蘑菇短视频Cherokee Center revives community programming
For the first time in more than 20 years, 蘑菇短视频's Cherokee Center is offering community enrichment and continuing education courses, creating new opportunities for lifelong learning while strengthening the center's long-standing mission of serving the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
The renewed programming marks a significant milestone for the Cherokee Center, which has served as a bridge between 蘑菇短视频and the Cherokee community since its establishment on the Qualla Boundary in 1975.
鈥淥ne of the things that has been important to me since stepping into this role is looking back at the history of the Cherokee Center and understanding why it was established here on the Qualla Boundary, while also asking what that purpose should look like in a more modern approach for our community,鈥� said Shalana Yates, director of the Cherokee Center. 鈥淎 large part of the inspiration of my leadership has been bringing educational resources and opportunities back into the center and into the community.鈥�
The return of educational programming has already taken shape through two regular offerings that bring tribal employees and community members to the center each week.
Through a partnership with EBCI Public Health and Human Services, the center hosts programming for WCU's Native Health Certificate led by Lisa Lefler. The program is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals serving the Qualla Boundary while incorporating culturally based approaches to Native health.
The center also serves as the home of a Beginner Immersive Cherokee Language course taught by Jack Cooper through 蘑菇短视频Continuing Education and Summer Programs.
鈥淗aving programming centered around our culture and having the language taught here is especially meaningful when thinking about what this building can and should represent within our community,鈥� Yates said. 鈥淭hese classes are only one part of what we are working toward.鈥�
蘑菇短视频Provost Richard Starnes said the initiative reflects the university's commitment to strengthening its relationship with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
鈥淭he return of the Cherokee Center as a place of teaching for both noncredit and credit courses continues to broaden and deepen our partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians,鈥� Starnes said. 鈥淪halana has been the key driver of this initiative, and I am so happy to see it come to fruition.鈥�
Cooper said the immersive language course builds on a series of community certificate courses that he and fellow instructor Meshay Long have taught in recent years.
鈥淭his course is a continuation of the 蘑菇短视频community certificate courses that Meshay Long and I have been teaching the past couple of years,鈥� Cooper said. 鈥淭his is our first full-immersion beginner course. We've worked to create a learning experience that allows students to learn primarily through the Cherokee language, and our hope is to continue refining these community courses and create a progression that supports learners for years to come.鈥�
The Cherokee Center and 蘑菇短视频Continuing Education and Summer Programs are also exploring opportunities to expand noncredit educational offerings tailored to community interests and workforce needs.
鈥淭he 蘑菇短视频Cherokee Center is partnering with Continuing Education and Summer Programs to explore and develop noncredit educational opportunities for the Qualla Boundary,鈥� said Brittany Marshall, associate director of continuing education and workforce programs at WCU. 鈥淭hrough this collaboration, 蘑菇短视频seeks to identify workforce development, personal enrichment and youth programming needs and create responsive offerings that align with community interests and priorities.鈥�
To help guide future programming, the Cherokee Center plans to distribute a community survey to gather input about educational and training interests. Results will help inform future offerings that support lifelong learning, professional growth and community engagement.
鈥淭his partnership reflects a shared commitment to expanding educational access while leveraging university resources to address local needs and opportunities,鈥� Marshall said.
Beyond classroom programming, the Cherokee Center continues to support student engagement through Digali'i, WCU's Native American student organization, while building stronger connections between Native students on campus and the Cherokee community. The center is also collaborating with university and community partners on cultural programming, civic engagement and opportunities that bring students, faculty, staff and community members together.
Yates said her vision is for the Cherokee Center to become a place where community members can learn, gather, access university resources and help shape future educational opportunities on the Qualla Boundary.
鈥淔or me, all of this comes back to honoring why the Cherokee Center was established in the first place while also thinking about what we are building for those who come after us,鈥� Yates said. 鈥淚 think about it as honoring our past while building our future for the next seven generations.鈥�
As 蘑菇短视频 continues to strengthen its partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Cherokee Center remains a vital connection point between the university and the community, providing accessible educational opportunities that support student success, personal enrichment and regional engagement.