The Native American Success Academy (NASA) and Puente hosted two cultural workshops on March 18 and March 20 in the Puente Center, Shima 133.
The hands-on workshop allowed people to make beaded hair sticks, engage with each other, and form positive peer connections through arts & crafts.
The workshop included food, drinks and music.
“After the workshop, I learned more stuff, like getting to know more about the Native American culture and I got to do more crafts because I’m a pretty crafty person, so it made me like more about the culture,” said third-year Delta student Portia Madayag
The Cultural workshops first started this Spring, and this is the first semester of the Native Success Academy Program that has been active on campus because it’s been under development since the fall semester. But NASA was active last semester.
Darlene Solorio is the Program Manager for NASA
“Our cultural workshops began in February so the project was painting and March is beading which started on the 4th, so we try and have several beading events to continue to allow students to engage with in these workshops and gives them more opportunities instead of only a one-day event,” said Solorio.
Getting more money to help with such a small program could have many benefits, such as providing a source of funding and more resources for projects, so that the program can have a long-lasting availability.
NASA is a grant-funded program, and the NASSSP granted 20 community colleges in California one-time funding to support Native American students.
“A part of the goals of the grant is to create community and peer connections, so that’s exactly what we do, and so what it is that we’re providing an opportunity for peer connection and support for our students by connecting them through cultural events,” said Solorio.
All of the people who were present during the cultural workshop were all smiles and having a good time engaging.
“Some of the ways I feel connected to students through these types of events are through peer/faculty connections, so we engage in conversations and share stories about ourselves, share our lives, so we’re able to connect on more of a personal level,” said Solorio
