February 2021 DEI Newsletter |
|
Honoring Black History Month and Beyond |
|
On behalf of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), best wishes and hope for a Happy 2021 Black History Month and far Beyond. The work of Transformative Social Justice is an essential component of Social Work Practice; we must all be constant gardeners in this effort.
There is work to be done, and so much is being done - we need to raise the visibility and awareness of the work, sacrifice, accomplishments, and discomforts as we move forward. Really, we have no choice now. Perhaps we never did. But we owe ourselves a better world, and as we move forward, we'll honor the lives of those in the past, those today, and those yet to come.
The United States celebrates the many past, current, and future Black leaders, artists, activists, educators, and entrepreneurs from the past, present, and future during Black History Month. So much that is powerful, innovative, provocative, and forward-moving in this Diaspora rarely or never makes the daily news or commonweal here in the United States. Yet the rivers of communes, workers, and dreamers can be found if only we turn to look. During the months to come, we all can see and embrace the work. We'll provide some links and some guides over the next few weeks and months. We urge others in our communities to help and share as they can.
And please, work hard, but also take moments to rest, smile, laugh, and return to life, work, and the struggle for social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The struggle continues; let's keep working toward the dream.
Larry M. Gant
Director, SSW Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
|
|
|
|
Celebrate Black History Month |
|
February 4th, 2021 - 4:00 pm (Asynchronous)
Experiencing Black Joy and Womanhood: An asynchronous dialogue facilitated by Black women to highlight the voices of Black women in higher education and K-12 schools.
February 5th, 2021 - 5:00 pm (Synchronous)
Enjoy a meal from Cuppy’s and join us in reflection as we bid farewell to our 2021 Week of Action! This hour-long Healing Space will involve dialogue within racial affinity groups. We will unpack takeaways from the Experiencing Black Joy and Womanhood panel released on Thursday, while reflecting on healing, being unapologetically Black, and what non-Black co-conspirators can do within their communities to support and affirm Black joy. Soul Food from Cuppy’s will be delivered to those who register by Tuesday, February 2 at 12 p.m. ET.
|
|
|
|
February 10, 2021 - 6:00pm - 7:15pm
MESA and Spectrum Center Mentorship programs invite you to join them for a panel discussion about the Intersections of Black LGBTQ+ Identity and Mentorship. Panelists will speak about the impact that mentorship has had on their identity development as Black and LGBTQ+ students and how it has supported them as they navigate campus and academic life at the University of Michigan and the community they belong to.
|
|
|
|
February 12th, 2021 - 10:00 am
The SEAS Dean’s Office, DEI, and People of the Global Majority for the Environment (PGMEnt) invites you to join Heather McTeer Toney to address how we must embrace climate action as the social justice issue of our time, and tear down old stereotypes-so that we can build sustainable and resilient alliances to fight effectively together and affirm our common humanity.
|
|
|
|
February 12th, 2021
Drop in from 1:30 to 4:00 pm
You're invited to a birthday party for Frederick Douglass. This year, Douglass Day celebrates the life and activism of Mary Church Terrell, a co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the National Association of Colored Women. Register to join us for any or all of these Zoom events:
|
|
|
|
Discussion Date(s): February 24th, 2021 - February 28th, 2021
This black history month, read a story about a Nigerian international student, Ifemelu, as she explores issues related to racism, relationships, and identity. GRIN will provide free copies of the book (while supplies last) and host a virtual discussion.
|
|
|
|
U of M Black History Month Closing Event: Jayana Khan to Discuss Black Lives Matter Movement
March 1st, 2021 - 6:00 pm
Janaya Khan is the co-founder of Black Lives Matter Toronto and has become a leading voice in the global crusade demanding social transformation, justice, and equality.
|
|
|
|
February 11th, 2021 - 12:00 - 1:30pm
From the school to prison pipeline, Black children - and black boys in particular - are punished more harshly, expelled more often, and isolated more frequently than their peers for similar behavior as White students. This affects academic outcomes and achievement, socioeconomic mobility, and shapes one’s sense of self. This virtual discussion focuses on the permeation of police officers in our public schools - specifically our majority Black student schools, and how we've effectively created a pathway for Black children from the classroom to the prison.
|
February 18th, 2021 - 12:00 - 2:00pm
Join the February meeting to build community collaboration and continue the conversation about anti-racist practices and actions in the School of Social Work and beyond.
|
SSW Black Radical Healing History Series
Black Radical Healing Pathways is hosting a Black Radical Healing History Series. Each day of Black History Month, Black Radical Health Pathway will highlight a Black figure(s) who found ways to resist the forces of oppression, conjure up Black joy, and/or bring about radical healing.
|
|
Part I: Risk and Protective Factors for Cognitive Decline and Dementia in Older African Americans
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
4:30 - 5:30 pm
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Lisa L. Barnes
Lisa L. Barnes, PhD is the Alla V. and Solomon Jesmer Professor of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine within the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Rush University Medical Center. Trained as a cognitive neuropsychologist, she received her PhD from the University of Michigan in biopsychology and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in cognitive neuroscience at the University of California, Davis.
|
|
Part II: Panel Discussion with Jamie Mitchell, Assistant Professor of Social Work and Katrina Ellis, Assistant Professor of Social Work
Wednesday, February 24, 2021 4:30-5:30 pm
|
|
|
|
Black Radical Healing Pathways (BRHP) strives to create and build spaces centered for Black students to develop and explore radical ideas interested in racial social justice efforts on campus as a coalition. BRHP works to create and build a network where Black students can affirm, heal and validate each other’s lived experiences. They aspire to organize, educate, mobilize and empower Black Students to work for transformative change on campus, neighborhoods and communities. Their focus is to nourish and cultivate the fighting spirits, critical consciousness and aesthetics of Black Students. They hold programming which centers our Black voices, intelligence, and bodies in efforts to dismantle, disrupt, and challenge white supremacy.
|
|
ABSWS's mission is to enhance the quality of life for students of Black/African descent on the University of Michigan campus, and empower people of Black/African Descent through advocacy, community service, relationship building, and creating safe spaces for said groups to feel free from cultural persecution and stigma. Like the national chapter, ABSW-UM is guided by the Principles of the Nguzo Saba, which are Unity, Self-determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith, and the Seven Cardinal Virtues of Ma’at, which are Right, Truth, Justice, Order, Reciprocity, Balance, and Harmony. In collaboration with other students groups, community organizations, and the national ABSW chapter, ABSWS will continue to leverage their collective expertise to help Black and African students on campus feel included and empowered, and assist the larger surrounding communities of African Descent in working toward social and cultural progress.
|
|
|
|
The New Leaders In African-Centered Social Work (NLACSW) Scholars Program is a program for MSW students that enhances practice preparation by engaging students in culturally-specific and affirmative curricular and training experiences for service to Black/African Americans.
|
|
Call for nominations for the DEI Impact Awards!
The School of Social Work's Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion invites you to recognize outstanding individuals or groups in the School of Social Work who have demonstrated their commitment to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion at the School and/or in the community. To submit a nomination, find more information here.
Nominations are due February 16, 2021
|
|
 |
James S. Jackson Distinguished Career Award for Diversity Scholarship
The James S. Jackson Distinguished Career Award for Diversity Scholarship is a biennial award that recognizes a senior faculty member at U-M whose program of research and scholarship focuses on diversity - including teaching, mentoring, and public engagement. Recipients will receive an honorarium of $10,000, and deliver a public distinguished lecture or performance.
Nomination deadline:
March 1, 2021
|
|
|
|
Harold R. Johnson Diversity Service Award
Named in honor of Dean Emeritus of the School of Social Work, this award was established in 1996. It recognizes faculty whose service goes above and beyond their regular duties and contributes to the development of a culturally and ethnically diverse campus community.
Up to five awards are made annually, which includes a $5,000 stipend for each honoree.
Nomination deadline:
April 1, 2021
|
|
|
|
"BLACK JOY IS: __________" |
|
"RADICAL SELF CARE: ANGELA DAVIS" |
|
"RADICAL SELF CARE: ALICIA GARZA" |
|
"100 RADICAL ACTS OF SELF-CARE" |
|
"RUNNING OUT OF SPOONS: SELF-CARE WHEN YOU HAVE A DISABLITY" |
|
"ENGAGE SSW: ACTIVIST & ORGANIZERS LEADING THE UPRISING IN DEFENSE OF BLACK LIVES" |
|
Resources for Social Workers |
|
Center for Racial Justice: Black History Month Resource Guide for Educators and Families
|
|
Brené Brown with Austin Channing Brown on I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness Podcast
|
|
|
The DEI Office would like to extend the opportunity for you to share any ideas in regards to diversity, equity, and inclusion within our program.
Please use this form to express any questions, concerns, collaborations, or if you would like to share resources.
|
|
Check out the highlights below!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
