Spring 2020 "Brave Space" Lunch and Learn Series

The President’s Office on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DE&I) is pleased to announce a “Brave Space” Lunch and Learn Series on DE&I beginning February 19 and continuing through April 29, 2020.  The goal of the series is to provide an informal and safe environment for faculty and staff to have conversations and learn concepts and skills that will help them thoughtfully engage in a diverse and inclusive campus community.

All faculty and staff are welcome, bring your lunch and join the conversation. To indicate you plan to attend a session, please email  Christine Grant at cgrant@hartford.edu

Intent vs. Impact

February 19, Noon-1 p.m.  GSU 345

Facilitator: Martha Brackeen-Harris

Sometimes our words or actions have an unexpected impact on others. Although our intent was not to cause discomfort or anger, the impact on the receiver can be profound and wide-reaching.   Join us for a conversation that explores the meanings of the “oops and ouches” in our everyday conversations. Discuss some of the words and actions that trigger adverse reactions and what strategies can be used to lessen the hurt and confusion in that moment and reduce these occurrences in the future.

Generational Diversity

March 4, Noon- 1 p.m., Greenberg Center

Facilitators: Erica Michalowski, MSW, Community Outreach Director, AARP CT

Migdalia Cruz, Community Outreach Specialist, AARP CT

In this session, you will learn how an aging populace is creating a changing workforce and approaches to spark innovation, growth and varied thinking preferences.  This interactive session will provide new tools and perspectives for being proactive when it comes to the aging trend and how your role can enhance the experience for all generations. 

“To Ally” Is a Verb: Supporting LGBTQ+ Students, Staff, and Faculty

March 11, Noon-1 p.m. Greenberg Center.

Facilitator: Robin McHaelen, Executive Director, True Colors, Inc.

People are allies to the LGBTQ+ community for a variety of different reasons, and have different levels of comfort, experience, and knowledge about how heterosexism and homophobia affect both "straight" and LGBTQ+ people. Accordingly, there are many different ways to be an Ally. You can help make UHART a safe inclusive campus by becoming a human safe zone! Let’s talk about how.

Identity Covering at Work

April 15, Noon-1 p.m.  GSU 345

Facilitator: Annette Rogers, Clinical Instructor of Management and Marketing, Barney School of Business

Identity covering is the phenomenon known as “covering,” a form of identity management where an individual downplays or disassociates from one of their identities. This is seen as a serious obstacle to inclusion. This session will help us to explore the topic of covering by asking attendees to participate in creating guiding principles for respecting identities in our work environment based on a philosophy of “it takes a village to create an inclusive community.” The discussion will include more about covering and how we can begin to encourage the release of all of our identities to create an inclusive community for all.

Intersectionality

April 22, Noon-1 p.m. GSU 335 Facilitator: Markeysha Dawn Davis, PhD Assistant Professor of Africana Studies & Literature, Hillyer College

Privilege and oppression impact our identities in one way or another and recent theories provide insight into how we might break that cycle to share and promote a more equitable society, especially within our campus community. This discussion will unpack what systemic injustice is, how privilege works and for whom, and how we might disrupt or “break” cycles of power to promote justice and share agency.

Whiteness: Power, Privilege, Denial, and Backlash

April 29, Noon-1p.m. GSU 335Facilitator:  Woody Doane, PhD, Associate Dean; Department Chair of Social Science, Hillyer College

Come to discuss:

• What does it mean to be white? How is whiteness embedded in U.S. history and society?
• What is “white privilege?” How is it related to power?
• Is it useful to think of “shades of whiteness” (differences among whites)? Does an intersectional approach help us understand the social impact of whiteness?
• How do we explain white denial of racism, racial resentment, and backlash? How is this connected to current conflicts in the U.S.?
• Is there a path forward? What are the strategies for white antiracism?

For more information about any of these sessions, contact Christine Grant, Special Assistant to the President for Diversity and Community Engagement at cgrant@hartford.edu.