August is National Minority
Donor Awareness Month
"National Minority Donor Awareness Month is celebrated throughout the month of August. The goal of this annual observance is to increase organ donor registrations among communities of color, which make up nearly 60 percent of the more than 100,000 people on the national waitlist for life-saving organ transplants and to honor those have been organ and tissue donors."
"The [observance] highlights the need, especially among minorities, for more organ, eye, and tissue donors. Another focus of the day includes honoring minorities who have donated. While providing education, the day also encourages others to register as donors. At the same time, part of being informed includes practicing good health habits. The healthier the population, the fewer transplants needed.
Within the African-American, Asian, Hispanic, Native American and Pacific Islander-American communities, there is a serious shortage of transplants. Minorities make up 57% of those on the organ waiting list. Due to chronic conditions, minority patients see an increased need for transplants affecting the heart, kidney, pancreas, and liver."
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The Gift of Life Donor Program emphasizes the need for continued outreach and education for communities of color, where misinformation is often prevalent. The organization provides resources including infographics, flyers, multicultural stories, and data points on their website.
Multicultural Communities in Donation and Transplantation:
- Make up 60% of people currently on the U.S. transplant waiting list
- Make up 46% of people who received organ transplants in 2020
- Make up 32% of deceased and living organ donors in 2020
- 29% of people waiting for life-saving organ transplants in the nation are African American.
- Nearly 23,000 of those on the national waiting list are Hispanic/Latino
- Nearly 10,000 of those on the national waiting list are Asian/Pacific Islander
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According to the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), "Although organ transplants can be successful regardless of the race or ethnicity of the donor and recipient, there’s a greater chance of longer-term survival if the shared genetic background of the donor and recipient are closely matched. That is why we all benefit when individuals from multicultural communities sign up as organ, eye, and tissue donors. In fact, nearly 40,000 people, including over 18,000 racial and ethnic minorities, received the gift of life in 2019, thanks to individuals who said “yes” to organ donation."
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REGISTER TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR!
To learn more about registering to be an organ donor, click here.
Click here to learn the facts about being a donor on the Iowa Donor Network website.
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DMACC students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend and participate in these upcoming diversity events! |
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"Mental Health in Times of Stress" with DMACC Psychology Professor, Tony Stephens |
Join us for an in-depth conversation about the importance of minority mental health and managing stress featuring a presentation from DMACC psychology professor, Tony Stephens!
When: Wednesday, August 4th, 12-1 PM
Where: Zoom (link will be provided to registrants prior to the event)
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Click here to view the
more events throughout the month!
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Tina Akinyi
GEAR UP Coordinator
Set up an appointment with Tina here:
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Tina's Report -
Gear Up Iowa Events and Announcements
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Gear Up Boone Campus Orientation
When: Wednesday, August 18th, 11:30 AM-1:30 PM
"We had a very successful Urban Campus orientation last month! 18 students attended and 10 of them applied to be a part of TRIO-SSS. We toured the Urban Campus Buildings 1 and 7, got familiarized with student services and geared up for the fall semester. It was great to see students’ faces, hear their voices and share a meal together."
Thank you to all of the students who attended and to everyone who helped make the orientation a success!
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Scholarship Opportunities
Applications for the DMACC Diversity Commission Student Scholarship are due Thursday, August 5th by 4 PM!
The Diversity Commission Student Scholarship is designed for students who actively engage with issues of diversity, equity and/or inclusion. The Diversity Commission is committed to fostering a deeper understanding of the importance of diversity and social justice at DMACC and in our larger communities and believes that awarding this scholarship can help further that work.
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Looking for assistance with filling out the FAFSA?
DMACC Urban Financial Aid is offering FAFSA assistance available in English, Spanish, and Karen/Burmese.
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Community Partner Announcements & Events |
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The Greater Des Moines Partnership is hosting another Multicultural Reception. This event will be a unique opportunity to explore the mini traveling exhibition from The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services (SITES) to discover the science and consequences of implicit bias and learn how to challenge bias in the world through awareness of your own biases. A beverage and appetizer reception will follow.
When: Tuesday, August 3rd; "The Bias Inside Us" Exhibit Viewing: 4 – 5 p.m.
Reception: 5 – 6:30 p.m.
Where: Science Center of Iowa
401 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy, Des Moines
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Financial Fitness Bootcamp - FREE CLASS! |
The Financial Empowerment Center is offering free financial fitness workshops every Tuesday in August beginning August 10th from 5:30-7:30 PM. This 4-week workshop includes free personal financial coaching! These classes will be in-person at Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families.
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The 2021 Back 2 School Bash is right around the corner! This annual event will take place on August 22nd from 2-5 PM at the John R. Grubb YMCA in Des Moines.
It's also not too late to sign up to volunteer or have your organization be a sponsor!
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Genesis Youth Foundation African Parent Information Day |
Join Genesis Youth Foundation for an African Parent Information Day at the new GYF center located at the Hope + Elim Building. Parents will come away from this meeting with a greater understanding of Genesis programs for youth and adults as well as answers to questions about parent volunteer commitments and expectations. Free Gas Cards will be given to the first 20 parents at the event and we will have culturally appropriate food for each family in attendance. All are welcome.
Who: African Parents
When: Saturday, August 14, 2021 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Where: Hope + Elim Building, 2500 University Avenue, DSM, Iowa 50311
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Mindspring Community Education Classes |
Mindspring is hosting several community mental health education classes throughout the month of August, including topics such as understanding ADHD, COVID trauma and the workplace, and talking to children about mental health. |
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Polk County COVID-19 Vaccine Multilingual Information & Assistance Helpline |
EMBARC (Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center) is partnering with Polk County and other community organizations to offer COVID-19 vaccine information and assistance in a several languages. Contact the EMBARC Helpline to:
- Ask a question about the COVID-19 vaccines
- Add your name to a list to receive help getting the vaccine
- Get help contacting a doctor or nurse if you are experiencing side effects after taking the vaccine
Burmese: 515-207-9442
Chin Dialects: 515-512-1887
English: 515-512-1881
Karen: 515-512-1883
Karenni: 515-512-1884
Spanish: 515-344-3936
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DEPARTMENT
Community and Global Engagement
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DMACC's Community and Global Engagement Department, located at the Ankeny Campus, is committed to creating a culture in which all people are valued and supported, and will celebrate the similarities and differences among us. In doing so, we will prepare the DMACC community to live, to learn, and to work together in a global society.
DMACC is committed to meeting the needs of our increasingly diverse district. That commitment is fostered at many different levels of the institution. Our Diversity Commission will serve as the institutional leader in the coordination of all of our efforts to create opportunities for citizens from different cultures and with different life experiences to experience DMACC, as a student, a professor or staff member.
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