This fall, Mohawk Valley Community College is hosting a series of international-themed events that are free and open to the community.
International Day of Peace
- A Walk in Their Words — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026; MVCC Utica Campus Quad. Mark International Day of Peace with MVCC’s International Initiatives Council and The Center as they celebrate the diverse cultures of the Mohawk Valley through audio storytelling and community. Listen to curated refugee stories and learn about the resiliency of the human spirit while visiting local vendors. International foods and refreshments also will be available. Please bring your own headphones/earbuds for audio storytelling. Rain location is the Jorgensen Center.
Mandala of Compassion
- Ceremonial Sand Mandala Creation — 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday, Oct. 26-29, 2026; Library, Payne Hall, MVCC Utica Campus. Over four days, the Venerable Tenzin Yignyen, ordained Tibetan Buddhist Monk and Professor of Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Hobart William Smith Colleges, will create a ceremonial sand mandala based on the theme of compassion. A mandala is a cosmic diagram representing a deity’s dwelling place. In Tibetan Buddhism, mandalas are created from colored sand and ritualistically dismantled to symbolize the impermanence of material life.
- Mandala Dismantling Ceremony — 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30, 2026; Library, Payne Hall, MVCC Utica Campus. Yignyen will dismantle the mandala in a ceremony during which he will pour the sand into a body of water just a short walk away from MVCC’s Utica Campus.
International Café & Conversation events
- Travel Tips that Stand the Test of Time — 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026; Wilcox Hall room 225, MVCC Utica Campus. Whether you’re traveling to the Ice Hotel in Sweden, the beaches of Ghana, or New York City, there are travel strategies that will make your experience smoother and more memorable. Utica native Laura Sinnott, who has visited more than 30 countries over 40 years, will share tried-and-true travel tips and real-world examples.
- Dominoes Across the Caribbean — 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026; Wilcox Hall room 225, MVCC Utica Campus. Explore dominoes as a cultural tradition across the Caribbean with Alexandra Almanzar, MVCC Center for Accelerated Pathways Coordinator. Learn how the game is played in different countries and islands, as each place has its own style and variations.
For more information on upcoming events, view the MVCC Event Calendar.