(FLINT, Mich., Oct. 1, 2021) — Mott Community College (MCC) will honor all cultures at its 29th annual Peace & Dignity Ceremony on Monday, Oct. 11 at 10 a.m. on the main campus in Flint. The ceremony, designed to promote cultural and racial harmony, is sponsored by the Foundation for Mott Community College (FMCC).
The program, scheduled for 10 a.m., will be held outdoors (rain or shine) at the Peace and Dignity Tree on the lawn of the Mott Memorial Building, facing Court Street. This event is free and open to the public. RSVPs are not necessary.
“Mott Community College is committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion, not only for the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, but also for the multi-cultural diversity of our community,” said Lennetta Coney, president of the FMCC.
“This year we celebrate the 29th Anniversary of the Peace & Dignity Ceremony on our campus as we welcome people from all cultures to join us,” Coney added.
The annual ceremony is MCC’s signature event commemorating Native Peoples and Hispanic Heritage Month. Celia Perez-Booth, MCC faculty member and counselor, and Sixto Olivo, Foundation for Mott Community College Board member, will emcee the ceremony.
Directly descended from Native American rituals, the program features the People of the Four Colors ceremony, rededication of the Peace and Dignity Tree, ceremonial dancing and drumming. The People of the Four Colors ritual, honoring people of all colors (red, yellow, black and white), requires participation of four people, each representing a different color. Each individual will provide brief remarks and drape a prayer tie of the appropriate color around the Peace and Dignity Tree. Near the end of the ceremony, all participants will have an opportunity to make a prayer offering. Quiet and respectful attention throughout the ceremony is strongly encouraged.
This year’s invited community members representing the Four Directions are:
- Anupa Shantaram, early childhood education professor, will represent East/Yellow.
- Robert McAllister, asst. Principal at Mott Middle College, will represent South/Black.
- Aurora Saucedo, manager for the Michigan United Public Health Navigator Program, will represent the West/Red.
- Michael J. Thorp, MCC Alumni Association Emeritus board member, will represent North/White.
Attendees are asked to refrain from taking photographs or using cell phones during the smudging activity. As ceremonial drums are also considered sacred, attendees should ask permission before taking photographs of the drums and drummers.
Mott Community College (MCC) is a place of purpose and possibility. Mott is committed to excellence in education and offering services that cultivate student success and improve the overall quality of life in a multicultural community. With almost 100 academic and occupational degree programs, Mott helps students prepare to for an ever-changing world. Through university transfer agreements, high-demand associate’s degree programs and one-year certification programs, MCC helps ensure that all students find their path. MCC is changing lives for a changing world every day, by moving forward, together.
