April 11, 2016
I attended the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC)
Tidewater Chapter Humanitarian Awards dinner on April 7 along with students,
faculty and staff from Virginia Wesleyan College. The 2016 honorees were
Charles Barker, Cynthia Cutler, B. Courtney McBath, and Alvin Wall. In
addition, the Jeffrey B. Spence Award for Interfaith Understanding was given to
Voices of Faith, an interfaith dialogue series that Jim Bergdoll, former vice
president for college relations and development at VWC, coordinates and moderates.
A Distinguished Merit Citation honored The Institute for the Humanities at ODU
for the “Birth of an Answer” program.
VCIC annually honors individuals and organizations that have
demonstrated a commitment to the promotion of respect and understanding among
people of diverse racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. Their mission is “Achieving
Success through Inclusion” as they work with schools, businesses, and
communities to achieve success by addressing prejudices, in all forms, in order
to improve academic achievement, increase workplace productivity, and enhance
local trust.
Virginia Wesleyan College Associate Director of the Center
for the Study of Religious Freedom, Kelly Jackson, also serves as the Chair of
VCIC’s Tidewater Chapter. Kelly was instrumental in coordinating the event and
organizing participation from the College. Special thanks to Kelly for her
efforts and community involvement.
During the dinner I had the chance to visit with Lieutenant
Governor Ralph Northam and his wife, Pam. It was a pleasure to meet them. Also attending
from Virginia Wesleyan were members of VWC’s President’s Council for Inclusive
Community (PCIC)—Professor Rebecca
Hooker, chair, Charline Bess, Diane Hotaling and Kelly Jackson. VWC
students also at the event were Lauren Amos, April Bell, Tanasia Hazelton and
Riley Conrad. Dr. Craig Wansink, Joan P.
and Macon F. Brock, Jr. Director of the
Center for the Study of Religious Freedom, and Jim and Carla Bergdoll were also
seated at our table for dinner. It was an enjoyable evening devoted to honoring
noteworthy individuals and organizations in our community.
