Buffalo State has been connected to the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) since the mid-1980s, primarily due to the leadership of Gail Wells, currently the Director of Student Life. Her previous efforts were sponsored by Student Affairs and programs were run primarily for students across campus. In 2007 a new effort was launched. Based on the BSC Strategic Plan the new effort combined Student Affairs and Academic Affairs as Gail Wells teamed with Kevin Railey, currently Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School. This partnership sought to combine the efforts of the campus Coalition Building Team with efforts organized by the CEURE (Center for Excellence in Urban and Rural Education) Curriculum Task Force. The new initiative broadened the scope from previous efforts and sought to develop a team of faculty and staff who could work together on developing programs that would have as their goal institutional change over a period of time. The initiative "Leadership for Diversity" is directly connected to NCBI, receives guidance and mentoring from the national office, and is organized according to NCBI principles. It was successfully launched in the fall of 2007 with support and sponsorship of the Provost's Office. On September 12, 2007, an initial interest meeting was held and by January 2008 the new Coalition Building Team was established.
Since 2008 the Coalition Building Team has led five Welcoming Diversity workshops here on campus. Following the NCBI format, our trained leaders have welcomed over 120 people into these workshops and have opened the doors to conversations about race and identity all across campus. Various people from each workshop have gone on to join the Coalition Building Team and contribute to future planning for the campus. Coalition Team members come from all across campus - faculty from various schools and staff from various departments.
In November 2009 the NCBI Coalition Building Team sponsored the visit of Dr. Renay Scales to BSC. Her visit began a new theme for the campus efforts - how to apply diversity principles into the curriculum.
In 2010 the Coalition Building Team led a series of listening tables about the Haitian earthquake. The CBT leaders are responsible for Cherie Brown, Founder of NCBI, coming to Buffalo State for the Anne Frank Project in 2010, and team members will play an instrumental role in the project's activities.
See the Calendar of Events for future plans.
