OMA Legacy Kickback (Friday @Noon)

by Stephen Furlow, Assoc Dir for Community Engagement & Partnership 

     As a point of reflection, we here at OMA will often reminisce fondly about our previous graduates and those students who have found enjoyment in our space over the years. We think about those who held positions of leadership and others who would support their efforts regularly, while mutually sharing in the process of developing one another for the next phase of life. These students are a part of a tremendous legacy. 
     For Legacy week we think back to the first Multicultural Leadership Roundtable (MLR) - the precursor to Kickbacks; with archived photos from '14 highlighting the excitement felt by students who were gathering to enjoy fellowship, while building stronger comradery. 
     UDC, just getting started themselves, ran with OMA's idea and created the Diversity Leadership Roundtable (DLR), as both a formal and informal way to organize and create a cohesive community for leaders from across more than 50 culturally diverse student organizations. 
     This concept would once again evolve and land back at the feet of OMA, who introduced the art of the 'Kickback’ in '18 as a way to keep the idea of positive stress free gatherings to share, food, culture and conversation as an essential part of our campus identity. 

• “KICKBACK - a small gathering between groups of friends, more than a get together, less than a party.”; the music doesn’t drown out conversation, and dancing is not expected. In short, it’s a lot like the meeting portion prior to attending an event, but  instead of being a precursor, it’s the entire outing. (Urban Dictionary)

     OMA has claimed the ‘Kickback’ as a way of connecting students to culture, opening the space even wider to attract those who may otherwise not know of our existence, and as a means of informal celebration for each small victory that we witness our students and our CWRU/OMA team accomplish that may not need campus wide recognition, but rather a simple lunch with good company.
     As we enjoy the various Legacy Week events on campus, we would like to highlight our legacy of growing OMA via our programming, persistence and our undeniable ability to throw a quality Kickback! Those comfy couches, and delicious snacks are a small but inviting component of our Legacy here at CWRU and we want to share it with you again this Friday, today at noon!