Diversity Digest: Acknowledging those who promote diversity by 'walking the talk'

By Gary Stewart

Diversity and its related issues and opportunities are part of daily life on our campus. Much of the dialogue is proactive and reflected in recent programs that ran the gamut from affirmative action and higher education to this year's Perkins Prize for Interracial Understanding (see Cornell Chronicle, April 29, 2004).

Funa Maduka's vision and creation of a Race in the United States and at Cornell course at the university was awarded the Perkins Prize in April. Prize finalists included a CALS class project in India and a night of culture sponsored by the Cornell Arab Association and the Muslim Educational and Cultural Association.

The latter also was notable because organizers of that event, designed to dispel stereotypes of Muslim culture and to promote fruitful and sustained dialogue, made an effort to invite members of the larger Ithaca community to Willard Straight Hall for the evening. Gratefully, many folks from town accepted the offer from Zahra Aziz '04 and Sughra Naqvi '03.

As Cornell continues to be a leader in exploring the complex nuances related to all things diverse, we need to share our work, hopes, talents and challenges with our surrounding communities, whenever and wherever possible. This isn't just about being good citizens, but expanding our collective horizons and possibilities.

Cornell is fortunate to have many top-notch ambassadors who spend countless hours a week in diversity-related community service. One of them, Cal Walker, was also nominated for the Perkins Prize this year.

The associate director of the Learning Strategies Center (LSC), Walker is the best sort of leader, one who quietly attracts buy-in from an ever-growing circle of contacts, and most importantly, knows how to get things done. Last name aside, the man walks the walk.

His work at the LSC has made a major difference for many minority students at Cornell who consult with Walker on myriad issues. He always goes the extra mile for that struggling undergraduate who is far from home and is trying to hack it in a tough, largely white environment.

In town, Cal has served Calvary Baptist Church as an ordained deacon for 20 years and was a driving force behind the pairing of predominantly black Calvary and predominantly white St. Paul's United Methodist Church to foster interracial understanding. He serves on the Planning and Development Council of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Ithaca and Tompkins County, the advisory board of the Sciencenter, the board of directors of the Family Reading Partnership and the board of the Ithaca Rotary Club. He is a founding board member of the Community Faith Partnership, and under its auspices he has taught a life-skills program and been deeply involved in jail ministry.

On top of all that, he and wife, Glenda, are parents of three children and have been foster parents for seven others.

The crown jewel of Cal Walker's extraordinary service to Cornell and Ithaca has been the "Village at Ithaca," which is working to build a strategic infrastructure of community-based organizations dedicated to raising the achievements of black and Latino students in the Ithaca City School District. He has helped to launch more than 20 programs, projects and initiatives involving academic enrichment, tutoring, self-worth, role modeling, cultural events and other vehicles designed to increase the awareness and aspirations of youngsters of color in our community -- and often those of their parents as well.

Few people can match his passion and accomplishments, but we're proud that his work, in part, represents Cornell and its endless potential. Cal Walker's town-gown path, on the diversity front, is one that inspires and leads.

Gary Stewart is Cornell's assistant director of community relations.