Asian Pacific Islander Caucus
Promoting & Empowering Asian & Pacific Islander Americans

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NCORE 2005 (Retrospective)

On May 31 through June 4, 2006, the Southwest Center for Human Relations Studies held its premier national conference, the 18th Annual National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in American Higher Education (NCORE 2005) in New York City.

NCORE 2005 drew more than 2,000 participants from virtually every U.S. state as well as from Canada.  These participants represented all areas of academia from college and university presidents, administrative officers, and faculties, to a large contingency of students and representatives from all campus activities/services areas.

Again this year, NCORE demonstrated the airing of divergent views, different approaches, and alternative models as an essential aspect to this leading national forum’s position on the cutting edge of institutional and societal change that encompasses issues of race and ethnicity; and we are committed to continuing to seek appropriate formats designed to allow important and ongoing controversies to be constructively voiced.

Scanning the NCORE landscape, we see within this unique forum the wealth of ideas, approaches, strategies, and working models addressing the critical concerns of educational access, success, and inclusion. Let us remember in this process: Significant controversy is an inescapable part of a comprehensive program treating such a broad range of sensitive issues and concerns. The airing of divergent views, approaches, and models is essential to this forum.

NCORE 2005 offered 17 pre-conference Institute sessions, 35 Major workshops and over 120 highly scored concurrent sessions selected from higher education institutions and organizations across the nation.

NCORE 2005 also witnessed the official beginning of the NCORE National Advisory Committee which met several times during the conference in New York City. We are confident that the added input and our new relationships will positively impact the future of NCORE.  The NAC members will continue their important work and will develop recommendations for future NCORE conferences.  

Special Thanks to our keynote speakers and our specially featured speakers for providing their personal insights and perspectives pertinent to our mission:

• Clarence Page, “Getting the Diversity Story Right”

• Charlotte A. Black Elk, J.D., “Katela: Teaching Stories of Forty-One Generations of Lakota Women”

• Carlos Muñoz Jr., Ph.D., “The Struggle for Multiracial Democracy in the 21st Century”

• Bob H. Suzuki, Ph.D., “Embracing Diversity: An Imperative for Progress in a Democratic Society”

• Gary Okihiro, Ph.D., “A History (and more) of Asian/Pacific Americans”

• Mildred García, Ph.D., “How to Enhance Diversity Issues on College Campuses”

Late programmatic additions bolstered an already formidable NCORE 2005 schedule. We would like to thank these special presenters for joining us:

Dr. Watson Scott Swail joined us from the Educational Policy Institute to make a presentation on “Latino Students & the Educational Pipeline” which highlighted recommendations for expanding educational opportunities to Latino Youth.

Paul Rusesabagina joined us by way of American Program Bureau to speak on the topic of “Hotel Rwanda: A Lesson Yet to Be Learned” which highlighted the repetition of genocide in human history, and the foreign policies of powerful nations that allow it to continue.   

NCORE always offers unique and exciting programs in the evenings throughout the conference dates.  This year’s programs contributed to our growing reputation for quality special events:

• "Uncle Tom: Deconstructed": A Ritual Play, The Conciliation Project
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• James Baldwin: Down from the Mountaintop, Calvin Levels
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• Project 2050: Environ-Mentality, New WORLD Theater

NCORE 2005 would like acknowledge the contributions by the College Board and the New York Times. The commitment of the College Board to improve and expand the opportunity for scholar applicants to attend this unique national conference, and the New York Times to ensure the success of this program demonstrates in a most visible their commitment to the goals of NCORE. These contributions allows NCORE  to continue to offer the opportunity for greater program elements at this unique national conference to explore ideas, approaches, strategies, and working models that address critical concerns of educational access and success, and inclusion.

NCORE 2005 Highlight on a message of hope from Bob Suzuki’s conference closing plenary session:

“Thirty years ago when I first became interested in multicultural education, many people predicted it was only a passing fad that would soon fade away like so many other fads in education.  Those predictions were obviously wrong.  If anything, I believe interest in this area is stronger than ever, as attested to by this 18th annual conference.  And I believe multiculturalism and diversity are among the core issues challenging American society, as well as the rest of the world.  I would guess that most of the attendees at this conference are here because they share this belief.

While we have struggled mightily as a society over the issues of race and ethnicity, and many groups have suffered grievously both in the recent and distant past, we have slowly made progress in resolving these issues, especially in comparison to other multiracial and multiethnic societies.

There are very few, if any, societies as diverse as the United States.  We are a nation comprised of an incredible mixture of different groups.  In retrospect, the founding of this nation was truly a radical experiment.  Who would have thought it would ever work?!  But we still have a long way to go.  Through conferences like this, we will hopefully find ways to make it work a lot better.  We are still far from realizing the democratic ideals of our society.  While we have much to share with other nations based on our historical experience as a nation, we should never be so arrogant as to believe we have all the answers because we also have much to learn from and about other nations.”

We would like to underscore that many significant innovations have come through the input of conference attendees. The importance and value of your contribution to our knowledge base, and the force of your ideas throughout the conference evaluation process, as well as through your telephone calls and letters can not be overstated.

Please let us share with you a few of the more positive and hopeful comments from the evaluations. We are committed to a goal of growing this chorus of approval.

Thank you all for making NCORE 2005 a great success!

NCORE 2005 Testimonials:

“Awesome experience! I wished I were more than 5 persons to take full advantage of all the various sessions that were offered but could not attend. Often, wonderful workshops were being held all at the same time with none of them repeating. Felt like I missed half the conference, but what I was able to attend was worth every minute!!”

“I can honestly say that NCORE has changed the direction of my career/life. I met the former provost of Spelman College and she convinced me that needed to go back to school and get my doctorate in Biology and join the academy as a scholar! I enter Emory this fall!!! NCORE continues to inspire and challenge me. Thank you!”

“I enjoyed meeting professionals from all around the nation to discuss issues that are affecting us on a national level, and was able to bring home a lot of useful information, tips, and skills to put into practice. I enjoyed the networking opportunities and look forward to attending again.”