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Bethel's Royal Steppers Perform at Diversity Conference

Bethel's Royal Steppers Perform at Diversity Conference

Bethel University's Royal Steppers include (l to r) (back row): PaKou Yang '16, Emilie Dodge '16, Andrew Rahme '15, Patience Zalanga '15, Love Washington '14, Christi Miller '16, and Kamisha Winston '16. (Front row) Alyssa Rodriguez '16, Zakiya Robinson '16, Sandra Alvaro Montejo '16, and Lisa Vang '16.

The Royal Steppers, Bethel’s step team, traveled to Illinois to attend and perform at a diversity conference. In November about 25 Bethel team members traveled by bus to North Park University, a Christian university in Chicago. The conference helped to prepare students to become leaders in a multicultural world and challenged participants “to grow in the knowledge and skills needed to lead diverse campus organizations,” according to the conference website.

It was the fourth annual diversity conference held by North Park University, attracting approximately 700 college students from around the United States. This was the Royal Steppers’ second year performing at the conference and they have already been invited to return next year.

Bethel student Lynda Yang-Jungsing attended the conference both years. “It’s something that I feel helps me to be more culturally competent,” she told North Park. One of Bethel’s core values is to be reconcilers, embracing diversity and working toward Christ’s mission of redemption. Group leaders hope that by participating in North Park’s diversity conference, the Bethel students will better understand the importance of embracing reconciliation – and bring what they’ve learned back to campus. According to North Park, this conference strives to do just that, aiming to “teach individuals how to be agents of change on their campuses and in their communities.”