The second annual Diversity Dinner hosted by Dr. Francine Oputa, director of the Central Valley Cultural Heritage Institute, took place Tuesday night in the Vintage Room.

The purpose of the diversity dinner was to introduce Dogs United to Fresno State community members and to encourage them to participate in upcoming events.

Dogs United is a movement that encourages cross-cultural interaction among individuals at Fresno State. The movement was developed at the 2013 Annual Diversity Conference in which about 100 campus and community members shared ideas about ways to increase cross-cultural interactions.

“The goal of the movement is to encourage students, faculty, administrators and departments to get involved in cultural events outside their own,” said Dogs United coordinator Michelle Mai Moua.

“We hope that all Fresno State members will learn and gain knowledge about the different cultures we have at Fresno State,” she said.

“Being part of Dogs United has helped me appreciate the uniqueness of individuality and culture,” Moua said.

“It has also helped me realize the importance of preserving each and all cultures that surround me.”

Fresno State students, staff, faculty and administrators can participate in the ongoing movement.

Individuals must sign up for Dogs United, attend a multicultural, diversity or cultural event and report their experiences.

Individuals who attended the diversity dinner were encouraged to use their phones in order to access the sign-up and reporting forms by scanning the Dogs United QR codes located on the event’s fliers.

Based on their level of involvement, individuals will be acknowledged and awarded at the Fresno State campus’ Annual Diversity Conference held each spring semester during the Diversity Awareness Week.

Dogs United’s movement also encouraged students present at the diversity dinner to take a selfie at each cultural event they attend and tweet it using the following tags: #FSDOgsUnited and #FresnoStatecwc.