MCC brings Marnita’s Table event to CSB+SJU

On Wednesday, Feb. 25, CSB+SJU’s first ever Celebrate our Voices, Marnita’s Table event was held in the Multicultural Center.

The event aimed to embody the Benedictine Values enfleshed, overcoming obstacles to community living, hospitality, listening and respect for persons different from us through the framework of Intentional Social Interaction (IZI), which has been used by the 501(c)to help 200,000 people increase their cross-cultural competency since its founding, according to the Marnita’s Table website.

According to Sandra Mitchell-Goode, Senior Diversity Officer at CSB+SJU, the results of last year’s CSB+SJU Diversity Climate Survey indicated an air of discomfort talking with people who are different from themselves.

She said she hopes that through the evening’s intentional dialogue and activities, there’ll be less barriers to cross-cultural interactions in a world that, in its current state, doesn’t look too kindly on diversity of ideas and experiences.

“I just felt I needed a space to de-stress and talk about how I’m feeling with others,” CSB junior Joel Makem-Ratzinger said.

Citing current events and attitudes nationally, statewide, in St. Joseph and our campus, she felt that this event might result in a heightened level of understanding of not only how others are feeling, but to gain more understanding of how she’s feeling as well.

CSB sophomore Blessing Amah shared why she is excited about the event.

“I am looking for an environment where I can openly express how I feel,” Amah said.

According to the Multicultural Center, 38% of those who’ve been involved in a Marnita’s Table event since its founding have reported a positive behavioral shift, whether that be continuing to collaborate either individually or organizationally with someone they met at one 3-hour IZI.

The Multicultural Center hopes that students find it much easier to connect across cultures and easier to talk about cross-cultural issues.