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Through its mirrors, a kaleidoscope offers a wondrous reflection of colored
pieces of glass. The organization, Kaleidoscope, was formed in order
to give women of color an opportunity to examine themselves in the mirror
and discover their wondrous reflections.
As women from various ethnic backgrounds began to fill more leadership positions within higher education it became clear that, despite their best intentions, training organizations like the National Institute of Leadership Development could not address the specific issues faced by these women. Recognizing this void, the late Carolyn Desjardins wrote a proposal and received a grant from the Ford Foundation to address these needs. From that financial resource, Kaleidoscope was born. A handful of community college leaders, worked together to form Kaleidoscope, a leadership/training program specifically for women of color educators. The first training workshop offered by Kaleidoscope was offered in Minnesota from October 31-Novemeber 4, 1991. Dr. Jacquelyn M. Belcher, then president of Minneapolis Community College and now president of Georgia Perimeter College (formerly DeKalb College) in metro Atlanta, served as the host. Twenty-six women attended that first workshop. More than 400 African American, Asian American, Hispanic/Latina, and Native American women have attended annual institutes since 1991. Kaleidoscope offers women of color a program that honors their "divine humanness" and celebrates their differences, develops connections to other cultural groups, strengthens their leadership skills, assesses their personal goals, and empowers them to circumvent and dismantle cultural barriers. |
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E-Mail Questions or Comments to kaleidoscope@gpc.peachnet.edu