Let's Talk UNLV

Wesley Knight 0:00
This is a Kun V studios original program. The content of this program does not reflect the views or opinions of 91.5 jazz and more the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

Dr. Sammie Scales 0:20
Hello, hello. Hello again. This is 91.5 let's talk UNLV and Happy Black History Month to everyone on campus. Just last time we had a special guest on that I had to bring back to update us and get us up to par on the black history events that's happening here on the campus of UNLV. Would you please introduce yourself? Hey,

Imani Patterson 0:41
everyone. I'm back. This is Imani. I'm from the Student Diversity Programs Office here to tell you about the black Mini Con, absolutely, and tell them your title over there in STP, yes, I am the Senior Assistant Director for Student Diversity Programs, absolutely.

Dr. Sammie Scales 0:55
And as we start our shows, even though we did it the last time, let's do it again, this time, just for those new listeners that don't know anything about you. How did you end up here at UNLV? Give us your background. Your backstory. Yes,

Imani Patterson 1:07
I graduated from UNLV twice. I got my bachelor's in 2017 from in kinesiology that I got my master's in higher education in 2022 I started my journey in higher ed as a program coordinator for Fraternity and Sorority Life here at UNLV, I had this grand, great opportunity to plan black history month last year, and I feel like it went really well. So with that being said, I applied to this position responsible for all identity and heritage months, and I'm loving it here. Excellent,

Dr. Sammie Scales 1:41
excellent, excellent. So let's dive right into this. Can you give us an overview of the black Mini Con that's coming up and what attendees there can expect?

Imani Patterson 1:50
So yes, we actually received this idea from our gender studies team, actually our gender studies department here at UNLV, and our gender care team over there in the Student Health Center, they host a queer Mini Con in the fall and the semester, and it's pretty much just a lineup of different lecturers that students can drop in and out, and the water campus community can just drop in and out and learn about different topics for that month. So we went ahead and did something similar for Black History Month, where we have different faculties students actually giving lectures on different topics for Black History Month on next Tuesday, February, 25 from 10 to 2pm long

Dr. Sammie Scales 2:34
day, excellent. And that's a drop in and out. It is a drop in and out. Okay, what inspired the creation of this event, and how has it evolved over time, actually.

Imani Patterson 2:43
So this will be our inaugural so this is the first time we have ever done this. The committee for Black History Month, they requested to learn something new, right? Sometimes we talk about the same characters for Black History, and although they are very paramount in our community, people want to let's learn something new. So we had the opportunity to collaborate with the African American and Diaspora Studies department here, also with the library and even the College of Ed, to have some great speakers talk about different topics or rate from anything of like, we have one on Black joy and R and B. We have another one about just the black communities in Las Vegas, and we even have another one with the ACLU Executive Director, just talking about how to craft their community and what's your counter story?

Dr. Sammie Scales 3:31
Oh, excellent. And this sounds like one of those opportunities where you've had an opportunity to actually collaborate with different departments across the campus.

Imani Patterson 3:39
Yes, yes, we love collaborating. We know that we're not the experts and everything. So we want to tap into those who are the experts. Excellent,

Dr. Sammie Scales 3:47
excellent. So if an apartment wanted to get a hold of you to collaborate with you, how would they do that?

Imani Patterson 3:53
Yeah, they can reach out to us via our email, SDP at UNLV, dot you. Or they can reach out to me personally, which is my first and my last. Imani.patterson@unlv.edu and we'll go ahead and settle meeting and talk, you know, talk business.

Dr. Sammie Scales 4:08
Okay, sounds good. Sounds good, and sound like the students are really it's students, staff and faculty is going to be in for a real treat with this. Yes, I'm definitely looking forward to and I will definitely be there myself. So what makes the black Mini Con unique compared to other cultural or academic events here on campus. Well, honestly,

Imani Patterson 4:25
it's not a full conference. That's the reason why it's called a Mini Con, and I haven't seen anything like this at UNLV. Usually we have events centered around one topic, but we went ahead and try to create something that centers multiple topics when it comes within the black diaspora. So it's a lineup of different lectures that people can attend. So that's what makes it different. I have not seen anything like it. Like I said, it's our inaugural so we're gonna see how this go.

Dr. Sammie Scales 4:54
Yeah. So students, faculty and staff, could really look at the flyer, or go online and look at what you have post. To there in regards to it, and pick out what they like best and be there for that particular event.

Imani Patterson 5:04
Yes, yes. Our flyer has the descriptions of all of our lectures that day.

Dr. Sammie Scales 5:09
The event features multiple lectures. What are some of the key top being covered there? So

Imani Patterson 5:13
we have the phenomenal Dr Tyler Perry talking about fighting joy in times of grief. Grief a case study in black Las Vegas, and pretty much he will be examining Black joy in Las Vegas through photos and quotes, highlighting its role as resistance to racism, sexism and classism, from the Jim Crow era to today. Wow, so that's just one time. Wow. That sounds like it's gonna be very interesting. Then we have another topic titled The MIS education of black America, which will be facilitated by Taylor Cummings, which is a doctoral candidate in educal ed site. And that's about discovering how the US education system incarcerates the minds of black students, and how hip hop serves as a tool for liberation and consciousness, addressing its methodological, physiological, psychological and spirituality, right? I'm only logical spirituality. So that's, that's going to be one topic as well. So we have some cool topics. Wow.

Dr. Sammie Scales 6:13
It's, you know, definitely, when you talk about R and B being a part of this, it definitely makes me think about Tupa, yeah, because he was certainly one for advocacy, and you could clearly see that in his music also, yes, yes. So can you highlight any guest speakers or panelists that attendees should be excited to see?

Imani Patterson 6:31
Yeah, well, the director of the African American and African Diaspora Studies will be there talking about Black joy and RMB, he will be facilitating that one, Dr davon Johnson, Associate Professor over there. And then we'll also have Brittany Sterling, which is our Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies librarian, who will be leading a session with ATAR hasibola, which is our executive director for ACLU in Nevada, and Billy Allen, which is a branch manager within the Clark County Library District. So that's just a few. We have a great lineup. Wow,

Dr. Sammie Scales 7:08
that's excellent. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing Alta house. Ebola just happened to be an alpha, yeah,

Imani Patterson 7:14
and I do want to give a shout out to my Senior Program Coordinator, Elena Sidney, who really reached out to everyone? We sat down, brainstormed, and she really did her thing with reaching out to everybody and getting them to sign up. Very on top of

Dr. Sammie Scales 7:31
it, and this is a vast variety of different topics. So how were the lecture topics chosen, and why are they important to today's conversations? Well,

Imani Patterson 7:40
Elena just went ahead and reached out to the people, and then to all of our lecturers that was gonna be speaking, and asked them what they wanted to talk about, and just gave them the theme. This year's theme is celebrating Black joy. So then everybody came up with their own thing. Oh, that's

Dr. Sammie Scales 7:56
excellent. And I like the theme celebrating Black joy. There was an event I went to last week that you put on, actually, and that was one of the things that was talked about, was black joy, and Black joy actually being a sign of resistance. Because, you know, after what African American people as a whole has been through, it's a sign of resistance that we actually can celebrate and be joyful in ourselves and our culture and in who we are. So I'm definitely looking forward to that. So um, how does the black Mini Con contribute to the celebration of black culture and history? Well,

Imani Patterson 8:29
it fosters critical thought, right? So these are lectures that we don't necessarily enroll into, if that makes sense, even though there's Dr davon Johnson does have a course on music and the black community. However, these are just opportunities for us to critically think about our community and gain perspective and insight on how these things that are very dear to our community, like music, like photography, like art. I mean, let's talk about the Harlem Renaissance, right, like community organizing, like these are things that are embedded within the community. So this is just an opportunity for us to have many lectures on these different topics, to encourage critical thought, inspire, create innovation, and continue the conversation outside of the Mini Oh god, wow,

Dr. Sammie Scales 9:17
you know, yeah, and it does that's excellent, you know, and I like how you correlate the renters Harlem Renaissance with what's happening here, because there's a district called the art district that I found out, and I've not been living here that long, but there's an art district here. And so with these topics that you've chosen, it's like you're not choosing the norm, or going with the norm of what we think about when we think about black history. So these topics are definitely different, and they're definitely relevant to who we are as a people. So I'm definitely looking forward to this. So what do you hope students and community members take away from attending this event? Well,

Imani Patterson 9:53
definitely, I feel like I want them to take away just the opportunity, just to look at black history. Differently. These are more so, I mean, the topics that we're talking about during the black Mini Con are more so around movements. And we don't have too many conversation around movements. I know we talk about civil rights, that's our the popular one, but these are movements to music, movements through that actually happened in Vegas, movements of just how to create a community and organize and, you know, get to, right? There's a lot of things happening in a community, right? I mean, just in the nation, and we want people, I want people to walk away from the black Mini Con, choosing community over chaos. Yeah,

Dr. Sammie Scales 10:37
that's excellent. You know, when you were speaking, it reminded me about this class that I taught over at San Diego City College. It was called Black Minds Matter and music, because music is so relevant to the black culture. Yes, you know some of the line dances now that you taught us like boots on the ground, that song is a crave throughout the United States right now, there are other things like, you know, line dances that black people do at family reunions or at graduations or whatever it is, music is always present, and it's always there. So yeah, that topic, the R and B topic, is definitely relevant to the culture of people, because no matter what we're doing, we have music there, and if there's no music there, we make our own. So yeah, it's so relevant. I really like this. So how can people continue these conversations beyond this event. You know, once they come to the event, listen, you know, take in what they're going to take in. How can they enjoy this beyond that? Well,

Imani Patterson 11:30
definitely continue the conversations within their inner circles, right within their networks, especially, let's say we get a great turnout, wishing for a great turnout. This is something new that has never been done at UNLV. If we see the turnout for this event, we know this is needed. Does that make sense? So it's not even us putting the onus on people to continue these conversations. If you show up to this event, we will make sure that there's a space to continue these conversations. That's excellent. Our real talk event last week was success, like everyone showed up at cows, and we just need more discourse. Yeah,

Dr. Sammie Scales 12:08
yeah. Definitely agree. Definitely agree. Is the event open to everyone or do people need to register in advance for this event? We

Imani Patterson 12:15
do not have a register registration, so everyone is welcome to come drop in whenever you can. We have the time slot shared on our social media of when each lecture will happen. We will be providing lunch from one to two, and then also it will be located in the Student Union borough.

Dr. Sammie Scales 12:34
Okay, excellent. So when you say that everyone is welcome, clearly, I think about the students here on campus now, does that extend where, if they have family members that they want to bring, they can bring them, or if just community members want to come and enjoy this as well, are they? Can they come? And,

Imani Patterson 12:48
yeah, I mean, UNLV is a public institution, and I'm not here to turn people away from learning. So definitely, if you have siblings that want to come, that you know, we invite Nevada State University home. We invite College of Southern Nevada come if you have siblings, if you have parents, if there's people in the community that's listening to this that wants to attend, just show up. Absolutely

Dr. Sammie Scales 13:10
Good, good, open door policy. So besides lectures, are there any interactive elements like Q and A sessions, networking or performances?

Imani Patterson 13:19
So that's the thing. Each lecture has its own dynamic. They're crafting. They in the lab, cooking. I mean, they in the kitchen, cooking. Something up for real. They all are responsible for their own presentations. There's gonna be discussion, there's gonna be opportunities to interact with the facilitator. It's not just gonna be a straight lecture. Think of it as a class like think you're in the class, you're learning, you're talking to your neighbor, you're talking to your neighbor, you're doing activities, all that's going to be incorporated within each of them. Okay,

Dr. Sammie Scales 13:50
excellent. So you've given the lecturers, per se, free range to do what they want to do, exactly. Excellent, excellent. So what advice would you give to the first time attendees to make the most of their experience.

Imani Patterson 14:02
Honestly, my advice that I would love to give to first time attendees for any of our events is to show up and be open minded. Wow, show up and be open minded. Okay, so

Dr. Sammie Scales 14:14
once students are walking away from this, is there like, do you think there would be a call to action for these particular students,

Imani Patterson 14:20
honestly, especially the last one, crafted community. What's your counter story? This one was actually created because of what's happening within our nation. So it's like, how do you create community in times where there's uncertainty? So I know for sure that's gonna have a call to action, yeah, especially with the key players involved. They're gonna be like, Y'all need to and everybody go like, yeah. So there's gonna be a call to action for that one, and we're gonna see what the other ones turn out to be. Okay, there's a call to actions for others. Excellent,

Dr. Sammie Scales 14:52
excellent. And so again, all staff, administrators, faculty, students, everyone's invited to this event, exactly. Okay, so let me ask you this question, if money was not an issue, and let's say that, you know, definitely students show up, which only events students show up? Let's say this room is packed. Is there an opportunity to have it in a different location where the there will be more seating, so that the entire community could come out and promote this and be a part of it?

Imani Patterson 15:19
Yeah, if money wasn't an issue, we can definitely explore expanding this and definitely explore collaboration across in sheet. You know what I mean, across the different colleges in Las Vegas, if money wasn't an issue, I would personally just love permanent space where we can have these conversations on a month basis. Oh, that would be great. You know what I mean? Like, we don't have to wait to Black History Month to have this conversation. That we can just have this conversation anytime, because we have a permanent space to do so. So that would

Dr. Sammie Scales 15:50
be great. That would be great. Have you had any instances where you've actually collaborated with in chi or with any other local colleges here in Nevada? So

Imani Patterson 15:58
we are looking to collaborate this semester. We'll see what that turns out. Stay you know, turns out to look like. Stay tuned. I'm definitely in conversations with people from Nevada State University and the College of Southern Nevada, and we even have our black student unions and organizations involved in those conversations. So we're planning something. It's gonna be fun. It's gonna be a time, okay, but yeah, definitely, as of right now, we haven't really collaborated, but we did share each other's calendars amongst our networks, so we know what other people are doing in the city, especially at different campuses. Okay,

Dr. Sammie Scales 16:37
what do you have coming up after this event? Because this will still be in the month of February for Black History

Imani Patterson 16:42
Yeah. So our last event for Black History Month will be our raw expressions poetry slam. We're very excited for that. If you are a student and you have some poetry you like to share, it's going to be a phenomenal opportunity just to, you know, connect the arts poetry,

Dr. Sammie Scales 17:03
absolutely, I definitely plan on being a part of that, because I have a poem that I would love to read and get some feedback on. Period. Yeah, to that. So, like I said, Imani, all of the events that you put on have been absolutely amazing events. So that's just a small, you know, this black history month thing is just a small portion of what you do in SDP. What are some of the other events, like cultural events that you do for students here on campus? Because, of course, you know, it's Black History Month, so yes, we're celebrating black history this month, and we're talking about all the programming that has been done, all the hard work that your team has put forth for this. So what are some of the other events that's happened here on campus that you're responsible for as well. So

Imani Patterson 17:43
definitely, we just celebrated Lunar New Year. It was such a great time. Over 200 students showed up to our Lunar New Year event. We're looking to make that a bigger event next year. I can't wait to lunar new year next year. Wow, that really starts off the year to be quite an honor. That's before Black History Month. So what was it held this particular it was actually held to the STP lounge. It was held in STP lounge, yeah, and it was like a drop in event. We had boba, we had origami. I mean, our, you know, our student worker, Kyle, was emcee in that entire event. That was his first event that he planned. I mean, we're just looking for bigger and better things next year. We can't wait. Wow,

Dr. Sammie Scales 18:24
for those that are listening, could you tell them where SDP Lounge is now? Yeah,

Imani Patterson 18:28
we're located on the second floor of the Student Union and room 22828,

Dr. Sammie Scales 18:33
okay, so, yeah, it definitely sounds like you need a bigger space. So maybe, oh

Imani Patterson 18:36
my goodness, maybe 208, or something like that. Yeah, we'll definitely, we're ready for priority registration to get our rooms in, because, you know, first on the dock is gonna be that Luna, New Year, and then March is woman Herstory month. So we have a lineup for that, definitely, on social media, Instagram, at UNLV, SDP, for that calendar to drop. And then, you know, April will be coming around the corner, and that's going to be our Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern month.

Dr. Sammie Scales 19:03
Yeah. So these things that you're mentioning now, like women, History Month, appy, May, all of these things are part of what's called the Big Six for you, for the department,

Imani Patterson 19:12
well, we don't call it the big six. That's funny. Yeah. We don't have a name for it, but we do have six identities that we program our months around. However, we do support all sorts of events like today. We just had a partnership, not only with career services for thriving authentically, but we also had a partnership with the Asian American Studies department here. They had a book talk, a whole book signing happening right next door to us. So we support departments, and then also we We do events for our faith based organizations as well. So we're looking forward to highlighting Ramadan, educating people on Ramadan, and also educate people on Passover. So there's a lot of things going on. We even had events for our differently abled students. Um, especially in October, because that's our Disability Employment Awareness Month. So we're hitting all sorts of topics.

Dr. Sammie Scales 20:07
Wow, that is excellent. And so with all of these different topics that you have, surely you with your team that you have, I'm sure you more than likely have people that work on certain certain events, or is more versed in certain events than others. Can you talk about that?

Imani Patterson 20:20
Like, yeah. So definitely. So all of my program coordinators, I mean, we're a team, so everyone programs within each month. So even if you're not, even if you don't identify with any of the identities that's happening for that time period, you're still leading an event. So Isabel, my one of my one of my program coordinators, half Filipina, half Latina, leading our raw expressions event next week. So that's her event. And then we have some more events inspire her summit that's being led by Miriam Dr, Miriam rat. So we have a lot of things lined up. Everyone just splits the month based on their strengths or what their interests are, and then they start planning, wow,

Dr. Sammie Scales 21:02
that is excellent. So how far in advance do they plan these events?

Imani Patterson 21:07
So we're currently, I mean, March is done, so we just gotta finish up April. So two months in advance. Two months in advance, yeah, we started planning. For instance, we started planning Black History Month and Lunar New Year in November, because we know that we lose a month in December, yeah, so, you know, for winter break. So they started planning that in November. Wow, they started those conversations in November, yeah. So

Dr. Sammie Scales 21:27
that's way out, yeah. So you start reserving rooms and all of that stuff also, well, we're

Imani Patterson 21:31
going to this, this, this or this round. We're going to have all of our rooms reserved for priority, retro reservation. I think that's a registration. I don't, but when Sue's opens up their priority scheduling, we're gonna go ahead and book rooms in advance for next year, because we kind of already have, like, a layout of how we you know what events that's gonna be signature, what events we're gonna be repeating. So, yeah, definitely. So we're gonna be ready this year to reservoir. Okay, so,

Dr. Sammie Scales 21:56
so how do so these different events that you're having, they're fostering that sense of belonging for students. Do you have students come to you and say, hey, you know, I really appreciate you having this event. It reminded me of X, Y and Z, yeah,

Imani Patterson 22:08
all the time. I mean, even today, for thriving authentically. I mean, the event ended at two, same thing with the event next to us. Those are both the events ended at two, but we had people stay till like 330 I meant till 233 o'clock, just hanging out, chilling, talking. They enjoy this space. They just, I mean, support where they can't leave. But I get that all the time. So that's why I love what I do, because it's people appreciate it, and they know that's needed. For instance, thriving authentically. We have the raiders in the building. We had Caesars Entertainment, and that's our collaboration with career services and workforce development, and it's just an intimate opportunity for students to get to know professionals now to get from A to B, we have a panel for the first hour, and the students got to learn from a lawyer, a physical therapist, a finance associate and a librarian. I mean, those are very those are some diverse industries to learn from but students were able to learn how to get learn how to become a lawyer, learn how to get into finance, learn how to network. So the students appreciate it, because it's practice, and they actually seeing the bigger picture that this goes beyond Yeah, exactly NLV, like, what's my life after? Yeah, and

Dr. Sammie Scales 23:16
that's, that's what I was gonna get to next. Is, you know, of course, this is a great opportunity to build community and to foster that sense of belonging. But it seems like you're giving these students also, and giving them the opportunities to actually meet people and prepare them for life after graduation, you know, with how to interview for jobs or, you know, making contacts to become a financial planner or financial advisor or whatever the case is. So yeah, you're giving them life experience also, yes,

Imani Patterson 23:42
definitely. You know, I tell people all the time, you need someone. You need a board of a direct. You need a board of directors. You need a group of you need a list of people that could speak good on your character, not just one person. Like, I know, people look for a mentor. No, you need mentors. Yeah. You need like, um, the top like panel today. You need, you need mentors. You need sponsors, right? You need people who are going to help you grow, but you need also people who go and put you on in rooms that you're not in, right? They're talking about you. They're bringing up your name in those rooms, right? Because it's not always about what you know. I know we're here trying to get our degree. That's great, that's necessary, but it's about who you know. And not only that, let's take it a step further, who knows you and what you write. So there's an opportunity for development. And I want all the students here, whether undergraduate or graduate, to take advantage of this time they're able to cultivate their skill, right? And by showing up to these events, whether you want to or not, you're always going to meet somebody or you're going to learn something new, like at the black Mini Con, you're gonna learn something new. You're gonna meet some very dope people, yeah,

Dr. Sammie Scales 24:43
exactly, you know. And they're gonna come across people, you know, even just being in a room and, you know, you may say, Oh, I remember this person from this particular event. So you're making those connections that's gonna extend beyond being here at UNLV.

Imani Patterson 24:56
Yep, your network is your network. Wow,

Dr. Sammie Scales 24:58
that's a whole. That's a whole sermon, right there. Your network is your net worth? Absolutely. So in closing, what's your best advice for students when it comes to programming that your department do? What's your best advice that you can offer to students?

Imani Patterson 25:11
Yeah, my best advice. I mean, I'm gonna be clear real, even if you can't make the entire event show up, no one is telling you to be on time for an event, right? If you can only make 30 minutes to the event, still show up to those 30 minutes that that's better than nothing. Um, there's so many free event these are, these events are free, yes, and therefore the students, they're for the students, and they're, they're of no cost, show up. That's all i That's all I can say, is show up, because you just never know what's gonna happen. Absolutely, happen. Absolutely,

Dr. Sammie Scales 25:43
you know. And I would think that, especially the juniors and seniors doing this, because you're close to graduating, or getting ready to graduate, and you want to make those connections so that you have, you know, cultural capital outside of UNLV. So when you walk into an office and therefore an interview, you know the person sitting in front of you, because I know you bring in a lot of executive directors for these different panels. And that person could say, oh, yeah, I remember you from when you was at UNLV. You was at this event, and blah, blah, and boom, there you go. You gotta got a connection and a good chance at securing that job.

Imani Patterson 26:12
Yeah, I know a student who's interested in being a civil rights lawyer, okay, you need to be at the black Mini Con, yeah, with hospitals two to three. You know what I mean? Like, I ask students all the time, what are you studying? Okay, what do you plan on doing with that? Like, what do you plan on doing with psychology? What are you planning on doing with fines? What does this look like, right? And then I try my best to connect them to someone. Yeah,

Dr. Sammie Scales 26:33
that's excellent. You know, one of the other things that we haven't mentioned is, you're part of a sorority here on campus. Can you tell us about that? Give us a brief synopsis of that, because it's important for students to become connected. Become connected with something

Imani Patterson 26:43
to thrive. Yeah. So I am a member of Delta, Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. I actually crossed the ADA chi chapter, which is the chapter here on here at UNLV spring 16. And even my involvement with Delta has brought me so many opportunities. It's an opportunity to expand my network. Delta has given me a platform. I mean, Delta was honestly how I was able to like own in on my programming skills, because I was doing student programs before Delta, and that's what actually got me into delta, right? My experience. But then through Delta, I was able to understand initiatives, national initiatives, right? How do we, how do we do things in Las Vegas and only that, collaboration with our graduate chapters. Currently, we have two graduate chapters, so collaborations with our graduate chapters and even what are we doing across the region, right? So it just that takes it to a national level, because all the Greek, um, all the fraternities and sororities on campus are natural, excellent.

Dr. Sammie Scales 27:43
Thank you so much. Senior Assistant Director of Student Diversity Programs, Imani Patterson, yes, thank you so very much for showing up and being our guest today. Yeah, thank you for having looking forward to your events. Yeah, thank you. Bye. That's a wrap

Dr. Renee Watson 27:59
for more. Let's talk UNLV. Be sure to follow us on social media, where you can get the latest updates on the show, plus great behind the scenes content. We're on Facebook at, let's talk UNLV podcast, Twitter at, let's talk UNLV and Instagram. At, let's talk UNLV pod. You.