Striving for change

New multicultural director says he's a lucky guy to be at JCC now

By Tammy Wernet

Staff Writer

Lee M. Hampton, Jackson Community College's director of multicultural affairs since September, has a vision of JCC as leading the community in diversity.

"(I) believe President Dan Phelan, and the board, has JCC going in a wonderful direction. We are so fortunate to be a part (of it)," Hampton said.

"I believe that 20 years from now, or 30 years from now, people will look back at this administration . and say that they really made a difference. They really improved Jackson Community College."

Kathy Spring, who is the alumni relations' director of annual giving, often works side by side with Hampton.

"Lee is doing an incredible job because he is so dynamic," Spring said. "I can't think of a better person to do his job. He brings a level of excitement with him... Even bad days are good when he's around. He has a way of lifting people up and encouraging them."

Hampton takes pride in encouraging students and making sure their needs are met.

"I'm making a difference, and I can see it. A lot of stuff (I do) I have no agenda for, no formula. I see a need and go attack it," he said. He even helped one student find a job.

"I think the on-campus component, to make sure that our students, especially students from diverse backgrounds, have a place, a haven, in which they can come and get needs met is very important," he said.

Greg Isaac, an enrollment services specialist in the student services office, said, "(Hampton's) a soldier... He has a hands-on approach."

Besides his on-campus responsibilities, Hampton works in the community. His day frequently includes meetings with the International Student Organization (ISO), the Student Multicultural Organization (SMO), visits to local schools to promote the value of education and the College Incentive Program (CIP), and meetings with community officials.

"I think it's absolutely paramount that our students, while they attain their education here, become familiar with, and comfortable with, diversity," he said. "I think it's very important that the students get engaged, get involved and even befriend people that may look a little different than they do. It'll equip them to be more effective once they graduate and enter into the working world."

Hampton's projects include meeting with students at Middle School at Parkside in Jackson to "light a fire up under them to get them to see the importance of higher education"; a program called "Raise the Bar" which partners JCC with Spring Arbor University aimed at raising academic expectations; Black History Month, and Juneteenth.

The Juneteenth Music Festival 2005, a benefit for JCC's College Incentive Program that Hampton oversees, is scheduled for 2 to 10 p.m. June 18 at the Riverwalk Amphitheatre in Jackson.

"Juneteenth is a time of celebration . of coming together for positive purposes," Hampton said. "One of the challenges that we're still facing in America is that not all programs . are inclusive. We're hoping that we can provide a major event downtown Jackson that is quite inclusive, representing a wide variety of people from different backgrounds... A time in which everyone is represented, everyone feels comfortable being there, and everyone can leave saying 'Wow, what a good time.'"

Hampton recently helped organize the 14th annual Martin Luther King Dinner, which hosted more than 650 community members.

"Over 100 JCC staff, faculty and students were present, the majority of which were European American," Hampton said. "When you see things like that transpiring, you can sense that the health of the community is really on the rise."

Hampton, 31, was born and raised in Jackson, the youngest of 11 children. Ten of the siblings, as well as his mother, attended JCC, he said.

He chose to return to Jackson after earning a bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University, because, "I always wanted to stick around and give back to the community. (Working at JCC) gives me an awesome platform to help our community. I'm a community guy.

"I feel I have the best position at Jackson Community College because I'm... able to work with so many different organizations," Hampton said.

He and his wife, Melinda, have two children, Orlando, 5, and Ileana, 4, and are expecting their third child.