CPTC Me brings diverse perspectives into focus

By Jean Borst

Opening Day at Clover Park Technical College (CPTC) on September 26 marked the unveiling of the newest edition of CPTC Me in a gallery-style showcase. Since its launch in 2018, the installation has lifted up individual voices and highlighted the diversity, talents and experiences that define CPTC – one portrait at a time.

From grassroots project to campus tradition

“CPTC Me was a grassroots effort started by the college’s Diversity Committee,” said Sheli Sledge, Executive Assistant for the Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, who leads the project. “It was really just a way of introducing ourselves and sharing what DEI meant to each of us.”

Committee members took photos of each other and answered a specific prompt. With the help of CPTC’s graphics team, those snapshots and statements became poster-style displays that lined the halls of the administration building.

“It’s grown every year since then,” Sledge said, “but the heart of it has always been about showcasing what makes us unique.”

Amplifying personal stories

Over the years, CPTC Me has expanded across divisions and programs, with participants nominated by colleagues, suggested by peers or volunteering themselves. Each year about 10 employees are selected to take part.

Sledge, an amateur photographer, coordinates half-hour photo shoots for each CPTC Me model – one of her favorite parts of the project.

“It’s relaxed, it’s fun – people sometimes bring props. And I have the opportunity to ask a lot of questions and get to know them,” Sledge said. “For some, it’s the first time they’ve had their ‘diva moment,’ and it’s so powerful to see them light up in front of the camera.”

Once the portraits and personal statements are completed, CPTC’s digital content designer, Romel Villalobos, brings them together in a graffiti-style design that reflects each individual’s story.

Every fall, a new collection debuts on CPTC’s Opening Day. The framed pieces are then installed in the college’s administration building for a year, replacing the previous collection, before being given to the featured employees to display in their offices, departments or wherever they choose. Digital versions are also shared on the CPTC website, giving the broader community access to the full gallery of stories.

More than photos: a legacy of belonging

To date, CPTC Me has celebrated seven cohorts of employees, including staff, faculty and administrators from across the campus. For the first time this year, CPTC President Dr. Joyce Loveday is featured in the art installation.

“What makes this special is seeing people come out of their shells and own their place in the CPTC community,” Sledge said. “It’s about belonging and pride and sharing that with the entire campus. Every time I see the portraits up on the walls, it reminds me why we started this in the first place.”

You can see all of this year’s CPTC Me portraits here.