Office of Cultures & Belonging

Cultures

The shared values, beliefs, practices, codes, languages, and histories of various groups. Broadly shared agreements and norms among an ecosystem. 

Belonging 

Every person, group, and culture experiences having a consistently meaningful voice and agency in the systems that affect their lives. 

Critical elements of belonging

Connection is the active experience of being tethered or bound together through a culture, cause, shared experience, affiliation, community, group, or institution. 

Agency is the control people and groups have over actions and consequences. The power to act and the power to influence. 

Inclusion is the active engagement of all participants and cultures. 

Recognition makes visible people, groups, and cultures by the demonstration of being respected, seen, and valued. 

Equity is fair and just opportunities for all employees and students to reach their academic and professional potential.

W.A.L.C.C. the Equity Talk 

At Lane, we belong together and we W.A.L.C.C. together as we learn. W.A.L.C.C. (We Are Lane Community College) is an acronym we use as a verb that was synthesized from ongoing conversations with students and employees in an effort to discern LCC’s demonstrated commitment to belonging that includes the many splendid cultures represented. We learned that Lane is strongly committed to ensuring equitable and inclusive engagement for all constituents, yet we must continue to strive to ensure everyone has a consistent experience of connection, sense of agency, are actively included, and enjoy respectful recognition – which are essential factors for a real sense of belonging. We must continue to W.A.L.C.C. our equity talk! 

Our W.A.L.C.C. is demonstrated through the actions of a beloved community that reflects and strengthens our interconnectedness as a cohort of learners – each in our various programs of study and life experience - as well as our interdependence on each other throughout Lane County. You can see this in our everyday W.A.L.C.C. (We Are Lane Community College), in the following ways;

  • We Bring Our Gifts: We bring the best of our cultural gifts to bear on the shared classroom, campus, and community experience.
  • We Carry Our Roots: We recognize that our education is personal and deeply rooted in the sacrifices of our parents, guardians, aunties, uncles, and loved ones. Their belief tells us we belong here.
  • We Support Each Other: The way we W.A.L.C.C. is embedded in the action of staying late to help someone understand an assignment and how it fits into their career goals.
  • We Stay Curious: The W.A.L.C.C. asks us to be curious about what is important to others and spurs us to help them build.

Our W.A.L.C.C. together acknowledges that each of us are human. Sometimes we misinterpret, misapply, or misunderstand.

However, W.A.L.C.C. operates from a staunch belief that underlying motives are indeed good. We commit to looking beyond past poor execution or clumsily phrased words to recognize the core goodness in each other. We intentionally choose to give grace and build bridges, knowing that we are all learning how to W.A.L.C.C. this journey together.

Let’s W.A.L.C.C. together 

Your place is here. Your voice is needed in this community. Explore how you can get involved, share your culture, and learn about others. Explore what resonates with you, and be brave to try something new. 

Land Acknowledgement

"I’d like to start our meeting with the acknowledgment that the land we are on is the traditional homelands of the Kalapuya people. The Kalapuya were stewards of this very land for over 14,000 years before their traditional way of life was forever disrupted and destroyed. We start our meeting with humility and reverence for the original inhabitants, the Kalapuya."

(Additional information)

Contact Office of Cultures and Belonging

Lane Community College
Office of Cultures and Belonging
4000 East 30th Avenue
Eugene, OR 97405