About

Office of Equity and Inclusion

Dee Parker

Darryl "Dee" Parker
Coordinator of Cultural Diversity
Office Location: FFC-119G
Phone: 606-487-3652
Email: dparker0137@kctcs.edu

A native of Kentucky, Darryl "Dee" Parker is the Coordinator of Cultural Diversity at Hazard Community and Technical College.

Dee believes in the concept of “When you reach one, you teach one and lead by example.” When Dee moved to Eastern Kentucky many years ago, he was a little hesitant at first to meet people, but he wanted to see growth within the community he loves, and he displays this by being an active member of the community.

Dee continues to hold true to his concept mantra to “lead by example.” It has its challenges but they are all small steps to a giant, so he continues to push forward.

Hazard Community and Technical College’s Office of Equity and Inclusion was designed to increase equitable and inclusive practices among students, faculty and staff. Diversity: expressed in myriad forms, including race and ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, language, culture, national origin, religious commitments, age, disability status and political perspective. Equity: working actively to challenge and respond to bias, harassment, and discrimination. Inclusion: committed to pursuing deliberate efforts to ensure that our campus is a place where differences are welcomed, different perspectives are respectfully heard and where every individual feels a sense of belonging and inclusion.

“Equity ensures that all have equal access to our institutions and academic programs. Inclusion ensures that, once access is provided and students are on our campuses, they are in an environment where they can be comfortable regardless of their background. It is very difficult to be successful and focus on the challenge that is a college curriculum unless you are in a place where you feel supported. With equal opportunity and an inclusive environment, we are confident that the achievement gaps between the overall student population and our historically underserved populations can be closed,” Travis Powell, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, Vice President and General Counsel, Executive.

The 2018 College-Wide Equity and Inclusion Workshop led to renaming the Office of Cultural Diversity to the Office of Equity and Inclusion. HCTC's College Leadership and Campus Environment Team developed an Equity Position Statement, approved by our College Leadership Team. Hazard Community and Technical College (HCTC) defines equity as striving to give all students what they need to be successful. HCTC recognizes that equity and equality are not the same thing, and that students may have very different needs along their paths to success. Therefore, HCTC meets students where they are and provides the tools and resources they need to achieve their goals.

Hazard Community and Technical College’s mission is to create a foundation where everyone is given equitable opportunities. HCTC’s high school program, the Multicultural Leadership Council (MLC) program encourages students to explore different cultures while providing educational tools to succeed at the high school and college levels. The MLC meets monthly to discuss college readiness and topical issues; ensuring students are culturally responsible. These sessions/workshops are providing the necessary tools, allowing students to understand the significance of cultures and sub-cultures: awareness and scenario-building help to reduce biases and prejudices, which can greatly impact all communities. Once students graduate from high school, former MLCs are eligible for further leadership and cultural opportunities through the HCTC Student Ambassadors Program.

If interested in the Multicultural Leadership Council program, contact Danielle King at dking0198@kctcs.edu or 606-487-3524.
If interested in the Student Ambassadors Program, contact Delcie Combs at Delcie.combs@kctcs.edu or 606-487-3100.

Application Requirements:

Currently enrolled in HCTC as a full-time or part-time student
Maintain a 2.0 or higher to be included in the MCL cohort

Program Requirements:

MCL are assigned high school mentees
Each MSLP mentor must attend training sessions
Must attend fall and spring cultural enrichment trips

MCL Activities and Events

Community Play, Needle Works
Active participants in smoking awareness campaign
Lead student forums
Hosted mock interviews at high school

Hazard Community and Technical College’s mission is to create a foundation where everyone is given equitable opportunities. HCTC’s Minority Leadership Council encourages students to explore different cultures while providing educational tools to succeed at the high school and college level.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

The Minority Leadership Council meets with their assigned mentees twice a month to discuss college readiness, job placement, wellness initiatives, and service-learning components. All of which create well-rounded prospective college students. Students who attend the program regularly are rewarded twice in the year with cultural enrichment trips.

John T. Smith Scholarship

Available to African American students who are Kentucky residents and who demonstrate potential for success in postsecondary education. Must maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA and must be enrolled in at least 6 hours during the semester of the award.

This list of resource videos were compiled by the HCTC Office of Equity and Inclusion for anyone who wants to expand their knowledge about multicultural history, as well as inclusiveness and equitable treatment and behaviors.

My name is Dee Parker. I am a student at HCTC, the student representative to the HCTC Board of Directors, Student Ambassador, Social Media Student Liaison of the Office of Equity and Inclusion, and the SGA President.

The links I have provided for this resource page has helped me a lot with my transition as a student leader here at HCTC. The links are tools that we all can utilize. So, please take a moment and check them out.

Be sure to check out the “Live with Dee” program also. It is on HCTC’s Facebook page as a live broadcast on the second Tuesday of every month.

Sincerely, D. Parker

HCTC Social Media Student Liaison

Don't forget to check out the "Live with Dee" on the HCTC Facebook Page!

My goals and what I would like to accomplish with the resources that I’m providing for the page.

1. To educate people about what equity and inclusion means.
2. Demonstrate how diversity affects minorities and people of color.
3. I’m hoping that the resources I’m providing will help the students and staff become more aware it is for us all to work together.
4. I’m wanting to open people’s minds to the reality that there’s a problem with systemic racism.
5. I want people to use the resources I’m providing as a form of education and to get an understanding of generational trauma that has been passed down for many years to people of color. These scars run deeper than some people care to acknowledge.
6. With the resources I’m providing, I’m hoping to shed light on the importance of unity! Unity is the key!

All my resources have come from very credible sources including the CPE webinars, KABHE, U.K, and various others. Below is a list of resources:

1. http://cpe.ky.gov/higheredquity/

2. https://kabhe.wildapricot.org/

3. U.K College of Education: Breonna Taylor https://youtu.be/YkGa4S6umiA

4. The Southeast Region KABHE conference https://youtu.be/fWYLdGgMgTE

5. "Being Black in America: Generational Pain" https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/local/being-black-america-generational-pain/O34QXF3JB5CXBCVEVM7UH2TAF4/?outputType=amp

6. "Being Black in America: We Have A Place In This World Too; NPR" https://www.npr.org/2020/06/05/867060621/being-black-in-America-we-have-a-place-in-this-world-too

7. "The Pain of being Black. It is painful to be at the end of any… | by Viv Oyolu | Medium" https://medium.com/@Viv_Oyolu/the-pain-of-being-black-582dAmerica6

8. "Black friends don’t have to educate white friends about racism - The Washington Post" https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/06/08/black-friends-educate-racism/?outputType=amp

9. "Recommendations for how white allies can truly support black people and their communities (opinion)" https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2020/06/10/recommendations-how-white-allies-can-truly-support-black-people-and-their

10."Understanding Race, Equity & Inclusion | Richland Library" https://www.richlandlibrary.com/race

11."Anti-Racism Resource Guide: Becoming an Inclusive Leader | Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" https://medicine.uiowa.edu/diversity/anti-racism-resource-guide-becoming-inclusive-leader

12 "Racial Equity FAQs - Metro United Way" https://metrounitedway.org/racial-equity-faqs/

13. "10 Ways To Talk About Race And Racial Justice" |
https://academized.com/lessons-talking-about-race-racism-and-racial-justice

14. Jim Crow Museum Ferris State University https://www.ferris.edu/htmls/news/jimcrow/index.htm

These resources are tools that can give everyone a chance to address the issues that people of color have faced every day and continue to face daily.

Frequently asked questions:

Q: How do I check the status of my financial aid?
A: You can access your financial aid information through the student self-services portal.
Here’s the link to my path and a few for financial aid forms.
“Current students: https://hazard.kctcs.edu/current-students/
“Financial Aid Forms | HCTC” https://hazard.kctcs.edu/affording-college/financial-aid-forms/index.aspx
“Advising | HCTC" https://kctcs.edu/faculty-staff/academic-resources/advising.aspx

Q: Where is the location of the Stephes Library
A: Here?s quick link to the HCTC Libraries https://hazard.kctcs.edu/current-students/student-resources/library/index.aspx and Research Tools
https://hazard.kctcs.edu/current-students/student-resources/library/research-tools.aspx

Q: How do I contact admissions?
A: Here’s a quick link to admissions, you can call or email someone there.
"Admissions | HCTC" https://hazard.kctcs.edu/admissions/

Q: What is the office of equity and inclusion?
A: Here’s a brief rundown, the office of Equity and inclusion is about diversity. This office helps students get a better understanding of what equality for all means. This office also increases equitable and inclusive practices among students, faculty, and staff.
"Office of Equity and Inclusion | HCTC" https://hazard.kctcs.edu/about/student-life/cultural-diversity.aspx

Q: Where’s the book store and hours?
A: Here’s a direct link to the bookstore.
"Bookstore: https://hazard.kctcs.edu/current-students/student-resources/bookstore.aspx

Q: How do I find student support services?

A: Here’s a quick link
"Student Support Services | HCTC" https://hazard.kctcs.edu/about/student-life/student-support-services.aspx

Q: How do I contact disability services?
A: "Accessibility Services | HCTC" https://hazard.kctcs.edu/about/student-life/accessibility-services.aspx

Q: How can I find the class schedules?
A: Here’s a quick link, you can also access your schedule through the student self-help or My Path.
"Current Students | HCTC" https://hazard.kctcs.edu/current-students/
"Class Schedules | HCTC" https://hazard.kctcs.edu/education-training/class-schedules/index.aspx

HCTC Diversity Planning Documents

Hazard Community and Technical College is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and follows a strategic plan that is measured annually. This allows the college opportunity to continuously improve and adjust to the college community’s needs and concerns.