Providence, RI--Providence College is holding its second annual Unity Week on campus September 29-October-5, 2007.  Spearheaded by the College's Balfour Center for Multicultural Affairs and co-sponsored by numerous College offices and student organizations, this year's theme is "Color Outside the Lines."

Taking a three-fold approach to building unity at PC, the program's intention is to engage the College; to enhance the diversity and quality of the campus community; and to reach outside the campus to strengthen bonds between the College and the larger community.

Coordinated by the College's Feinstein Institute for Public Service in conjunction with a neighborhood grassroots organization, Community Congress, the week opened with a Community Cleanup on Saturday.  The theme continued at Sunday night's Unity and Diversity Mass celebrated by College President, Reverend Brian Shanley, O.P.

Other Unity Week activities include the creation of a Unity/Diversity Mural comprised of handprints and diversity messages by members of the College community; a performance by the Brave New Voices All Stars, some of the brightest young performance poets nationwide; a Unity Bazaar made up of local vendors displaying their wares, representing the diverse culture of the Providence community; and a performance by Maya Lily, entitled "Mixed," a one-woman show exploring the stories of eight multiracial characters.

This year's Unity Week targets the tendency to stay within one's circle of friends and is intended to encourage participants to extend themselves beyond their "comfort zone," said Dr. Edward Twyman, dean of the Balfour Center. "We want to challenge students, faculty, and staff to move outside those lines," he said.

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