As we enter into this new semester, the DEI Office wanted to take a moment to reflect on the achievements and various activities over this academic year. While there is still much more we hope to accomplish, we would like to recognize the work and commitment of students, student organizations, staff, and faculty within the School of Social Work who have continued to work to make this a more just and equitable community. Thank you for your dedication!

School of Social Work DEI Highlights

Association of Black Social Work Students: We Value You Inclusion Sign Unveiling Towards Humanity: A Conversation on Humanism and Antiracist Organizing

Common Roots Meet & Greet Beyond White Social Work: Part 3

Separated Book Talk with Bill Lopez Decolonizing Academia with Dr. Clelia Rodríguez

Social Work & Social Justice Dialogues Faculty Allies for Diversity Committee: Networking Event to Celebrate Diversity

Black Excellence Display DEI Impact Awards

SSW Teacher of the Year Beth Sherman NASW Student of the Year Briana Tetsch 

DEI Spotlights

Lovella Calica, MSW Student Lovella Calica is a mixed woman/human, who identifies as a first-gen, queer writer and healer. Because of these identities and personal experiences with trauma, increasing inclusive access to healing to diverse populations is part of her life’s work. So far, most of her creative writing/wellness work has centered on veterans through the national organization she founded,  Warrior Writers . "DEI is critical to address in all aspects of our lives, especially as social workers, it is our responsibility. I am one of those people who says what others are thinking, but won’t say. I’m willing to make people uncomfortable in the name of justice and DEI. It’s not easy to hold that position but it’s crucial and worthwhile. In my work of sharing TRE ( Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises ), a self-care tool for stress relief that is extremely accessible, it is a priority for me to share it with diverse communities. Most of the sessions I’ve done at UofM have been with women of color and I also partnered with the Latinx Coalition and Black Radical Healing Pathways. I’ve also focused on offering it to API Coalition and Queer Advocacy Coalition. I also presented a session with the Spectrum Center during their wellness week. Contact me for more info about TRE, I'm offering it virtually every Sunday evening at 8:30pm EST at: lovella@umich.edu ."

Dr. Rogério Pinto, Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Social Work Professor Rogério M. Pinto creates awareness of social justice issues and perspectives through his research, teaching and service. His gender non-conforming and mixed-race identities help Pinto understand and advocate for equality across all races/ethnicities and all forms of gender and sexual expressions. Pinto has been the chair and co-chair of the Faculty Allies for Diversity Committee here at the School of Social Work. With Addie Weaver (co-chair) and the Committee, Pinto has led weekly COVID-19 Identities and Vulnerabilities online events, addressing pandemic-related stigma and oppression and including reflection on participants' personal experiences. In all of his work, Pinto seeks sociopolitical and cultural venues, including visual and performance art, for broadcasting voices of oppressed individuals and groups.    "We should not need to justify the practice of diversity. Diverse natural beings have a natural right to inhabit the planet. Things become complicated when people of one race believe that people of another are less human and should not have the same rights and opportunities. Our DEI initiative stands against this type of prejudice. It encourages us to pursue diversity goals and equity (e.g., visibility, opportunities, equal pay) and inclusion (e.g., leadership opportunities) across the university. We practice DEI when we accept underrepresented students, agree to mentor underrepresented colleagues, hire underrepresented research assistant, and when we question our motivations for treating people one way or another. DEI is about action, about consistently asking oneself, "Am I biased in my decision-making?" When we ask that consistently, we will realize that we have much work to do."

Nyshourn Price,  OSS Admissions Coordinator Nyshourn Price is a native Californian, mother of three beautiful young adults and MSW alum class of 2001. She has been in Michigan over twenty years. The School of Social Work is how she found her way to the state. Being an employee within the school for twelve years has been very rewarding since diversity, student engagement and building community is her passion. Being the program manager of the New Leaders in African-Centered Scholars Program for the last three years has been an honor for Nyshourn. This work incorporates her undergraduate studies and pan-African philosophy. "Life is a gift so I treasure each moment; I lead with love, which is never in vain since we all deserve it. For me healing has been a journey, revisiting life struggles with an open heart facing the scars and wounds that may be pushed deep yet influence my teaching and learning path. These old friends challenge me from time to time however; embracing them affords growth and allows me to support others by sharing who I am along with love. Diversity Equity Inclusion is an everyday lesson to be used wisely; it is knowing thyself, being willing to learn from others, it is unlearning and opening oneself to meeting people half-way since we are all on a pursuit of being loved and have gifts to offer the world, it’s trying new things and standing up for injustice."

Virtual Events

School's In Session Educational Series Monday, May 18th, 2020 11:00 AM- 1:00 PM EDT Join for an educational panel discussion about the field of social work and white saviorism via Zoom. Your educational team includes Chidimma Ozor, MA, MSW Candidate; Alishea Sutton, MSW Candidate; Justin Woods, MSW/MBA Candidate at the University of Michigan School of Social Work and some special invited guests.  RSVP Here

Engaging Everyone: Accessibility & Inclusion in Virtual Meetings  Thursday, May, 21st 2020 12-1:30 PM EDT Join this informative webinar about accessibility and inclusion in the virtual meeting space. During the webinar we will be sharing personal experiences and impact, best practices, campus resources and Q&A. Presented by Office of Diversity, Equity,& Inclusion, Office of Institutional Equity, and Information & Technology Services. RSVP Here

Tension & Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) Sundays at 8:30 PM EDT Bluejeans Link Here, you'll have the space to practice Tension & Trauma Release Exercises (TRE), guided by Lovella Calica, but also find space to just be present without pressure to perform. Lovella will guide the space in TRE that activates a natural reflex mechanism of shaking or vibrating which eases muscular tension and helps soothe the nervous system. You'll simply need:  Comfortable pants permitting movement Space to lie on the floor (and a mat if you have one, though it's not required) A vacant wall you can lean against (no decorations, windows, furniture, etc.)

McZoomer Commons Monday, May, 18th 202012 PM EDT Zoom link sent out prior to session We will hold these unstructured, "stop-in-and-say-hello" sessions each week at noon on alternating Mondays/Tuesdays. Monday 5/18, Tuesday 5/26, Monday 6/1, Tuesday 6/9, Monday 6/15, Tuesday 6/23, Monday, 6/29, Tuesday 7/7, Monday 7/13, Tuesday 7/21, Monday 7/29 Crip Camp's Free Virtual Summer Camp Series Sundays at 2:00 PM PDT The Crip Camp Impact Campaign is proud to announce the Official Virtual Experience! They are inviting all grassroots activists and advocates to join this summer for a virtual camp experience featuring trailblazing speakers from the disability community. All are welcome, you do not need any activism experience to participate. Register Here

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Is this a New or Temporary Normal?: Life for Students of Color in Fall 2020 LIVE WEBINAR—THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020 AT 3 PM EDT Whether temporary or a “new” normal, we know that there will be profound changes on campuses. Our panelists will share their insights on how best to prepare students, parents, and faculty and staff at colleges and universities for these changes. Working together, how can we support and position students of color for success in a time of unprecedented change?  Register Here

Watch the Replay: Steve Fund Community Conversations On-Demand Mental Health Providers Supporting Clients of Color: Self-Care, Community Care for You The Steve Fund is the nation’s only organization focused on supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color.   Their new webinar series,  Community Conversations  features members of the Steve Fund community sharing how they are navigating this “new normal.”

Resources

University Covid-19 Emergency Funding The University if now offering emergency funding due to financial hardship related to Covid-19. Please note that this funding comes from the University of Michigan Office of Financial Aid and not directly from the School of Social Work. Funding consideration begins by filling out a form on the  Student Self-Service page within Wolverine Access . Select the COVID-19 Emergency Application tile, download and complete the linked form, and submit it through the Wolverine Access Document Upload portal. CAPS Mental Health Care Package: Coping with COVID-19 Just like you, the University of Michigan Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) is venturing onto a new path, a new reality associated with COVID-19. They are reaching out (virtually, of course! #PhysicalDistancing) and sharing ways to help you take care of yourselves, no matter if you are in Ann Arbor, in Michigan, in the US, or across the globe. Student Technology Resources for Remote Learning In the event of a campus closure or necessary interruption of in person classes, you may find yourself needing to use tools that you have not used before in order to participate in Remote Learning. Below are some resources to help you, compiled by SSW IT and LSA Technology Services.

Our human compassion binds us the one to the other - not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future. - Nelson Mandela

University of Michigan School of Social Work Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ssw-dei-office@umich.edu https://ssw.umich.edu/r/DEI