This winter, Bellevue College’s Multicultural Services (MCS) continued to foster student belonging, leadership, and cultural celebration across our signature programs: Puente, Umoja, the LGBTQ+ Resource Center, and our team of Student Affinity Coordinators representing Black, Latinx, LGBTQ+, API, International and Veteran students. Through impactful programming, community engagement, and holistic support, MCS strengthened its role as a hub for cultural learning and empowerment.
Honoring Legacy and Leadership: MLK Celebration with Ijeoma Oluo
The quarter began with a powerful and unifying event: Bellevue College’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. This year’s program featured bestselling author and social critic Ijeoma Oluo as keynote speaker. Centered on the theme “Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?”, the event welcomed a large audience of faculty, staff, and community members both in person and virtually.
Ijeoma Oluo delivered a thought-provoking keynote on racial justice, accountability, and collective responsibility, followed by a book signing and lunch catered by Island Soul. Ijeoma participated in a student-only breakout session that allowed for intimate, candid dialogue. Attendees described the event as energizing and transformational.
Umoja Scholars Program
Umoja welcomed 14 new scholars this quarter and celebrated 62 students for academic excellence from Fall 2024. The program’s strength lies in its culturally grounded curriculum, mentorship, and community events.
Notable winter programming included “Retro Rewind: A Journey to Congo Back in the ’90s,” co-hosted with the Congolese Student Success Association. Umoja also co-hosted a maternal health equity workshop during Women’s History Month, featuring the documentary Birthing Justice.
The Black Male Academic Achievement Conference offered students inspiration, motivation, and networking opportunities. Umoja Peer Educator Theophile Theba was honored with the Jose Gutierrez Scholarship during this event.
The winter quarter concluded with a deeply impactful HBCU Tour. Twenty-five Umoja students traveled to Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia to visit Howard University, Coppin State, Virginia State, and Morgan State. The trip exposed students to HBCU campus life, academic programs, admissions processes, and financial aid resources. Beyond academics, students explored national landmarks including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and the U.S. Capitol. One student remarked, “Not only did I connect with new friends, but I also gained a deeper understanding of Black culture and American history through your thoughtful planning.”
Monthly dance pop-ups and peer mentoring helped round out the program’s commitment to student engagement and wellness.
Puente Program & Latinx Affinity Coordinator
In collaboration with the Latinx Affinity Coordinator, Puente brought 20 Latinx students to the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) Conference. Students from five Latin American countries participated in workshops and keynote sessions with national leaders and changemakers. Many described the conference as life-changing and affirming.
The Latinx Affinity Coordinator also hosted a campus-wide celebration of Dia de la Candelaria, emphasizing tradition, tamales, and togetherness.
LGBTQ+ Resource Center
The LGBTQ+ Resource Center expanded its community presence through regular drop-in hours, Weekly Study Sessions, Weekly Tea gatherings, and five well-attended events.
Among the most impactful was the Pride in the Pow ski and snowboard trip to Crystal Mountain. Sixteen students and four staff participated in this LGBTQ+ Pride celebration in the outdoors, which included skiing lessons, Pride-themed activities, and a chance for students to connect beyond campus.
Other events included:
- A Trans & Enby Documentation Workshop, helping students update legal documents to reflect their identities with guidance from trained staff and faculty.
- An Anti-Valentine’s Day Party, where students celebrated community and self-love in a fun, inclusive space that challenged romantic norms.
- A screening of Kiki, co-hosted with the Black Student Affinity Coordinator, that spotlighted Black trans experiences through ballroom culture.
- A screening of Barbie during Women’s History Month, which offered a lighthearted, creative gathering with popcorn and crafts following final exams.
With student daily visits, and strong digital engagement (over 130 Instagram followers and 96 students on the email list), the Center continues to be a vital space for visibility, wellness, and connection.
Student Affinity Coordinators
Affinity Coordinators created and co-led a variety of events aimed at centering student voice and cross-cultural celebration.
The Black Affinity Coordinator helped organize a Black History Month conversation with YMCA CEO Loria Yeadon, a talk with Ezell’s founder Lewis Rudd, and a Women’s History Month empowerment session featuring Veronica Very. The API Affinity Coordinator partnered with student cultural groups to host a popular community game night, while multiple coordinators collaborated on film screenings and wellness events.
MCS also hosted the Sankofa Impact workshop Fog Beyond the Mountains, spotlighting the often-overlooked history of African Americans in the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, Women’s History Month featured Sisterhood Unleashed: The Transformative Power of Solidarity, a workshop on the power of shared advocacy.
As we look towards the end of the academic year, Multicultural Services remains committed to uplifting student voices, honoring cultural heritage, and building spaces of connection and growth. From national conferences and heritage month celebrations to transformative campus events and everyday moments of support, our programs continue to reflect the power of community.
Last Updated May 28, 2025
