An African concert and dance workshop is scheduled for Saturday, thanks to a helping hand from the Student Coalition.

The donation-based event will be held 3-7 p.m. Saturday Nov. 20 in the City College Cafeteria. It will help raise money for the International Student Support Program’s “Developing Nations Students Scholarship fund.” The day will consist of a variety of African dancers, musicians and a dance workshop.

“I believe we were chosen to be born at this time for a reason,” said Tina Kistler, coalition advisor. “We have a huge responsibility to help peer train the next generation of leaders because they are the ones that will carry out the policies and programs. We are in dire need of a new way of thinking.”

Having previously contributed to an array of fundraising events, the coalition is currently assisting one student from Zimbabwe, Patience Ncube, in her endeavor to build a scholarship program for students from developing nations.

The Student Coalition would love to support students from these countries who want to do something here and go back to make a difference in their country, Kistler said.

The Coalition has been supporting Patience in a number of ways.

“We have been marketing her event through flyers and by word of mouth,” said Mary Breen, project leader for the Student Coalition. “We are promoting the world music concert in classrooms, speaking with professors and students, encouraging them to come out in support of Patience’s event.”

Last Saturday, the Club partnered with Kistler’s leadership studies class and hosted a carwash at the Albertson’s in Goleta to raise money for the scholarship fund.

After taking Kistler’s intercultural communications class, a group of students wanted to continue meeting and expand what they were doing in the class. Three years ago, they collectively decided to create the Student Coalition to further the expansion of environmental and personal awareness.

The Club has been involved in events such as the United Way Day of Caring, the Aids Walk, Shop for Peace Market Place, Troops in Afghanistan Campaign, and numerous

other fundraising events.

“We find issues of events that may need more attention and rally awareness and action around it,” Kistler said.

“The Student Coalition wants to help empower students to discover their purpose and passion and to help equip them in leadership roles to change whatever they want to change or be involved in,” Kistler said.

Right now, the issues are so colossal that it’s hard to figure out where to start, but the students are trying to figure out the root causes to make a lasting impact, Kistler said.

Later in the semester they plan to focus on a letter-writing campaign to President Obama to increase awareness about the separation of north and south Sudan.

For those looking for more information, club meetings are held 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fridays in Business Communication Center–Room 224.

For more information on how to get involved, you can attend one of the Club meetings on Fridays at BC 224 from 11:15-12:30 or contact Tina Kistler at: [email protected]