Archive - Past Unity in Diversity Events
March 20-21, 2024: Unity in Diversity Event
Schedule for Day One – Wednesday, March 20, 2024
8-9:15 a.m. – Queering Civility: Acting up in LGBTQ+ Activism
Speaker: Catherine Chandler
Location: Arcidi A
Participants will learn about the connections between the Civil Rights Movement and the LGBTQ+ Rights Movement and how the latter diverged in its methods from before Stonewall through the AIDS crisis through a discussion in large and small groups of the impact and usefulness of disruptive activism, sharing their thoughts to generate ideas regarding effective protest.
9:30-10:45 a.m. – Wait! Your Bias is Showing
Speaker: Kadie LaFlamme
Location: Arcidi A
In this workshop, participants will embark on a transformative journey and uncover the intricacies of implicit and explicit bias. Participants will analyze the impact of bias and racism, and engage in insightful discussions on how biases can impede understanding. By the workshop’s end, participants will emerge armed with the tools to navigate and dismantle biases, making this an invaluable learning experience. Join Kadie for an enriching exploration that promises not only knowledge, but also a profound shift in perspective.
10-11:30 a.m. – SONIC Connections
Speaker: Andrew Kirschner and Beth Killian
Location: Crowe Executive Room
“Sonic Connections” is a year-long arts-based mental health program that equips students with life skills to thrive in the face of psychological challenges. Through music, we create space for people to navigate all of the thoughts and feelings that arise as they pursue the things that matter within a 90-minute session.
College often brings students a great deal of stress, anxiety, and self-doubt. Rather than trying to eliminate symptoms and issues, we use immersive, evidence-based activities to help students learn to integrate them, get unstuck, and progress towards a college life that is meaningful to them. The program is led by a team of expert facilitators and supports students through two key touchpoints.
Outcomes of “Sonic Connections” include an empowered student body with self-care skills, streamlined counseling and wellness resources, and a healthier, more-connected campus community.
10 a.m.-Noon – Tour of 60 Island Street in Lawrence, MA
Location: Off Campus – Meet at the Shuttle Stop Outside the Steven’s Service Learning Center
Are you a faculty/staff member interested in learning more about our local partnerships? Are you eager to visualize how our students might impact the local community through service-learning or internships? Sign up for the community tour – an exclusive opportunity to receive a guided tour of 60 Island Street in Lawrence, MA. This location is the site of a beautiful, historical mill building that now houses various businesses and nonprofit organizations partnered with Merrimack College – including Merrimack’s Hands to Help organization.
Participants on the tour will gain access to the Hands to Help facility, including a tour of the brand-new kitchen where many students cook meals for the local community! They will also be able to visit with some of our other community partners in the building. Participants will also hear from community members about how this facility has impacted and made a difference in their lives.
12:30-1:30 p.m. – Unity in Diversity Keynote Speaker – On and Off the Field: Conversations about Racism and Social Justice with Matthew Slater
Speaker: Matthew Slater
Location: Rogers Center for the Arts
Matthew Slater was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft, and recently announced his retirement after spending his entire career with the New England Patriots. While Slater is widely considered one of the greatest NFL special teams players over the last decade, he is also consistently recognized for the work he does off the field.
2-3:15 p.m. – Raising Children’s Critical Social Consciousness through Literature
Speaker: Laura Hsu and Divya Anand
Location: Arcidi A
Some teaching is well-intentioned, but, for some teachers, inclusive and equitable teaching methods are not seen as a necessity, but rather a benevolent consideration. This belief is centered around the different ways in which culture is centered, under different names, as the foundation for inclusive classrooms. This centering of culturally aware pedagogies, however well-intentioned, misses opportunities for understanding deep-rooted inequities and move towards transformation and justice. For example, anti-bias pedagogy typically avoids children’s books that are replete with stereotypes because the lack of exposure is believed to prevent its permeability. However, the inevitability of children being exposed to stereotypes will leave them vulnerable if they are not intentionally given the tools to manage such encounters. Books with varying degrees of exposure to stereotypes and various isms could be used for critical analysis and serve as a kind of inoculation for building critical thinking and social consciousness. Participants will engage in an analytical reading of a children’s book using guided reflective questions to consider how to increase children’s critical social consciousness.
3:30-4:45 p.m. – Community-Engaged Learning Interactive Workshop Series
Speaker: Kirstie Dobbs
Location: Crowe Executive Room
Engage students in a series of reflective exercises/activities that expose them to important themes central to effective community engagement. Themes include understanding your leadership style, positionality, and communicating across differences.
Schedule for Day Two – Thursday, March 21, 2024
8-9:15 a.m. – Rejecting “Normal”: The Big Barrier to Being Truly Inclusive
Speaker: Bryan Mascio
Introduction: Kathryn Welby
Location: Arcidi A
Many times, concerns about inclusion are focused on how to help a person or group feel included in an already existing setting – whether that is our schools, workplace, or social gatherings – and proposed solutions are focused on accommodations or ‘fixes’ for that excluded person or group. This workshop will take a different approach, re-examining what is commonly taken for granted as ‘normal’ in order to reveal hidden barriers to being truly inclusive. Participants will see how and why the very concept of normal should be re-evaluated and rejected, leaving with a new lens and some ideas of how to be more inclusive in classrooms and society.
10-11:50 a.m. – Conversations with Warriors for Students: Expanding Perspectives One Story at a Time
Speaker: Andrea Wamboldt
Location: Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher
“Conversations with Warriors: Expanding Perspectives One Story at a Time” is an experience where courageous members of our community share their life story about overcoming prejudice, stereotypes, or other major life challenges generally misunderstood or misrepresented by the general public.
Each table has a different conversation taking place and participants will be able to visit 3 – 4 tables during the session. These conversations are interactive, so come prepared to ask and answer questions. Learn more about this session at: Conversations with Warriors: Expanding Perspectives One Story at a Time.
Noon-2 p.m. – Conversations with Warriors for Faculty and Staff: Expanding Perspectives One Story at a Time
Moderator: MT Dávila, Associate Professor and Chair, Religious and Theological Studies
Speakers: Anne Gatling, Winston School of Education and Social Policy, Jaleh Dashti Gibson, Winston School of Education and Social Policy, Linda Tankersley, School of Arts and Sciences, Lauren Rocha, School of Arts and Sciences, Tahir Hameed, Girard School of Business, Inès Ouedraogo, School of Arts and Sciences, Justin Bowen, School of Arts and Sciences, Rachel Aghara, Winston School of Education and Social Policy, Jennifer Evans, Winston School of Education and Social Policy
Location: Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher
Lunch will be provided for faculty and staff
With the goal of “building community one story at a time”, Conversations with Warriors: Faculty and Staff Edition provides a space for faculty and staff to listen to each other’s stories, reflect together about the themes of meaning, belonging, diversity, challenges and perseverance, hope, and identity, among others. We believe that listening to each other in trust and solidarity brings us closer together as colleagues and friends.
Noon-1:50 p.m. – What’s the problem? The Meaning and Impacts of Food Injustice
Speaker: Cynthia Carlson, Eleanor Shonkoff, Christopher Stuetzle, Elaine Ward
Location: Arcidi A
In Massachusetts, the Greater Boston Food Bank estimates that 42% of households with children experienced food insecurity in 2020 – 2021. Food insecurity can have serious short and long-term consequences for children’s health, and Hispanic and Black non-Hispanic children are at higher risk for food insecurity. In this presentation, the Food Justice Research and Action Cluster (FJRAC) will facilitate a high level discussion and presentation about the Food Cycle, including how food makes it from farm to table, both locally and nationally. They will discuss the challenges and bottlenecks of the system, and how it intertwines with social, political, and economic systems to generate food insecurity and injustice in many parts of the country. The talk will include a workshop and discussion.
2-3:15 p.m. – Talking STEM: Gendered Experiences in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
Speaker: Debra Michals, Brandi Baldock
Introduction: Melissa Spencer
Location: Arcidi A
STEM majors and careers are among the fastest growing in the US – two times faster than all other professions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics – and while the number of women in STEM majors and professions continues to grow, their experiences can be discouraging. Women make up roughly one third of STEM professionals, but men continue to outnumber them in most fields. At the college level, while similar percentages of individuals from all gender and racial/ethnic groups initially select to be collegiate STEM majors, students with identities marginalized in STEM (women, racial/ethnic minorities) are significantly more likely to switch majors after facing disappointing experiences in science cognate courses,3 even after achieving comparable grades.4 This is one reason that women and people of color remain underrepresented in STEM fields. Indeed, they face a wide range of challenges in pursuing these degrees and professions, from being discouraged from majoring in STEM, to experiencing discrimination, exclusion, condescension, sabotage, to anxiety and confidence gaps, to feeling generally unwelcome in classrooms and departments.
This panel/workshop/roundtable invites faculty and students to engage in a conversation about what it means to be a STEM student (and later professional) for those who are in the underrepresented categories: women, people of color, LGBTQ+. We will address both challenges but also strategies for navigating such issues as: gender bias in the classroom, microaggressions, imposter syndrome, stereotype threat, as well as the pay gap, motherhood penalty, and performance criteria gap once in the professions. We will look at data, discuss student experiences on campus and beyond, and we will envision together solutions including mutual mentorships, creating support networks, and ways faculty could help address and improve the student experience. Ultimately, our goal is to come together to consider what would make students’ classroom and career experiences better.
4-5:15 p.m. – Voting Café
Moderator: Kadie LaFlamme
Speakers: Samantha Lassey, Charles Gendreau, A’mari BingWay, Cody Schram, Joely Ortiz, Jaydahruis Levy
Location: Cascia Hall
In this workshop, participants will take part in semi-led discussions that will explore the electoral process, voting, and civic participation. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in respectful dialogue, share experiences, and exchange knowledge with others in the Merrimack community. The informal, inclusive, cafe-style setting of this event encourages meaningful conversations and fosters connections regardless of political views. While engaging with one another, participants can explore ways to take action and enhance civic participation both locally and beyond. Be on the lookout for Democracy Dialogues: The Main Dish, coming Fall 2024.
4-5:15 p.m. – Fostering Inclusion and Accessibility: A Panel of Merrimack Students and Recent Alumni with Disabilities
Speakers: Haley Dufton, Mackenzie Reynolds, Isabel Fernandes, Nathan Persampieri, Alex Krupski
Introduction: Lori Corcoran and Sarah Simmons
Location: Arcidi A
This panel of Merrimack students and recent alumni with various disabilities will discuss their experiences both in the classroom and in the workplace. Panelists will discuss: their own identities and intersectionality; self-advocacy and accommodations; disability disclosure in college versus the workplace; and their personal experience is transitioning from higher ed to internships and careers.
Oct.. 11-13, 2023: Unity in Diversity Event
Schedule for Day One – Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023
8-9:15 a.m. – Wait! Your Bias is Showing
Speaker: Kadie LaFlamme
Location: Arcidi A
Students explore implicit bias and self-reflect about situations in which they have experienced or encountered everyday type of bias. Objectives: Understand what implicit and explicit bias are and provide examples. Reflect on situations in which they have experienced everyday bias, either as a target or a witness. Differentiate between implicit and explicit bias. Essential Questions: What is bias? What is implicit bias? In what ways could bias have an impact on your civic participation?
9:30-10:45 a.m. – The Ethical Algorithm
Speaker: Chris Stuetzle
Location: Arcidi A
Can ethics ever be “encoded” into algorithms? Over the course of the last three decades, algorithms have become the mediators of our very lives. While they have made lives more efficient, more entertaining, and in many cases better informed, they have also helped create a fundamentally uneven playing field, widening the already-present gap between “haves” and “have nots”, and significantly altering the composition of each of those groups. Understanding and improving the use of these algorithms and the data that trains them can help reverse the course of the damage caused by our reliance on them. In this talk, we will discuss the true scope of algorithmic power, demonstrate the bias and misuse of algorithmic implementation taking place all around us, and discuss a scientific and principled solution that helps bolster the currently inadequate ways of dealing with these issues (such as through legislation, watchdog groups, etc.).
9:30-10:45 a.m. – Women in Math Across the Centuries
Speaker: Paula Bordogna
Location: Sullivan 301 – Open to only students in this class
Familiarize students with the continuous contributions made by women in the field of mathematics.
11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – The Biases Behind Psychological Research & What We can do to Fix Them
Speaker: Allison Seitchik
Location: Crowe Hall Executive Room
In this workshop, Dr. Seitchik will review classic psychological research studies and their biases. Attendees will discuss their limitations and work in groups to recreate them in an inclusive way. This workshop is geared toward psychology majors/minors but all students can attend. It’s my hope that attendees will learn critical thinking skills as well as research methods in regards to diversity and inclusion.
11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Raising Children’s Critical Social Consciousness through Literature
Speaker: Laura Hsu and Divya Anand
Location: Sullivan B7 – Open to only students in the class
Some teaching is well-intentioned, but, for some teachers, inclusive and equitable teaching methods are not seen as a necessity, but rather a benevolent consideration. This belief is centered around the different ways in which culture is centered, under different names, as the foundation for inclusive classrooms. This centering of culturally aware pedagogies, however well-intentioned, misses opportunities for understanding deep-rooted inequities and move towards transformation and justice. For example, anti-bias pedagogy typically avoids children’s books that are replete with stereotypes because the lack of exposure is believed to prevent its permeability. However, the inevitability of children being exposed to stereotypes will leave them vulnerable if they are not intentionally given the tools to manage such encounters. Books with varying degrees of exposure to stereotypes and various -isms could be used for critical analysis and serve as a kind of inoculation for building critical thinking and social consciousness. Participants will engage in an analytical reading of a children’s book using guided reflective questions to consider how to increase children’s critical social consciousness.
11 a.m.-12:45 p.m. – Women in Math Across the Centuries
Speaker: Paula Bordogna
Location: Sullivan 301 – Open to only students in this class
Familiarize students with the continuous contributions made by women in the field of mathematics.
12:30-1:45 p.m. – Raising Children’s Critical Social Consciousness through Literature
Speaker: Laura Hsu and Divya Anand
Location: Sullivan B7 – Open to only students in the class
Some teaching is well-intentioned, but, for some teachers, inclusive and equitable teaching methods are not seen as a necessity, but rather a benevolent consideration. This belief is centered around the different ways in which culture is centered, under different names, as the foundation for inclusive classrooms. This centering of culturally aware pedagogies, however well-intentioned, misses opportunities for understanding deep-rooted inequities and move towards transformation and justice. For example, anti-bias pedagogy typically avoids children’s books that are replete with stereotypes because the lack of exposure is believed to prevent its permeability. However, the inevitability of children being exposed to stereotypes will leave them vulnerable if they are not intentionally given the tools to manage such encounters. Books with varying degrees of exposure to stereotypes and various -isms could be used for critical analysis and serve as a kind of inoculation for building critical thinking and social consciousness. Participants will engage in an analytical reading of a children’s book using guided reflective questions to consider how to increase children’s critical social consciousness.
12:30-1:45 p.m. – Culturally Responsive Teaching: Misconceptions, Reflection, & Action
Speaker: Stephanie Garrone-Shufran
Location: Arcidi A
Participants will become familiar with three levels of culture: surface, shallow, and deep. They will engage in discussions of elements of culturally responsive teaching as it looks in practice and determine action steps towards bringing some aspect(s) of culturally responsive teaching into their practice.
2-3:15 p.m. – Befriending your Fear of Failure or Fear of Success
Moderator: Sarah Dionne
Speaker: Dulce Orozco
Location: Crowe Hall Executive Room
We will intentionally look at our fears, including our fear of success (yes that is a thing) so we can learn to lovingly connect with them, instead of continuing to push them away.
3:30-4:45 p.m. – What do we do about Florida? Moving from Ally to Accomplice to Advance LGBTQ Rights
Speakers: Susan Marine and Catherine Chandler
Location: Arcidi A
As the national legislative climate worsens for LGBTQ+ people, especially in the south, it is hard to know what we can do to effect change. In this workshop, we’ll discuss the harmful legislation and public policy actions currently curtailing LGBTQ+ existence and expression, and discuss ways that we can act locally, regionally and nationally as effective voices for change. This workshop is open to all, including members of the community and our allies!
5-6:15 p.m. – National Coming Out Day
Location: Cascia
In collaboration with our Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) student community and the LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group (ERG), Unity in Diversity Days is proud to host a National Coming Out Day (NCOD) reception for the Merrimack and wider community. Come and enjoy celebratory desserts and beverages.
National Coming Out Day (NCOD) was first held in the United States on October 11, 1988 and has been held on that day ever since. The idea came out of the feminist and gay liberation movements. They felt that coming out of the closet to friends, family and colleagues was a basic form of political activism – not to mention those who identified as being LGBT in the late 1980s – would be able to live a more open and authentic life. The founders believed homophobia would persist in an atmosphere of silence and ignorance. They also believed people with homophobic or oppressive views would reconsider such perspectives if they knew they had lesbian or gay family members, co-workers and close friends.
On the 35th year NCOD anniversary, we invite our Merrimack community to celebrate the progress achieved in advancing human rights, social justice and increased freedoms for LGBTQ+ communities. We acknowledge and appreciate the tremendous support from allies, friends and family as well as staff and faculty who helped to create Safe Zones on campus and in our home communities.
Schedule for Day Two – Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023
8:30-9:45 a.m. – Hey, Community Engagement – What’s Your Sitch!? Pitch Competition
Speaker: Peter Rojas, Kirstie Dobbs, and Civic and Community Engagment Advisory Council
Location: Stevens Auditorium
Join the Civic and Community Engagement Advisory Council for an interactive pitch competition! Students involved with community-based projects/programs will perform a 3-minute pitch to recruit students in the audience to join their project.
The audience will judge the pitches for the following awards: Most Creative, Most Humorous, Most Unique, Most Environmental, and Most Heartwarming. What better way to find out about the wonderful work students are doing in the community with the opportunity for you to join them on their mission.
A core commitment of the Warrior identity is to serve others and give back to the community. To support our Warriors, Merrimack College has over 30+ programs engaging community partners at the local, national, and global levels. These programs include youth development and education, food justice and insecurity, environmental sustainability, community building, and the health sciences. This pitch competition hosts students who have participated in these programs to raise awareness about opportunities on campus for students to join them in making a difference in the world.
The pitch competition is moderated by Assistant Professor of Practice Dr. Kirstie Lynn Dobbs, a global expert on youth empowerment and civic and community engagement.
10-11:15 a.m. – Early Developing Communication Skills: Human Universals and Cultural-linguistic Specificity
Speaker: Rachel Aghara
Location: Arcidi A
Participants will learn about language universals and cultural-linguistic specificity in communication development. They will be introduced to research-based evidence indicating that human attentional and learning strategies are used by both monolingual and multilingual learners and best-practice strategies to monitor the growth of early communication skills in all language learners.
10-11:15 a.m. – Conversations With Warriors: Expanding Perspectives One Story at a Time
Speaker: Andrea Wamboldt
Location: Crowe Executive Room
Conversations with Warriors is a week-long event designed to connect first year students through real conversations about important issues. Hosted by the First Year Experience (FYE) program, the McQuade Library, and The Unity House, the purpose of this event is to create spaces for open dialogue without judgment while challenging perceptions and stereotypes. In a welcoming environment, students will engage in conversations with “storytellers” to learn about their personal experiences that range across a variety of topics. “Storytellers” are brave individuals who are willing to share their life-stories about prejudice, stereotypes, and other major life challenges with students, in the hope of expanding perspectives and working to end intolerance.
Noon-1:15 p.m. – Fostering Resilience and Healing Through Inclusive Practices to Support Anti-Bias Work in Schools
Moderator: Max Beland, Student Government Association President
Speaker: Aliali Silverio Belkus, Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Central Catholic High School & Central Catholic High School students
Location: Arcidi A
Conversations around anti-bias work in schools can be challenging emotionally. Yet, they remain an essential part of creating more welcoming and inclusive environments. For many marginalized people, these conversations happen naturally and frequently due to social experiences. For others whose experiences and identities are not challenged by social norms, these conversations can feel uncomfortable and targeted. The challenge then becomes facilitating anti-bias work while supporting personal growth and community building for all participants. This workshop’s goal is to share the healing power of empathy and dialogue that is possible when dialogue is accompanied by cultural humility and acknowledgment of privilege. Student presenters will share how being conscious of inclusive practices in this work can result in resilient school communities that foster healing and allyship.
2-3:15 p.m. – Global Education and Diversity: Opportunities & Challenges
Speaker: Simona Sharoni, Cyndy Carlson, Tahir Hameed, Dan Herda, and Zi Yan
Location: Crowe Executive Room
The speakers will discuss the synergy between global education initiatives (study abroad and more) and DEI goals and ways to address some of the challenges in making global engagement more accessible and affordable for students from historically underrepresented groups.
3:30-5 p.m. – Food Justice Summit
Presented by the Food Justice Research and Action Cluster – Eleanor Shonkoff, Cynthia Carlson, Christopher Stuetzle, Elaine Ward and Thavery Hay
Location: Crowe Hall Executive Room
The Merrimack College Food Justice Summit connects college students, community food security champions, academics, and policy makers in an effort to understand the root causes of food insecurity and envision ways our work together realizes systemic change that eliminates hunger and increases access to healthy, nutritious food for all.
4-5:15 p.m. – A Discussion on Decolonizing Wellness: Building Body Trust in a Eurocentric Environment
Speaker: Elizabeth Natale, Sarah Dionne, Mary Cannon
Location: Arcidi A
The Discussion will focus on exclusivity, individualism, consumerism, and white supremacy and its intersection with wellness culture. There will also be an exploration of the historical and colonial factors that have shaped Western views of wellness. The emphasis will be on the diversity of cultural practices and perspectives on wellness and the audience will be encouraged to think critically by identifying and questioning Eurocentric norms and biases in healthcare and wellness.
Schedule for Day Three – Friday, Oct. 13, 2023
3-6:30 p.m. – Unity in Diversity Days Celebration Gathering
Location: Cascia Lawn
On Friday, Oct. 13 join the Merrimack Community for a Unity in Diversity Days Celebration Gathering with food trucks from Pablo’s and Wildfire and featuring ethnic cuisines from Latin, European and Asian traditions. This event is in collaborative with the Office of Intercultural Initiatives, the Office of Counseling and Wellness Education and Merrimack Dining. The event will also include novelties, music and games.
Feb. 8 & 9, 2023: Unity in Diversity Event
Schedule for Day One – Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023
8-9:15 a.m. – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Merrimack College
Speakers: TBA
Join 2/8 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Merrimack College Zoom Session
9:30-10:45 a.m. – Indigenous Queer Theories & Poetics
Speaker: Jake Skeets
11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Black Feminism, Mothering and Resistance in and to the Academy
Speaker: Dr. Raina J. Leon
Join 2/8 Black Feminism, Mothering and Resistance Zoom Session
12:30-1:45 p.m. – Asian American Identity and Social Justice
Speaker: Shin Yu Pai
Join 2/8 Asian American identity and Social Justice Zoom Session
2-3:15 p.m. – Masculinity, Queerness & Forgiveness
Speaker: Julian Randall
4–5:15 p.m. Grasping at the Root: Cultivating Anti-Racist Strategies for Community Care at Merrimack College
Speaker: Dr. Kijua Sanders-McMurtry
Location: McQuade Auditorium
The presentation will focus on liberatory practices engaging gender diversity, transforming campus policies and practices and engaging with concepts of radical forms of community care within higher education.
5:30-6:30 p.m. – Celebrating Community Reception
Location: Cascia Hall
Schedule for Day Two – Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023
8-9:15 a.m. – Civic and Community Engagement at Merrimack College
Speaker: TBA
Join 2/9 Civic and Community Engagement at Merrimack College Zoom Session
10:00-11:15 a.m. – Disability Visibility and Activism
Speaker: Paula Carozzo
Noon-1:15 p.m. – Community, Care, and Responsibility: Intersectional Strategies for Unlearning and Healing from Anti-Blackness
Speaker: Dr. Melvin Whitehead
In this session, Dr. Whitehead’s will emphasize the significance of centering Black communities and Black perspectives in anti-racist work. Dr. Whitehead will also introduce a multi-dimensional intersectional framework for disrupting and healing from anti-blackness, which attendees can use to inform their anti-racist praxis within their own communities. Some of the questions to be explored include:
- What is anti-blackness and what are its historical roots?
- What is the relationship between whiteness and anti-blackness? Why does this relationship matter?
- What does it mean to center Black communities in how we think about the purpose and usefulness of anti-racist work?
- How can we use an anti-racist framework to resist other forms of oppression and discrimination targeting LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities for example?
2-3:15 p.m. – Working for and Writing about Gender, Racial, Economic and Migrant Justice
Speaker: Cynthia Dewi Oka
Join 2/9 Working for and Writing about Gender, Racial, Economic and Migrant Justice Zoom Session
4-5:15 p.m. – Anti-Racist Community Engaged Pedagogy & Practice
Speakers: Dr. Roopika Risam and Joseph Krupczynski
Oct. 3 & 4, 2022: Unity in Diversity Event
Schedule for Day One – Monday, Oct. 3, 2022
8-9:15 a.m. – Decolonizing Indigenous People’s Contributions
Speaker: Claudia Fix Tree
This presentation will help you understand how indigenous inventions and contributions are part of completing the story of what is now known as the United States by connecting the dots from the past to the present, and into the future. Utilizing critical and creative methods attendees will examine Indigenous inventions and contributions, and consider the relevance of this information to their own identities and lives.
Join 10/3 Decolonizing Indigenous People’s Contributions Zoom Session
9:30-10:45 a.m. – The Promise of Interfaith Dialogue
Speaker: Mohammed Abu-Nimer
Religion is often viewed as a source of conflict rather than as a foundation for peacebuilding. Drawing on decades of facilitating training on religion and peacebuilding and interfaith dialogue, in conflict zones around the world, the presentation will highlight the basics of interfaith dialogue and the urgent need for individuals and communities to pursue this avenue.
11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Confronting Ableism in Media, Popular Culture and Beyond: One Person’s Story
Speaker: Tee Franklin
As a lifelong lover of horror and comic culture, writer Tee Franklin has observed the harm that misguided tropes and slurs can inflict on marginalized communities. For decades, the lack of diversity in entertainment spaces led to damaging stereotypes. This can only be undone through conscious action at every level. No matter the business or industry, the narrative can only change when we are mindful of who is (and isn’t) included in the process. Although her experience is in popular culture and media, her message contains a simple, universal truth: if you don’t have true diversity in all elements of your organization, you are failing ALL of your customers and fans. A better world is possible when we understand the experiences of everyone in the current one.
12:30-1:45 p.m. – Joyful Radical Internationalist Solidarity: A Guide In Poems
Speaker: Shailja Patel
“Radical simply means ‘grasping things at the root.’” – Angela Davis. Solidarity is how we dismantle the violent systems that create suffering and build, in their place, the life~affirming world we know is possible. Shailja Patel, whose performances have received standing ovations on four continents, will take us on a poetic journey to develop internationalist perspectives on our converging planetary crises, from pandemics to climate change.
2-3:15 p.m. – Nurturing Spaces of Belonging: The Love, Inclusion and Trust (LIT) Model
Speaker: Jamele Adams
LIT Is an acronym standing for love, inclusion and trust. These are essential ingredients for the manifestation of spaces grounded in belonging. Love, Inclusion and Trust are timeless values and cornerstones of student development, collegiality, community building and communication. Serving as the foundation for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, LIT provides absorbed levels of accountability and expectations designed to ensure that spaces feel welcoming, authentic, and safe to all members of the community. LIT is a sustainable communal commitment, not a box to check.
Register for 10/3 Nurturing Space of Belonging In-Person Session, Writer’s House
3:30-4:45 p.m. – Remembering Our Resilience
Speaker: Elizabeth Delgado
In this workshop, we explore the definition and embodiment of resiliency through ancestry & practice. As we continue to face uncertainty on various levels of collective care, we will network and engage together in practices and strategies to keep us resilient. Self-care, ancestral resilience and community are the keys to reducing your stress, so you stay at your best. Participants will examine personal definitions of resilience, identifying examples of embodied resilience through family and ancestry and learn accessible, effective practices for building resilience.
Register for 10/3 Remembering Our Resilience In-Person Session, Writer’s House
5-6 p.m. – Celebrating Community Reception
Register for 10/3 In-Person Community Reception, Writer’s House
Schedule for Day Two – Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022
8-9:15 a.m. – Queer and Trans History and Liberation
Speaker: Chrysanthemum Tran
The state demands our “legal sex”, suggesting the inverse must exist: unlawful sex. Gender and sex have been long codified into the textual fabrics that shape our reality. Whether a dictionary recognizes new vocabularies or new laws spell out new definitions, gendered language persists across decades and locales. However, the mundanities of gender and sex are not without lethal consequences. This presentation confronts historical, legal and other found texts, and interventions that poetry can provide. Studied work includes from BIPOC and LGBTQ+ poets who reference historical and archival texts.
Join 10/4 Queer and Trans History and Liberation Zoom Session
10-11:15 a.m. – Affirming Neurodiversity in the Classroom and Beyond
Speaker: Jeannette Roberes
The benefits of neurodiversity have gained traction in business, but college and career support for students with disabilities falls short. Some of the world’s biggest companies, including Google, Microsoft and IBM have launched hiring initiatives focused on recruiting more workers with autism, ADHD, and other categories of neurodiversity. However, experts say schools still do little to teach students how to leverage their strengths. In this presentation, we will learn how issues that challenge students in the classroom can become benefits in the boardroom.
Noon-1:15 p.m. – Anti-Fascism: Supporting Targets of Racial, Cultural, Religious Discrimination & Violence
Speaker: Michael Vavrus
Misconceptions widely exist over anti-fascist actions in the U.S. and Europe the past 100 years. A purpose of this presentation is to help clarify misconceptions about anti-fascism in the context of Merrimack’s “unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.” The presentation provides an overview of key contemporary characteristics of anti-fascism. Topics include anti-fascist approaches to counteract far-right extremism’s delegitimization of multiculturalism and diversity. A discussion with audience participants follows the presentation.
2-5 p.m. – Food Justice Summit (in person, Arcidi A)
Convenor: Elaine Ward
Co-Chairs: Eleanor Shonkoff & Vivian Villaman
Speakers: Becca Berkey, Miguel Cruz, Bill La Pierre, Lesley Melendez, Elecia Miller, Kerri Perry, Andrew Shapiro, Ellen Townson, Eunice Zeigler
Food is a basic human right. Food Justice demands universal access to nutritious, affordable, and culturally-appropriate food for all, and advocacy for the well-being and safety of those involved in the food production process. Practicing food justice leads to a strong local food system, self-reliant communities, and a healthy environment. The Merrimack College Food Justice Summit connects college students, community food security champions, academics, and policymakers in an effort to understand root causes of food insecurity and envision ways our work together realizes systemic change that eliminates hunger and increases access to healthy, nutritious food for all.
4-6 p.m. – Language or Disability: Supporting Multilingual Learners with Disabilities
Speakers: Jamele Adams & Dana Gastich French
5-6 p.m. – Reception (in person, Arcidi A)
April 5 & 6, 2022: Unity in Diversity Event
Schedule for Day One – Tuesday, April 5, 2022
8-9:15 a.m. – How to Navigate and Grow as a Leader on Campus and in the Workplace: Self-Care Strategies and Other Tips
Speaker: Tiana Lawrence ’20 M’21
Moderator: Kathryn Nielsen
This session will provide attendees with the knowledge and skills required to navigate the opportunities and challenges available to emerging leaders. Drawing on her own experiences as a student of color leader in a predominantly white space and as the Program Associate with the Mel King Institute, a capacity and community building program that serves professional practitioners, and volunteer leaders in the community development field, Tiana will offer reflections, strategies, and tips. She will also share her successes and challenges navigating and growing in a student leadership position and in her professional role working on statewide racial equity and leadership development efforts. This is an opportunity to learn more about the importance of networking, building a solid team, verbal and nonverbal communication, and the necessity of utilizing self-care strategies in an academic and professional setting.
Join 4/5 Self-Care Strategies Zoom Session
10-11:15 a.m. – Art as Sanctuary in Times of War: Reflections of a Young Palestinian Artist
Speaker: Malak Mattar
Moderator: Nancy Wynn
Twenty-two-year-old Palestinian artist will share snippets from her personal journey as a young Palestinian woman, an artist and a cultural ambassador. Growing up in the Gaza Strip and living through several intensive Israeli military assaults, Malak channeled her anger, anxiety, and despair into her paintings. Through skillful use of social media platforms, she shared her art with the world, offering insightful accounts of her life and struggle in Palestine while launching her career as an international student and an accomplished artist.
Join 4/5 Art as Sanctuary Zoom Session
Noon-1:15 p.m. – Transgender and Non-binary Athletes: The Future of Gender Inclusivity
Speaker: Edward Carson
Moderator: Jackson Fortune-O’Brien
The prevailing attitude toward transgender and gender non-binary people has been exacerbated due to on-going cultural debates regarding identity. This session will explore the historical framework that has positioned sports and gender into the mainstream consciousness while delving into what institutions and states are doing in terms of being inclusive and exclusive. We will look at case studies while also discussing the needed changes for absolute inclusivity. Other topics of discussion will include the intersectionality of class and race in relationship to transgender athletes.
Join 4/5 Gender Inclusivity Zoom Session
2-3:15 p.m. – Transforming Community: The Power of Art
Speaker: Marquis Victor
Moderators: Dan Vlahos & Elaine Ward
In this workshop, participants will learn about how Elevated Thought, a Lawrence based non-profit organization, utilizes creativity as a form of liberation on individual and communal levels.
Join 4/5 The Power of Art Zoom Session
4-5:15 p.m. – The Dressmakers of Auschwitz: The True Story of the Women Who Sewed to Survive
Speaker: Lucy Adlington
Moderator: Emma Polyakov
Author of the bestselling book The Dressmakers of Auschwitz: The True Story of the Women Who Sewed to Survive will share some of the stories of the women who used their sewing skills to survive the Holocaust, stitching beautiful clothes in an extraordinary fashion workshop within the Auschwitz concentration camp. At the height of the Holocaust twenty-five young inmates of the infamous Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp – mainly Jewish women and girls – were selected to design, cut, and sew beautiful fashions for elite Nazi women in a dedicated salon. It was work that they hoped would spare them from the gas chambers. Weaving the dressmakers’ remarkable experiences within the context of Nazi policies for plunder and exploitation, Lucy Adlington exposes the greed, cruelty, and hypocrisy of the Third Reich and offers a fresh look at a little-known chapter of the Second World War and the Holocaust.
Join 4/5 The Dressmakers of Auschwitz Zoom Session
6-8 p.m. – Restorative Justice: Harm and Healing
Speakers: Janet Conners “Mama J”, Clarissa Turner & Dennis Everett Jr.
Moderator: Brittnie Aiello
This session will begin with a screening of Circle up, a restorative justice documentary film about a group of Boston mothers who seek true justice for their murdered sons. Following the film, which has received national attention and recognition, attendees will have an opportunity to learn more about how restorative justice is being used for survivors to navigate their own healing process.
Join 4/5 Restorative Justice Zoom Session
Schedule for Day Two – Wednesday, April 6, 2022
8-9:15 a.m. – Closing the Gender and Race Pay Gap: Challenges and Strategies
Speaker: MaryRose Mazzola ’12
Moderators: Rémy Boyd and Melissa Driver
In this session you will learn strategies for negotiating your salary, interventions that are proven to close pay gaps, and ways to support women and people of color in the workplace. The speaker will share her rich experience as Executive Director of the Boston Women’s Workforce Council, a public-private partnership between the City of Boston and 250 of the largest companies in greater Boston dedicated to closing gender and racial pay gaps. During her tenure, Boston became the first city in the nation to use real compensation data to analyze the pay gap by race, gender, and professional category.
Join 4/6 Closing the Gender and Race Pay Gap Zoom Session
9:30-10:45 a.m. – Life is More than He and She
Speaker: Jeffery Marsh
Moderators: Susan Marine and Rowan Salhi
Beyond the feel-good but sometimes vacuous cry of “be yourself!” the ways we use labels can have unforeseen consequences. Often, Jeffrey’s social followers expect their “right label” to cure them and be a total panacea. It doesn’t work that way. Through research and personal stories, Jeffrey presents the ways labels and categories do more harm than good, and how labels that seem empowering can ultimately divide and conquer us.
Join 4/6 Life is More than He and She Zoom Session
11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Restorative Justice Behind the Wall: A Roundtable with Criminal Justice Professionals
Speakers: Jessica Oljey, Kara Hayes & Andy Peck
Moderators: Jaleh Dashti-Gibson & Dennis Everett, Jr.
This roundtable will engage criminal justice professionals who are deeply involved in how criminal justice institutions are using restorative justice to move institutional practices in a new direction at both the regional and state levels.
Join 4/6 Restorative Justice Zoom Session
12:30-1:45 p.m. – Reconsidering Reparations
Speaker: Dr. Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Georgetown University
Reparations for slavery have become a reinvigorated topic for public debate over the last decade. Most theorizing about reparations treats it as a social justice project – either rooted in reconciliatory justice focused on making amends in the present; or, they focus on the past, emphasizing restitution for historical wrongs. Olúfemi O. Táíwò argues that neither approach is optimal, and advances a different case for reparations – one rooted in a hopeful future that tackles the issue of climate change head on, with distributive justice at its core. This view, which he calls the “constructive” view of reparations, argues that reparations should be seen as a future-oriented project engaged in building a better social order; and that the costs of building a more equitable world should be distributed more to those who have inherited the moral liabilities of past injustices. This approach to reparations, as Táíwò shows, has deep and surprising roots in the thought of Black political thinkers such as James Baldwin, Martin Luther King Jr, and Nkechi Taifa, as well as mainstream political philosophers like John Rawls, Charles Mills, and Elizabeth Anderson. Táíwò’s project has wide implications for our views of justice, racism, the legacy of colonialism, and climate change policy.
Join 4/6 Reparations Zoom Session
2-3:15 p.m. – Addressing Health Disparities: Practical Applications
Speakers: Alvin Morton & Nicole Williams
Moderator: Lindsay Carbone
A panel discussion about practical ways students can aid in the reduction of health disparities seen in various sub-populations. Panelists will provide background information on potential causes of health disparities, and students will learn what they can do to reduce these health disparities in their communities.
Join 4/6 Health Disparities Zoom Session
3:30-4:45 p.m. – Preparing Students to Thrive in Diverse Society: The Role of High School Educators
Speakers: Raisa Carrasco-Velez, Stacey Ciprich, Chet Jackson, Sabrina Marte and Chris Rinchon
Moderator: Katrina Everett
The roundtable will highlight ongoing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives at the high school level, featuring key administrators in the Merrimack Valley. Roundtable participants will discuss the shifting practices in their districts to better prepare high school students for real world success, as well as the challenges facing these efforts. As Early College programs expand regionally and nationally, participants will explore how enhanced collaboration between high schools and colleges can help , like Early College programs, to prepare students to thrive in a diverse and ever changing society.
Join 4/6 High School Educators Zoom Session
5-6 p.m. – Gender & Diversity in Leadership: Career Pathways for Student Leaders
Speakers: Tiana Lawrence ’20’ M’21 and MaryRose Mazzola ’12
Merrimack alumnae will share insights and lessons so far on their professional journey. Attendees will learn strategies for finding internships and post-grad jobs in gender advocacy nonprofits, politics, government, and law firms. Speakers will also share insights and strategies for taking on new professional roles in the nonprofit world and in academic spaces while stressing
the importance of maintaining a network, taking risks, and the beauty of ongoing lifelong learning.
Join 4/6 Gender & Diversity Leadership Zoom Session
6:15-8 p.m. – Celebrating Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Work at Merrimack College – A Community Reception
Hosted by the President’s Initiative on Diversity Equity and Inclusion, this reception will feature hors d’oeuvres and cocktails in Arcidi.
Oct. 19 & 20, 2021: Unity in Diversity Event
Schedule for Day One – Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021
8-8:30 a.m. – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Merrimack College: Opening Remarks
Moderator: Nicole Williams
Speakers: Dr. Sean Condon, Dr. Michael Mobley, Dr. Simona Sharoniand Tiffany Vo
An overview of the history of the DEI initiative, its short and long-term goals, accomplishments and challenges, and an opportunity to learn how you can get involved.
Join 10/19 DEI Opening Remarks Zoom Meeting
8:30-9:45 a.m. – Confronting the Housing Crisis: Community Building Initiatives
Speakers: Dr. Calpurnyia Roberts and Tiffany Payne, MHSA; Siddeeqah Williams and Amber Mitchell-Soto, Lynne Shelter Association; Mickey Northcutt, North Shore CDC
Massachusetts is in the midst of a deep housing crisis. Housing insecurity is impacting more and more regardless of income, as the shortage of affordable and available rental and buyable properties surges. How we define homelessness and housing insecurity and who is affected is changing, particularly with gentrification, evictions, and the pricing out crisis. This session will include a panel discussion regarding facts, figures, realities, and dispelling of myths regarding homelessness and housing insecurity. Panelists will share the resources and work of their organizations, regarding how they are assisting in the fight to end homelessness and housing insecurity in Massachusetts (and beyond).
Join 10/19 Housing Crisis Zoom Meeting
10 a.m.-11:15 p.m. – Moving Beyond Calling Out: Building a Calling In Culture
Moderators: Jasmine Khamis & Simona Sharoni
Speaker: Dr. Loretta Ross, Smith College
The presentation challenges the Call Out culture of social justice movements and academic spaces in order to build a united human rights movement. Dr. Ross believes that people can be taught how to increase their empathy intelligence and skills to invite others into conversations instead of conflicts. The lecture will cover five topics: 1) Understanding what Calling In/Calling Out is; 2) Exploring why people should care about building a human rights movement through Calling In; 3) Discussing what it feels like to Call people in; and 4) Examining what Calling In looks like; 5) Learning where, when, and how to use Calling In techniques in the future.
Join 10/19 Calling In Culture Zoom Meeting
Noon-1:15 p.m. – Centering Black Women in History and Popular Culture
Moderators: Debra Michals & Ines Ouedraogo
Speaker: Dr. Janell Hobson, University at Albany, SUNY
This presentation offers numerous examples and strategies designed to center Black women’s voices in scholarship and in the classroom. Dr. Hobson demonstrates how we can use popular culture to engage in critical conversations about race, gender, sexuality and other systemic inequalities.
Join 10/19 Centering Black Women Zoom Meeting
2-3:15 p.m. – Unpacking Privilege: Putting Research into Practice
Moderators: Kathryn Nielsen & Antonio Willis-Berry
Speakers: Dr. Adam Howard, Colby College; Pat Stewart, Millbrook School
Privilege is a contested and slippery term often used to speak to all sorts of individual and group advantage. This talk will unpack the concept of privilege and offer a more useful framework for understanding how advantages shape individuals’ identities and behaviors. The presenters will discuss their experiences of putting research into practice at predominantly white and wealthy institutions to transform practices and meanings that keep privilege hidden and unexamined.
Join 10/19 Unpacking Privilege Zoom Meeting
4-5:15 p.m. – On Poetry, Science & Possibilities: Poet Wrestling with Ghost Realities
Moderators: Ellen McWhorter & Rickey Caldwell
Speaker: Rosebud Ben-Oni, Poet/Author
How can poetry change our notion of reality? What if the possibilities within poetry were a true reflection of the multiverse itself? In this reading and performance, Rosebud Ben-Oni will explore the cosmos through trauma, loss, and transformation, where the most important notion of discovery is not always finding answers but the power of curiosity itself.
Join 10/19 Poet Wrestling Zoom Meeting
6:30-7:45 p.m. – Breaking Colonial Imaginations: An Evening of Queer Palestinian Diasporic Poetry
Moderators: Remy Boyd & Simona Sharoni
Speaker: George Abraham, Poet/Author
What role does poetry have in imagining better elsewheres: for language, for the dispossessed, for the whole of our collectives? How does one construct a language of queerness at intersections of colonial trauma? These are some of the questions driving award-winning Palestinian American poet George Abraham’s work. Join us for a night of anti-colonial poetry and reflections.
Join 10/19 Breaking Colonial Imaginations Zoom Meeting
Schedule for Day Two – Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021
8-9:15 a.m. – Global Youth Voices on Climate Justice
Moderators: Cyndy Carlson & Nicole Williams
Speakers: Kaleena Roeva, Climate Cardinals; Mitzi Jonelle Tan, Climate Action Philippines
This session features the youth advocate perspective on climate change and justice. Panelists will share their stories regarding what drove them into this work as climate activists, realities in their home countries and around the globe, initiatives through their organizations, and how youth can get involved.
Join 10/20 Climate Justice Zoom Meeting
9:30-10:45 a.m. – Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice: Faith-Based Approaches
Moderators: MT Davila & Mark Allman
Speaker: Dr. Lester Edwin J. Ruiz, Association of Theological Schools
While some people have used their religious beliefs to justify hatred and bigotry, many others have leaned on their faith to make the world a better place. Dr. Ruiz will draw on his rich experience in academic and activist spaces to address such questions as What is the relationship between religion, diversity and social justice? And how can we use faith as the foundation and inspiration for deep engagement with diversity and other social justice issues?
Join 10/20 Faith-Based Approaches Zoom Meeting
11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire: 20 Years after 9/11
Moderator: Sandra Raponi
Speaker: Dr. Deepa Kumar, Rutgers University
Many believe that Islamophobia is a recent phenomenon that emerged after 9/11. In her critically acclaimed book, Prof. Kumar traces the long history of Islamophobia from the early modern era to the War on Terror. She argues that Islamophobia is best understood as racism rather than as religious intolerance. In this presentation, she will lay out what anti-Muslim is, how it functions, and why it is intimately tied to empire.
Join 10/20 Islamophobia Zoom Meeting
12:30-1:15 p.m. – Blackqueerness, Religion, and the Politics of Possibilities
Moderators: Michael Mobley & Jackson Fortune-O’Brien
Speaker: Dr. Ashon Crawley, University of Virginia
The presentation will draw on his writing in The Lonely Letters with a focus on trying to understand how can Black folks, Blackqueer folks, breathe in this world full of violence and antagonisms. Dr. Crawley will also share his work-in-progress about the Hammond organ, the Black Church and sexuality.
Join 10/20 Blackqueerness Zoom Meeting
2-3:15 p.m. – Engaging Diverse Communities through Activism and Advocacy
Moderator: Elaine Ward
Speakers: Shannon Butler-Mokoro, African Community Center of Lowell; Katherine Tarpley, Children’s Law Center of Mass; Kelly Turley, Mass Coalition for Homeless
What are organizations learning from communities to build and sustain commitments that are reflective, intersectional, and inclusive? How do we learn with communities to help create collaborations and pathways to self-education and self-advocacy? This panel discussion includes voices that engage with different and intersecting diverse communities including immigrant, disadvantaged youth and young adult, and homeless (The African Community Center of Lowell, Children’s Law Center of MA, and Mass Coalition for the Homeless) and how we can work and learn with these communities to advocate for systemic change.
Join 10/20 Engaging Diverse Communities Zoom Meeting
3:30-4:45 p.m. – What the Eyes Don’t See: Confronting an Environmental Disaster
Moderators: April Bowling & Jon Lyon
Speaker: Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, Michigan State University
In this powerful moderated conversation, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha delivers a personal account of her research and activism to expose and mitigate the effects of the Flint water crisis. Her dramatic story, from how she used science to prove that Flint children were affected by lead to the brutal backlash she faced after courageously going public with her findings, inspires audiences to safeguard their own communities by speaking truth to power.
Join 10/20 Environmental Disaster Zoom Meeting
6:30-7:45 p.m. – Anything But an Elegy: Transness, Disability & the Legacy of Trauma
Moderator: Susan Marine
Speaker: torrin a. greathouse
For trans and disabled people, both physical and social death are the stakes of daily life. In this reading and performance, torrin a. greathouse will explore the systems which make this fact, and how to live, write and carve out joy despite the legacies of trauma we carry.
April 7 & 8, 2021: Unity in Diversity Event
Schedule for Day One – Wednesday, April 7, 2021
8-9:30 a.m. – Student Involvement and Social Justice Activism at Merrimack College and Beyond
Speakers: Samantha (Sam) Frey, Clarisa Cameron, Lillian Schaefer-Calderon, Rowan Salhi, Leena Ali
Moderator: Peter Rojas
A conversation among student leaders at Merrimack College. Participants will reflect on their involvement in efforts to raise awareness about systemic injustice and inspire action among students.
Sponsored by the Unity House Council, Office of Student Involvement, Black Student Association (BSA) and Athletic Diversity Committee (ADC)
Join 4/7 Student Involvement Zoom Meeting
9:30-10:45 a.m. – Transforming Prejudice into Social Justice
Speaker: Jasmine Khamis
Moderators: Dr. Michael Mobley and Dr. Sandra Raponi
What is it like to grow up as a member of a minoritized group in the United States? How do you cope and make sense of the discrimination, prejudice and trauma you have experienced? An interactive session based on a compelling story of an Arab-American woman who carved out her professional identity as a counselor and social justice educator by staying true to her cultural roots.
Sponsored by the MA Program in Clinical Mental Health and the Social Justice Program
Join 4/7 Transforming Prejudice Zoom Meeting
11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Embracing Conflict to Become an Inclusive Community: Seeing Opportunity in Danger
Speaker: Dr. Michelle Cromwell
Moderator: Nicole Williams
Working on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion often involves learning to deal with conflict. Embracing rather than avoiding conflict can feel uncomfortable, even dangerous at times. However, inclusive transformation often happens when we push beyond our comfort zone and look for opportunity in what feels challenging, uncomfortable, or terrifying.
Sponsored by the MA Program in Clinical Mental Health and the Social Justice Program
Join 4/7 Embracing Conflict Zoom Meeting
12:30-1:45 p.m. – Health Disparities, Food Insecurity & COVID-19
Speaker: Vivien Morris
Moderators: Eleanor Shonkoff and Rosana Urbaez
COVID-19 and the strong voices of persons of color throughout the United States and beyond during 2020 have made clearer the impact of racism on health and food security. This presentation will bring the discussion closer to home with sharing of experiences and lessons learned through efforts to improve the health and well-being of a largely African American and Afro-Caribbean community in the Boston area.
Sponsored by The School of Health Sciences
Join 4/7 Health Disparities Zoom Meeting
2-3:15 p.m. – Putting a Human Face on the Experiences of Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) People
Speakers: Dr. Yi-Chun Tricia Lin and Sanea Kawaguchi
Moderator: Dr. Laura Hsu
An intergenerational conversation about the History and Experiences of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the US with a focus on strategies to move from systemic violence and trauma to justice and hope.
Sponsored by Merrimack’s Processionals of Color (MPOC)
Join 4/7 An Intergenerational Conversation Zoom Meeting
4-5:30 p.m. – LGBTQ+ Youth: Surviving, Thriving, and Building Community in the Merrimack Valley
Speakers: Stephen Harrington (Nagly); Nicole Lashomb (Project Out), Sasha Goodfriend (Governor’s Commission), Jackson Fortune-O’Brien
Moderator: Rob Koch
Massachusetts is often thought of as a “wickedly welcoming” place for LGBTQ+ folx, and it’s widely assumed that it’s easy to be queer in our state. What’s the real story? students and experts from local queer youth-serving organizations (NAGLY, ProjectOut, and the Governor’s Commission on LGBTQ+ youth) will join us to share their experiences, and will talk about serving the needs and concerns of LGBTQ+ young people in the Valley. They’ll also share what we can all do to make our communities safer and more empowering places for them.
Sponsored by Merrimack’s LGBTQ+ Faculty and Staff Affinity Group and the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA)
Join 4/7 LGBTQ+ Youth Zoom Meeting
6-7:30 p.m. – The Neurodiversity Paradigm in Combating Ableism: One Autistic Professional’s Experience Advocating for Themself and Others
Speaker: Rachel Dorsey
Moderator: Dr. Laura Hsu
This talk will address the role of the Neurodiversity Paradigm in standing up against ableism. The speaker, an Autistic Speech Therapist who will Incorporate her personal experience to discuss obvious and not-so-obvious ableism aimed at Neurodivergent people.
Sponsored by Accessibility Services, Disability Rights Staff and Faculty Affinity Group
Join 4/7 Neurodiversity Paradigm Zoom Meeting
6-8 p.m. – Antiracism Resources 2.0.
Speakers: Tiana Lawrence, Dr. Jolan Rivera, Olivia Rosa, Prof. Gerardo Zayas
Moderators: Angélique Bouthot and Grace Chitam
A follow up on a workshop held during Fall 2020, this interactive workshop will include a panel discussion featuring Community Engagement faculty and students on antiracism resources, while also providing space for participants to reflect on actions they can take toward antiracism.
Join 4/7 Antiracism Resources Zoom Meeting
8-9:30 p.m. – Diversity and Social Justice Open Mic: Poetic Perspectives and Oratory Observations on the World We Share
Featuring Kenton Reaves Hundley (aka Ken10) with local artists Clarisa Cameron, Nathan Nkabasele and Araya Richards
Ken10 will be joined by Merrimack students, using verse and passion intentionally to build bridges, connect cultures and rebuild broken hearts.
Join 4/7 Open Mic Zoom Meeting
Schedule for Day Two – Thursday, April 8, 2021
8-9:30 a.m. – Beyond the Classroom: The Praxis of Social Justice Activism
Speakers: Angélique Bouthot, Glynis Boyd Hughes, Grace Chitam and Gabrielle (Gabi) Scheff
Moderators: Peter Rojas and Nicole Williams
A conversation among graduate students engaged in anti-racism and other efforts to advance intersectional justice. Participants will discuss their experiences applying theories of social justice and social change on campus and in the community as well as their career aspirations.
Join 4/8 Student Involvement Zoom Meeting
10-11:15 a.m. – Civil Rights and Voting Rights: Cornerstones for Democracy and Justice
Speaker: Bakari Sellers
Discussant: Dr. Jeffrey Doggett
Moderators: Emma Duffy-Comparone and Antonio Willis-Berry
A critical analysis of current events in the US political arena and the challenges facing our democracy. Examination of the historical context of the ongoing struggles for civil rights and voting rights amidst systemic injustice and the role of citizens to secure a better future with justice and equality for all.
Sponsored by the Writers House, the Department of Political Science and the Master’s in Public Affairs Program
Join 4/8 Civil Rights and Voting Rights Zoom Meeting
Noon-1:15 p.m. – Rhythm & Resilience: A Poet’s Journey Through Race and Identity
Speaker: Britta B.
Moderator: Rémy Boyd
How does poetry promote self-kindness and a sense of belonging? In what ways do trauma, race and mental health inform writing and performance? Through a dynamic and celebratory spoken word poetry showcase, Britta B. will share thoughts on the role of artistic expression as a platform for resilient communities and minds.
Sponsored by the Writers House
Join 4/8 Rhythm & Reslience Zoom Meeting
1-2 p.m. – Transforming Campus Culture: Building Community, Support and Solidarity for Staff and Faculty
Moderated by Peter Rojas and Nicole Williams
Participants: Glynis Boyd Hughes, Preston Croteau, Dr. Sharon Labao, Dr. Susan Marine, Dr. Simona Sharoni and Oscar Zepeda
A roundtable discussion with representatives of Merrimack’s Affinity Groups for faculty and staff. The groups currently represent staff and faculty who identify as Merrimack Professional of Color (MPOC), LGBTQ+, First Generation, International and disability rights. Also represented is Create Your Impact (CYI), a development and leadership initiative for women employees.
Join 4/8 Building Community Support Zoom Meeting
2-3:30 p.m. – Fostering Inclusion with Empathy
Speaker: Sharon Steed
Moderator: Dr. Shannon Butler-Mokoro
The workforce is more diverse than ever, yet the way we interact with each other doesn’t always reflect these ethnic and cultural differences. Navigating a world where we must constantly engage emotions, opinions and ideas that we don’t always understand or agree with doesn’t have to be impossible. In fact it can be greatly beneficial to team productivity, innovation, creativity and overall company success. The result of this breakout will be teams that know how to create, build and maintain a culture of inclusion through everyday empathy actions.
Sponsored by Accessibility Services, Academic Success Center, Master’s of Social Work Program and Master’s of Clinical Mental Health Program, Disability Rights Staff and Faculty Affinity Group
Join 4/8 Fostering Inclusion Zoom Meeting
4-5 p.m. – Promoting Cultural Competence and Global Awareness: A Roundtable with International Faculty and Staff
Speakers: Dr. Azam Noori, Dr. Luis Saenz de Viguera Erkiaga, Dr. Elaine Ward, Sonal Desai and Oscar Zepeda
Moderator: Dr. Simona Sharoni
Participants will discuss their experiences and highlight the contributions of international faculty and staff to diversity, equity, and inclusion at Merrimack College. They will explore strategies to promote cultural competence and global awareness with a focus on situating systemic inequalities in the US in a global context. Participants will also share some of the challenges you have faced, concluding with a discussion of what we need to do as a community to ensure that international students, staff, and faculty feel “at home” at Merrimack and everywhere.
Join 4/8 Promoting Cultural Competence Zoom Meeting
5-6:30 p.m. – Exploring Poetics: A Stress-Free Writing Workshop
Facilitator: Britta B.
Moderator: Rémy Boyd
In this session, we’ll cultivate sound and sensory banks to encourage new ways of engaging with our familiar landscapes of self. Come prepared with something to write with and write on (notebook and writing materials) as we’ll test out some writing constraints that exercise our connection to social justice and liberation through language and poetry.
Join 4/8 Exploring Poetics Zoom Meeting
6:30-8 p.m. – St. Germain Lecture – Culturally Responsive Leadership: How Meals on Wheels of RI is Evolving to Meet the Changing Needs of Seniors Across the Ocean State
Speaker: Meghan Grady
Participants: Brenda Comerford, Maeve Dubiel, Dr. Anne Flaherty and Mary McHugh
Meghan Grady will speak about her leadership at Meals on Wheels Rhode Island during the pandemic and how her organization has been able to adapt and continue to fulfill its mission. She will also discuss their strategies for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how they plan to adapt to meet changing needs of the aging population in RI.
Sponsored by the Political Science Department and the Master’s of Public Affairs Program
Oct. 12 & 13, 2020: Unity in Diversity Event
Schedule for Day One – Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 Indigenous Peoples Day
8-9:30 a.m. – Diversity University
Speakers: Dr. Julia Garcia, Monti Washington & Peter Rojas
A clear and insightful introduction to how race, gender culture, and sexual orientation, among other identity constructs shape our experiences and relationships. A focus on issues related to diversity and inclusion that emerge on a college campus and the ongoing protests against racial injustice. This presentation was recorded in late August 2020 and shared with the Merrimack community in mid-September.
9:30-10:45 a.m. – Understanding and Preventing Police Violence: A Public Health Perspective, Moderated by Dr. April Bowling
Speaker: Dr. Justin Feldman
This talk will focus on understanding police violence in the United States with an emphasis on inequality by race, place, and poverty. We will use a public health framework to explore alternatives to policing to address issues ranging from mental health crises to interpersonal violence.
Sponsored by the Social Justice Program and the Interdisciplinary Institute.
10-11:30 a.m. – Roundtable: American Sign Language
Speakers: Jodi Rachins, Director of Accessibility Services; Karen Ryan, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts; Deb Margolis, Interim Dean of the School of Education and Social Policy; Michaele Morrow, Associate Vice President for Career Advertising and Professional Development; Isabel Fernandes, Senior, Moderate Disabilities Education Major
Currently, Merrimack does not offer American Sign Language as a course nor it is incorporated into most of our major events, unless requested. Should we have ASL classes available to students? The community? Is ASL a world language or an elective? Should we offer ASL as a normative practice? What majors would best benefit from sign language? (Hint: Probably all). Would it be a beneficial skill to add to a LinkedIn badge?
Sponsored by Accessibility Services and Disability Rights Education Activism and Mentorship (DREAM).
11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Roundtable: COVID-19: Ethical and Social Justice Considerations
Speakers: Dr. April Bowling, Dr. Justin Feldman, Dr. Sandra Raponi & Dr. Simona Sharoni
This roundtable discussion is part of a new interdisciplinary team-taught course titled Global Pandemics: Opportunities and Challenges. Participants will discuss health and other disparities caused by systemic inequalities, both in the US and globally.
Sponsored by the Interdisciplinary Institute and the Social Justice Program.
12:30-1:30 p.m. – Roundtable: Mentoring First Generation College Students, Moderated by Preston Croteau, Assistant Dean of Students
Speakers: Brandi Baldock, Glynis Boyd Hughes, Jasmine Garver, James Howland, Lauren Rocha, Haley Taing, Oscar Zepeda & Melissa Zimdars
Faculty, staff, and students who are the first in their families to obtain a college education will reflect on their experiences. Discussion will also address how the first generation identity intersects with other dimensions of social identity and structural inequalities in higher education. Finally, roundtable participants will discuss creating resources, support, and mentoring opportunities for first generation students attending Merrimack College.
Sponsored by The First Gen faculty and Staff Affinity Group.
2-3:30 p.m. – Celebrating Queer Writing: A Conversation with Author Julian K. Jarboe on Voice, Truth and Resistance
Speakers: Julian K. Jarboe, Samatha (Sam) Frey, Dr. Robert Koch & Rowan Salhi
Julian K. Jarboe will read from their debut collection, Everyone on the Moon is Essential Personnel (Lethe Press, 2020), sixteen stories of mid-apocalyptic science fabulism and body horror fairy tales that “meld tenderness, humor, and righteous anger into insightful tales of characters navigating the margins of society” (Publishers’ Weekly). Jarboe will also discuss some of their experiences as a transgender and disabled writer, the creative and political value of pessimism, and their choice to unify the collection around marginalized experiences of labor and faith.
Sponsored by The Writers House, the LGBTQ+ Faculty and Staff Affinity Group and the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA).
3:30-4:45 p.m. – Creating Space for Change: Racial Dialogue – A Student-focused Workshop
Co-facilitated by Dr. Cherie Bridges Patrick and Dr. Lindsay Lyons
This student-focused workshop is structured within the timeframe of the Merrimack student schedule. The first of this four-series offering introduces the capacities needed to create space for change. Workshop facilitators will guide students through four dialogic capacities for generative racial dialogue: readiness and willingness, vulnerability, adaptability, and a positive, encouraging and liberating dialogic environment. Students will be introduced to the concepts linked to creating space for change and will co-construct a shared agreement centered in dignity. Students are encouraged to read up on the four capacities on Dr. Lyons website (dialogic environment, readiness and willingness, vulnerability, and adaptability).
Sponsored by the Athletic Diversity Committee.
4-5 p.m. Roundtable on community engagement in Lawrence
Speakers: Dr. Traci Alberti, Dr. Cynthia Carlson, Dr. Ellen Fitzpatrick, Dr. Luis Sáenz De Viguera, Dr. Elaine Ward, Dr. Ana Silva, CJ Wong, Rosana Urbaez & Lisbeth Valdez
Participants will be discussing the nature of their work in the community, sharing ideas and practices. They will discuss how faculty/students can work as collaborators to meet community goals, explore how we prepare students personally, how we strengthen our curriculum to give students the skills and awareness to be useful and, how we as an outside organization, can be a respectful and useful partner in the community. The ‘how’ piece is important because it demonstrates ways to work in communities where we are responding to an articulated need, not to our view of a problem.
Sponsored by the Interdisciplinary Institute and the Social Justice Program.
5-6:30 p.m. – Transnational Indigenous Women’s Activism, Moderated by Dr. Yi-Chun Tricia Lin
Speakers: Apu’u Kaaviana, Dr. Myrian Sánchez, Ruth Garby Torres & Dr. Alex Wilson
This roundtable brings together a distinguished panel of four Indigenous women activists, scholars, and leaders from four Indigenous nations of the Four Directions on Indigenous Peoples’ Day | Día de la Raza 2020. The program is a cross-cultural, multilingual, and transnational encounter where we learn and honor Indigenous women’s activism and their communities’ resistance in the times of pandemic. Our speakers include Apu’u Kaaviana (Kanakanvu | Taiwan); Dr. Myrian Sánchez (Kichwa | Ecuador); Ruth Garby Torres (Schaghticoke | U.S.); and Alex Wilson (Opaskwayak Cree | Canada). The program is also a first-time cross-campus collaboration.
Sponsored by the Women’s and Gender Studies Program at Southern Connecticut State University, the Women’s and Gender Studies Department at Merrimack College, Merrimack’s Cultural Diversity Alliance (MCDA), World Languages and Cultural Studies Department and Theta Phi Alpha Sorority Inc.
7-8:30 p.m. – Roundtable: Queer Journeys and Coming Out Stories
Speakers: Catherine Chandler, Samantha (Sam) Frey, Dr. Jonathan Grossman, Dr. Robert Koch, Dr. Susan Marine, Dan Roussel & Rowan Salhi
On the occasion of National Coming Out Day, Merrimack students, faculty, and staff who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community will share coming out stories and discuss their personal, professional and political journeys.
Sponsored by the LGBTQ+ Faculty and Staff Affinity Group and the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA).
Schedule for Day Two – Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020
8-9:30 a.m. – Diversity University
Speakers: Dr. Julia Garcia, Monti Washington & Peter Rojas
A clear and insightful introduction to how race, gender culture, and sexual orientation, among other identity constructs shape our experiences and relationships. A focus on issues related to diversity and inclusion that emerge on a college campus and the ongoing protests against racial injustice. This presentation was recorded in late August 2020 and shared with the Merrimack community in mid-September.
10-11:15 a.m. – Open Classroom: An Introduction to Structural Racism with Dr. Dan Herda, Associate Professor of Sociology at Merrimack College
The session will help attendees understand how racism can become embedded in a culture and therefore become part of the structure of society and shape individuals’ behaviors and attitudes.
10-11 a.m. – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Merrimack: A Community Conversation
Speakers: Dr. Simona Sharoni & Peter Rojas
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Emotional Agility: How to Be Your Best Self in Times of Crisis, featuring Dr. Susan David
Speakers: Dr. Susan David & Dr. Michael Mobley
A President’s Speaker Series event.
Sponsored by the Office of the President and Robert McCusker ’68 & Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority Inc. Kappa Omicron Chapter.
noon-1:15 p.m. – Open Classroom: An Introduction to Structural Racism with Dr. Dan Herda, Associate Professor of Sociology at Merrimack College
The session will help attendees understand how racism can become embedded in a culture and therefore become part of the structure of society and shape individuals’ behaviors and attitudes.
noon-1:30 p.m. – Gender, Race, and Social Justice Activism
Speaker: Melissa Denizard, Samantha (Sam) Frey & Haley Taing
In this talk, Melissa discusses her genesis in social justice, how she has connected theory to praxis, and how she has continuously and brilliantly utilized her identity as the beacon for her social justice work. Along with providing a grounding for her political ideology and praxis, Black Feminism serves as a guiding light for Melissa’s perpetual self-reflection. Ultimately, she urges listeners to consider the appropriation of the Combahee River Collective’s notion of identity politics and why we need to reclaim the phrase’s roots in the Black Radical Tradition.
Sponsored by the Women’s and Gender Studies Department, the Social Justice Program and the Black Student Association (BSA).
1-2 p.m. – Mack Chat: Disability and Accessibility
Speakers: Rachel Conway – Junior, Athletic Training Major, Makenzie Sabourin – Junior, Communication and English with a concentration in Film double major and a Digital Media Minor & Isabel Fernandes – Senior, Moderate Disabilities Education Major
Merrimack’s 4th Annual All Abilities Awareness event falls Tuesdays in October at 1 PM. Join us to listen to Merrimack students share their stories about disability as a part of their diverse identity. They will talk about managing a disability in the college environment, how they have overcome stigma and adversity, and how they have grown. This event includes the talk from the students and an opportunity for audience Q&A. Discussion will continue on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. on October 20 and 27.
Sponsored by Accessibility Services and Disability Rights Education Activism and Mentorship (DREAM).
2-3:30 p.m. – Transforming Masculinities: Accounting for White Privilege and Male Privilege, Moderated by Peter Rojas
Speakers: Dr. Brian Klocke, Duane De Four & Michael Senoff
The session will focus on the social construction of masculinities with particular attention to the relationship between white privilege and male privilege. Participants will discuss their personal journeys and identify strategies and challenges for disrupting practices that reflect toxic masculinity. The session will include resources and advice for men and the community at large who are interested in joining anti-racist, pro-feminist and LGBTQ affirmative efforts.
Sponsored by One Love, Gender Equality at Merrimack (GEM), Kappa Sigma Fraternity Inc. and Tau Kappa Epsilon.
3-4 p.m. – Becoming Anti-Racist: A Workshop for Faculty and Staff
Speakers: Dr. Cherie Bridges Patrick and Dr. Lindsay Lyons
This workshop is structured for faculty and staff. The first of this four-series offering introduces the capacities needed to create space for change. Workshop facilitators will guide participants as they explore and develop four dialogic capacities for generative racial dialogue: readiness and willingness, vulnerability, adaptability, and a positive, encouraging and liberating dialogic environment. Faculty and staff will be introduced to the concepts related to creating space for change. Centered in dignity, participants will also explore and debrief scenarios, examine the need for accountability, and develop individual action plans. Participants are encouraged to read up on the four capacities on Dr. Lyons website (dialogic environment, readiness and willingness, vulnerability, and adaptability).
Sponsored by Merrimack Professional of Color (MPOC).
4-5:30 p.m. Student Activism in Turbulent Times: Promise and Challenges, Moderated by Kat Everett, Samantha (Sam) Frey& Haley Taing
Speaker: Melissa Denizard
This workshop aims to have participants talk through and realize the key roles that power and privilege play in activism, as well as the actionable steps they can take to change their material realities.
Sponsored by the Student Government Association (SGA) and Gender Equality at Merrimack (GEM).
6-7:30 p.m. – Beyonce Mass (Advance Registration Required)
Speaker: Rev. Yolanda M. Norton
Beyoncé Mass is a womanist worship service that uses the music and life of Beyoncé as a tool to cultivate an empowering conversation about Black women – their lives, their bodies and their voices. The mass creates a space of story, scripture and song that calls for the liberation of all people. Advance registration is required.
Sponsored by the Center for Campus Ministry.
Q & A session will follow immediately after the program.
