John Carroll University Division of
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
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Volume 3, Issue 6: February 11, 2021 |
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R.I.S.E.* Up Newsletter
*Reinforcing Inclusion through Skill-building and Education
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Tomorrow is the celebration of the Lunar New Year! One of the most important holidays in China, and celebrated today in many nations and communities around the world, Lunar New Year is a celebration of family and ancestors, a time to usher out the old year and welcome in the incoming good luck of the new year. The colors red and gold are traditional elements of this celebration, as are the giving of gifts (especially money), lighting firecrackers, and family gatherings where traditional foods are shared such as dumplings (symbolizing wealth), oranges (whose name is a homophone for "success"), and extra-long noodles (to indicate a wish for a long life).
While many people in this country will also be celebrating this holiday this weekend -- including here on campus with a student Lunar New Year meal on Friday afternoon -- they are doing so in a context of great uncertainty, even as people of Asian descent are being profiled, harassed and even violently attacked in communities across this nation by those looking for scapegoats to blame and vilify for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today is also, coincidentally, Asian-American Women's Equal Pay Day. Equal Pay Day denotes how far into the new year women must work to be paid what men were paid the previous year. Started by the National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE) in 1996, the goal was to raise awareness about the gender wage gap for women in various groups. Asian-American women are, as a whole, paid 90 cents for every dollar paid to white men, which means that an Asian-American woman has to work until today in order to earn the amount earned by her white male counterpart in the previous year. Other Equal Pay Day dates throughout the year (March 31 for women as a group; June 4 for mothers; August 13 for Black women; October 1 for Native women; October 29 for Latina women) are listed on our DEI Division Google Calendar.
The fault lines of inequities and prejudice are revealed in this moment, therefore, even as we pause to celebrate a holiday and wish for a new year with greater fortune than the last one. But we must never take the realities of these inequities for granted, nor see them as anything but obstacles to overcome, obstacles to achieving our full collective humanity. As Adam Clark said in his lecture here on campus last week about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "The best way to honor King is not by condemning the segregationist mentality of the 1950's and 60's; it's by using his legacy to combat the injustices that are embedded in our taken-for-grantedness, to deploy what Pedro Arrupe referred to as 'the mysticism of open eyes.'" (Brief clips from his talk are linked below.)
In this week's newsletter, we have a number of opportunities for "the mysticism of open eyes," including a number of exciting Black History Month programs here on campus and in our network, programs, workshops, a new book club, and much more. We've also added a new newsletter feature this week, "watching our words." In this section we will feature various phrases in common American use that some people may use without realizing that others could find them offensive, derogatory, or insulting. The word we're examining this week is "gypped." Read more below.
Wishing you a happy New Year -
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Sincerely,
Tiffany Galvin Green, Ph.D.,
Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
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TOMORROW: Faculty/Staff Webinar: Preparing for Hot Moments
in the Classroom and on Campus, Part II
Friday, February 12, 2021, 3:00-4:00 pm
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Did you miss last week's webinar on "Hot Moments in the Classroom and on Campus"? The discussion for the first session was so rich that many requested a follow-up discussion. Therefore, we will offer a "Part II" session on the same topic on Friday, February 12 at 3:00 pm.
A "hot moment" is a sudden eruption of tension or conflict in a group setting. Are you prepared to handle hot moments when they emerge?
In this webinar, Dr. Tiffany Galvin Green, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Megan Wilson-Reitz, Administrative Coordinator for Diversity and Equity, will lead a discussion on best practices for engaging "hot moments" and converting them into opportunities for learning, growth and dialogue.
Like the first session, Part II is also open to all JCU employees. Click below to register.
Please email diversity@jcu.edu to request access to the recording of Part I of the webinar if you would like to watch it before attending Part II. |
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DEI in the Curriculum: A Faculty Roundtable Discussion
Monday, February 22, 2:30 pm
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Faculty and others involved in curriculum design and delivery are invited to a roundtable discussion on Monday, Feb. 22, facilitated by Tiffany Galvin Green, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, for an open discussion about the status of diversity, equity and inclusion in the JCU curriculum. Please register to receive the Zoom link for this meeting. (If you are unable to join us on Feb. 22 but wish to be included in future conversations on this topic, please drop us a line at diversity@jcu.edu.) |
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Instant Replay: The Resurgence of Antebellum Slavery
Disguised as American Sports
A lecture by Delanté Spencer Thomas, Esq.
Monday, Feb. 22, 5:00-6:30 pm (via Zoom)
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In the past decade, several incidents sparked national debate. The comments by former NBA team owner Donald Sterling and the protests surrounding former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick are among events, alongside the Black Lives Matter movement, that force us to revisit the landscape of professional sports, its ownership and the eerie resemblance to antebellum slavery.
Sponsored by The Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion. Free and open to the public; advance registration required.
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Register now for the Feb/March Faculty/Staff Book Club! |
Our next faculty/staff book club read will span both Black History Month (February) and March (Women's History Month), so our next book selection is a title that honors both months.
The book club will meet on Thursdays at 12:00 noon via Zoom on the following dates: February 18, February 26, March 4, and March 11. The first 20 registrants will receive a copy of the book to keep.
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African-American "Read-In"
Wednesday, February 24, 4:30 pm
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In celebration of Black History Month, be part of the first and oldest event dedicated to diversity in literature. The African American Read-In was formed in 1990 by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English (www.ncte.org). The program is designed to make literacy an integral part of Black History Month. Join the more than six million people who have participated in the program.
Featured readers include:
• Honey Bell-Bey, Poet Laureate of Cuyahoga County
• Chelbi Graham, JCU Class of 2019
How the event will work:
- Setting is an open virtual mic format through Zoom. Register early!
- Bring short excerpts from books, poems, essays, research studies authored by African American authors (living or deceased)
- Reading needs to be between 3 to 5 minutes.
- Works of fiction and nonfiction are encouraged for this all-ages event.
- Students, staff, faculty, and the public are encouraged to listen and participate in this free program.
- Use #AfricanAmericanReadIn, #BHM, and #BlackHistory in your social media to contribute to this international event!
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CSDI Wayfinders Program Launch
and "Interview Questions" Workshop Feb. 16th
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The Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion officially launched the Wayfinders Program on January 27th with a kick-off student workshop titled "Introduction to Microinternships" featuring the business-to-business service provider Parker Dewey. Kristen Schrader, Director of Partnerships at Parker Dewey, shared insights with our students. Follow the links to access the workshop recording and the workshop slideshow.
JCU students from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to create a profile and apply for these paid, off-campus short term positions. One key takeaway for students is to frequently check the platform to review and apply to available positions.
On Tuesday, February 16th at 2:00 pm, the Wayfinders Program will host Jasmine Lastery, SHRM-CP, Human Resources Specialist, for an Interview Questions workshop. Join us to learn more on how to be ready for interviews, answer unexpected questions, the STAR method, and more. Click here to register for the Interview Questions workshop.
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Register now for the
21-Day Challenge for Racial Equity and Social Justice!
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The DEI Division is encouraging ALL members of the JCU community to sign up for the 21-Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge this March!
The Challenge is designed to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership.
The Challenge starts on Monday, March 1st and continues (Monday –Friday) through March 29th. It is sponsored by the YWCA of Greater Cleveland.
Each day of the challenge you will be presented with activities such as reading an article, listening to a podcast, reflecting on personal experience and more. Participation in an activity like this helps us to discover how racial injustice and social injustice impact our community, to connect with one another, and to identify ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination.
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Verb. Infinitive "to gyp."
Used as a synonym for being cheated out of something, e.g.: "We were expecting a big luncheon but they only served snacks. We were gypped!"
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This expression originates with the term "Gypsy," a word used to describe the ethnic group more appropriately known as the Roma people. The nomadic Roma have for centuries been negatively stereotyped as thieving, dishonest, and untrustworthy by those outside their community. Using the word "gyp" as a synonym for "cheat" or "swindle" draws upon these derogatory stereotypes and is, therefore, a racial slur. Read more about the origins of the phrase here.
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Do you have a word or phrase you'd like us to feature in "Watching our Words"?
Drop it into our Suggestion Box and we will add it in a future newsletter!
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Announcements from our network... |
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The Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities
presents
"Eyes to See: An Anti-Racism Examen"
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In collaboration with colleagues across our member institutions -- including many colleagues here at John Carroll University -- the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) has designed Eyes to See: An Anti-Racism Examen. The Examination of Consciousness — or Examen — is a practice used by Jesuits and their colleagues for helping us to make choices and act in ways that better the world. The practice of the Examen is as applicable to colleges and universities as it is to individuals.
The Anti-Racism Examen focuses on matters of race and racism that are specific to us and our institutions. Consisting of three parts (a video, a guided Examen, and resources for further discussion), it has been developed as a resource for boards, senior leadership teams, faculty, staff, and mixed groups of college/university colleagues. Flexible and adaptable, it can be tailored to suit the needs of groups on Jesuit campuses.
The central visual element of the Anti-Racism Examen is a 15-minute long video featuring the voices of colleagues from across the AJCU network, sharing their experiences with racism and hopes for the future. You can watch it above, then click the link below for the full range of resources.
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St. Mary's University hosts
"A Conversation on Race, Ethnicity, Equality, and Equity"
(With a panel featuring our very own Tiffany Galvin Green!)
Wednesday, February 24, 8:00-9:30 pm ET
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This conversation will provide insight into the concepts of Race, Ethnicity, Equality, and Equity and discuss systematic barriers impacting underrepresented groups and strategies on how to overcome these challenges. This discussion will also share insights on how Catholic Universities and communities can be Anti-Racist.
Panelists
- Mr. Johnathan Butler, Esq. Equity Manager for the City of San Antonio
- Dr. Christopher Whitt, Vice Provost for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion at Creighton University
- Dr. Tiffany Galvin Green, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at John Carroll University
Sponsored by the President’s Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Center of Catholic Studies, St. Mary's University, San Antonio, Texas, as part of their Black History Month celebration.
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Cleveland Public Library Presents
"Understanding Policing in the 21st Century"
Saturday, February 27, 1:00 pm
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Cleveland Public Library will host a free public event featuring Jelani Cobb and Heather McGhee in a frank conversation on the topic of "Policing in the 21st Century." This conversation is part of the Cleveland Public Library’s Writers & Readers series, which engages authors, academics, and public figures in discussions surrounding the books and stories that have shaped their lives.
The discussion will be accompanied by a virtual workshop entitled "Understanding Policing in the 21st Century," Wednesday, February 24 at 6:30 p.m. featuring civil rights attorneys Terry Gilbert and Gordon Friedman, facilitated by James Levin.
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Also at Cleveland Public Library: In partnership with WOIO 19 News and their Next 400 initiative, Cleveland Public Library will host a Facebook Live discussion about vaccines and the African American experience on Thursday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m. Find out more on the CPL Facebook Page.
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Xavier University launches a "Race and Ignatian Spirituality" Video Series |
Xavier University's "Jesuit Resources" page is featuring a new video series, along with other Ignatian resources for Black History Month. |
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BHM events in the AJCU
The Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) has compiled a list of Black History Month events at Jesuit institutions across the country, including prayer services, panels, and lectures by scholars and activists. Most are virtual events and open to the public.
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Jesuit Antiracism Retreat Re-Released for BHM |
In honor of Black History Month, The Jesuit Post is re-releasing “Know Justice, Know Peace: A Jesuit Antiracism Retreat.” It is a series of twelve talks published in video, podcast, and text across TJP’s media platforms. The retreat seeks to assist Christians in their growth as antiracist followers of Jesus. These talks are intended to be accompanied by inner reflection and prayer by those who wish to follow along.
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What we're reading this week ...
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In case you missed it...
clips from last week's conversation with Adam Clark
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"The radical King is the most relevant image of King to explore the contemporary contradictions of America." |
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"There's a new racism... a color-blind racism. And its practices are much more subtle." |
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