuelas has hosted national TV and radio programs, and contributed to CBS News, CNN.com, C-SPAN, FoxNews Latino, France 24, Hearst Television & Radio, The Hill, The Huffington Post, iHeart, NPR News, MSNBC, La Opinión, Sky News, Spotify, Univision TV & Radio, and other platforms. One of the Internet's pioneers, Espuelas co-founded StarMedia Network, Inc. StarMedia led the way in the development of the Latin American Internet industry, including raising the first dollar of venture funding and first IPO for a Latin American Internet company. StarMedia was renowned for product innovations like the first free email service, first instant messaging system, first online TV network with CBS News, and other breakthrough mobile and broadband Internet services that impacted the lives of millions of people. CNN and Time magazine named Espuelas one of the “Leaders of the Millennium,” and he was designated an “All-Star” leader by Crain’s New York Business magazine. The World Economic Forum includes him among its "Global Leaders of Tomorrow," and he received Latin Trade Magazine’s Bravo award for CEO of the Year. PODER Magazine named him one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the United States. The U.S. Hispanic IT Executive Council (HITEC) included Espuelas in its HITEC 100, the list of "Most Influential Hispanics and Rising Stars in Information Technology." Espuelas was previously Co-Chairman of Mercury Public Affairs; CEO of American Latinos United; CEO of VOY, LLC; Managing Director of Marketing Communications at AT&T Americas; Latin American Regional Account Director at Ogilvy; Founder & Managing Director of Ogilvy Direct Argentina; and held positions at Wunderman and Lowe & Partners in New York. Espuelas co-founded and was Chairman of the StarMedia Foundation. With the Inter-American Development Bank and Microsoft, the StarMedia Foundation funded technology schools in Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Educational Broadcasting Corporation (owner of PBS flagship station Thirteen), as well as on the Board of Trustees of Connecticut College. He served on the Board of Directors of Parent Revolution, a nonprofit public school advocacy group. He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Wesley School in Los Angeles. Espuelas received a B.A. in History with Distinction from Connecticut College.

Oct. 12, 2021
12:21 pm CST

Play recording (1 hour, 16 minutes)
No password required

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How Community Colleges Create a Lifeline for Students of Color

Russell Contreras is the Race and Justice reporter for Axios and the co-author of the Axios Latino newsletter. He covers race, ethnicity, immigration, politics, Latino issues, and the American Southwest. Before coming to Axios, Contreras was a member of the Race and Ethnicity Team for The Associated Press and worked as a reporter for the Boston Globe.Contreras is a descendant of Mexican American civil rights leaders in Houston. He's currently working on a book about President John F. Kennedy's last meeting with Mexican Americans. He is a graduate of the University of Houston (BA History and English) and Columbia University's School of the Arts where he received a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. But he attended North Harris Community College (now Lone Star in 1993) after struggling his first semester.

Oct. 4, 2021
1:17 pm NOON CST

Play recording (1 hour, 5 minutes)
No password required

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The First Latina in Many Newsrooms: A Conversation with Maria Hinojosa

Maria Hinojosa dreamt of a space where she could create independent, multimedia journalism that explores and gives a critical voice to the diverse American experience. She made that dream a reality in 2010 when she created Futuro Media, an independent, nonprofit newsroom based in Harlem, NYC with the mission to create multimedia content from a POC perspective. As Anchor and Executive Producer of the Peabody Award-winning show Latino USA , distributed by PRX, and Co-Host of Futuro Media’s award-winning political podcast In The Thick, Hinojosa has informed millions about the changing cultural and political landscape in America and abroad.

Host: Jennifer Jenkins
Tuesday, April 6, 2021
3:06 pm CST

Play recording (56 minutes)
No password required

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A History of Anti-Asian American Racism in America and One Perspective on the Experiences of Some Immigrants in America

Join the conversation with Dr. Jennifer Jenkins, Associate Professor of History, and Fay Lee, Professor of Education.

Thursday, April 1 at 12:00 pm CST

Play recording (87 minutes)
No password required

Fay Lee, Professor of Education at LSC-CyFair:

- One Asian American Experience
- One Perspective of Asian Immigrants in America

Some tactics to use if you witness a hate crime.

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Native Languages and Latinx: The Pew Research Center on Latino and Hispanic Identities

Jens Manuel Krogstad is a senior writer and editor at Pew Research Center. He has authored or edited hundreds of studies on topics that include global migration, Latino public opinion, Hispanic demographic trends and U.S. border enforcement. Prior to joining Pew Research Center, Krogstad spent nine years as a reporter at newspapers such as The Des Moines Register and USA Today. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota.

Host: Jennifer Jenkins
Tuesday, March 30
2:00 pm CST

Play recording (64 minutes)
No password required

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A Conversation with Justin Deabler

This virtual session with the author of the fictional novel "Lone Stars" will include a reading from the book followed by discussion, exploring various identities in the novel— including gender, immigration status, national origin, and sexual orientation. Deabler will also discuss the process of writing a fictional novel, while integrating elements from his personal life experience.

Co-Hosts: Jennifer Jenkins, Dan Mitsven, and LSC-Kingwood
Wednesday, February 10 at 3:00 - 4:00 pm

Play recording (57 minutes)
No password required

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Understanding (Trans)Gender in our Community

The LSC-CyFair Diversity Committee and guests from Legacy Community Health discuss understanding gender and transgender in every day life and why it's important now. The following related materials are also available in PDF format: Gender Diversity 101, a Checklist to Support LGBTQ During Distance Learning, and FAQs About Transgender People.

Host: Joshua Estrada
Wednesday, January 27th
1:10 pm CST

Play recording (1 hr 4 mins)
No password required

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AP Reporter — Russell Contreras

A conversation with AP reporter Russell Contreras about race and history as they pertain to the Hispanic and the Latino/a communities, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Host: Jennifer Jenkins
Monday, October 12, 2020
2:21 pm CST

Play recording (1 hr 1 mins)
No password required

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HISD Superintendent — Dr. Grenita Lathan

A conversation concerning minority students, education, and equity in HISD with HISD Interim Superintendent, Dr. Grenita Lathan.
Hosts: Fay Lee and Joshua Estrada
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
12:03 pm CST

Play recording (1 hr 51 mins)
No password required

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UT Professor — Dr. Peniel Joseph

A conversation on Black Lives Matter and voter suppression with Dr. Peniel Joseph, Professor of History and Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and founding Director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy.
Host: Fay Lee
Wednesday, September 8, 2020
1:03 pm CST

Play recording (1 hr 17 mins)
No password required