Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Events

March 31, 2018 - 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET

Come join the University of Michigan School of Social for Building Power: Organizing Effectively Against White Supremacy. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from action-driven leaders in social justice, participate in small and large group discussions, and develop action plans for adopting social justice lifestyles. There will be two tracks for conference workshops. The Community Organizing Track will be for individuals who want to develop a deeper understanding of privilege, oppression, and intercultural issues and leave with tangible skills, including skills surrounding direct action strategies. The Individual Leadership Track will be for people who do not identify as community organizers, but want foundational skills and information to combat white supremacy every day and within their chosen professions. More information about the day’s schedule and speakers, form may be found at: https://umsswconference.wixsite.com/buildingpower (website will continue to be updated).

Accessibility: The conference will be in the basement and first floor in the School of Social Work. The building is wheelchair accessible, and includes an elevator. There are options for gendered and non-gendered bathrooms. For any other questions re: accessibility, please feel free to email [email protected]. This event is free and open to all members of the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti community, along with students from across the University of Michigan campus.

March 28, 2018 - 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET

Staff from Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) will be leading mindfulness activities and a workshop to discuss techniques for self-care, time management and how to overcome procrastination.

March 26, 2018 - 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM ET

Invisible Identities is an event hosted by the Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion and international students at the School of Social Work, sponsored by the Office of Student Services. This event strives to get individual’s voices heard regarding their experiences of being misidentified. Many people are quick to assume someone is white, able bodied, straight, or many other visible identities, when in fact they do not identify as that. Come join our team as students share their experiences and learn how to not be so quick to identify someone. Lunch will be provided.

RSVP Here »

March 20, 2018 - 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM ET

This workshop will be facilitated by experts from the International Center. It is designed to increase awareness, knowledge, and critical skills related to international student support at the School of Social Work. The topics of this workshop include 1) current immigration environment faced by international students, 2) cross-cultural matters regarding language and learning styles, and 3) ways to enhance academic success among international students. We will examine immigration laws and current political climate, address issues of concern to vulnerability and invisibility, and discuss practical teaching approaches in increasingly multi-cultural settings. In addition, results of an international student survey will be presented along with student speak-outs.

1.5 Macro CEU hours are offered.

This workshop is a collaborative effort between the U-M International Center and the School of Social Work's Office of Global Activities, the Associated Dean for Educational Programs, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office.

RSVP

March 19, 2018 - 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET

Moving from a Period of Normal Science to Revolution: Wealth Inequality and Education in America

In The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Thomas Kuhn discusses how periods of normal science are interrupted by periods of revolutionary science. Kuhn suggests that during periods of normal science researchers identify questions to investigate based on existing knowledge. The insights gained from these analyses are constrained, then, by the limits of the prevailing paradigm. Resulting changes tend to mostly comprise tweaks around the margins, rather than fundamental reconsiderations. Periods of normal science persist until the current is no longer able to solve a growing number of the problems, or when external events provoke a clamor for a different vision, a revolution.

The U.S. financial aid model has been in a period of normal science for far too long. The goal of financial aid has been narrowly framed as only helping young adults pay for college, a low bar that completely ignores its potential to have a positive influence on early education, college completion, and post-college financial health. It’s a model in need of a revolution. Revolutions seldom start, however, without a spark. U.S. policy innovation has been ignited by such sparks in the past.

Lunch will be served, please RSVP.

RSVP here »

Sponsored by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office and the Office of Student Services.

March 16, 2018 - 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM ET

The International Center, in collaboration with the Spectrum Center, CGIS, and MESA, are putting on this student panel highlighting the experiences of queer students abroad.

March 7, 2018 - 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET

Creating Change In and Out of the Profession: Tactics for Social Work Advocacy 

Duane Breijak, LMSW-Macro (MSW '12)
Director of Member Services, NASW Michigan Chapter

Allan Wachendorfer, LMSW-Macro (MSW '14)
Director of Public Policy, NASW Michigan Chapter 

Wondering how to best advocate in the current political climate? How do we as social workers make change within our own field? There are countless ways social workers can and should leverage their skills, expertise, and voices to make lasting change on policy and legislative levels. In this workshop, Allan and Duane will provide an overview of current Michigan legislation that has potential implications for social workers and social justice, discuss ways to make change within the profession, and learn strategies to utilize NASW as your professional ally. Ethical considerations and obligations will also be covered.

Lunch will be served, please RSVP.

RSVP here »

Sponsored by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office and the Office of Student Services.

March 6, 2018 - 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM ET

Join the DEI Office for a “Lunch and Learn” session focused on LGBTQ policy in America. Learn about the state of protections for LGBTQ folks both past and present, and where we might be headed under the Trump administration and beyond. We invite you to learn not only for yourself, but also to be better prepared to serve your LGBTQ clients and constituents, and to talk about ways that you can better protect and advocate for yourself and your clients.

RSVP here »

February 19, 2018 - 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET

As we continue to highlight the thought provoking social justice work being done by community leaders. We bring you Prof. Katie Doyle. Prof. Doyle brings us the insight regarding youth and homelessness.

Walk In Their Shoes: Last year alone, there were (at least) 1250+ children and youth in Washtenaw County who experienced homelessness. This simulation sheds light on the daily challenges of our promising young neighbors who happen to be homeless. In this session, participants will “walk in the shoes” of a youth or family experiencing homelessness and learn how individuals and organizations help. We will also explore the ethical implications of running "simulations" like this one.

**We are scheduled for noon - 2:00. Participants should be ready to start the simulation by 12:15, and stay at least until 1:30 to get the most out of the experience.

Lunch will be served.

RSVP here »

February 13, 2018 - 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM ET

In honor of Black History Month join the New Leaders in African-Centered Social Work Scholars & the Learning Community on Poverty and Inequality (LCPI) for the film viewing and discussion of "Flint", the retelling of the Flint water crisis staring Queen Latifah.

Dinner will be provided.

RSVP here »

February 8, 2018 - 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM ET

The W.M. Trotter Multicultural Center is honored to be centering the voices of transgender and non-binary individuals at our 4th Annual W.M. Trotter Lecture, with a particular focus on the intersecting identities of gender and race. We are beyond thrilled to welcome to the University of Michigan, speakers Janet Mock, author of Redefining Realness, Surpassing Certainty, and King Amiyah Scott of Fox Network’s STAR. Current and former students and staff from the University of Michigan will also contribute to this phenomenal event! We aim to hold a space in which the personal narratives and lives of trans folks can be shared, celebrated, and honored.

Previous lectures include The Black Male Athlete; Who is He and What is He to You in 2016, which was held in the Ross Auditorium, celebrating Student Leaders in 2015; as well as, the 2014 Inaugural W.M. Trotter Lecture that featured activist, poet, and educator Cheryl Clarke.

February 7, 2018 - 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET

The School of Social Work invites you to the Social Justice Matter Series. The event surrounds meaningful dialogue and discussion about how we as social work professionals can become better involved and continue to advocate for change in this ever-changing climate.  Faculty and/or community advocates will share their expertise and approach in addressing social justice and advocacy that may include but are not limited to; best practice, interventions, and strategic skills across an array of areas.

Join us as we welcome Dr. Matthew Smith.

The title of the talk will be: "Bringing a Social Justice Lens to Virtual Reality Job Interview Training to Meet the Grand Challenges of Social Work".

Professor Smith will present his work developing and evaluating his "Virtual Reality Job Interview Training" tools among several marginalized groups that face an uphill battle to find employment. He will also provide a brief demonstration of the intervention and discuss the vision for how this work can move forward to help additional groups enhance their access to employment.

Lunch will be served.

RSVP here »

February 6, 2018 - 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM ET

In this panel session, we will hear from LGBTQIA+ teens in our community. They will bravely share their stories and talk about what they need from us.

February 6, 2018 - 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM ET

Rita Chin, Professor of History

Kristin Dickinson, Assistant Professor of Germanic Languages and Literatures

Damani Partridge, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Afroamerican and African Studies

In 2010, the leaders of Germany, Britain, and France each declared that multiculturalism had failed in their countries. Over the past decade, a growing consensus in Europe has voiced similar decrees. But what do these ominous proclamations, from across the political spectrum, mean? From the influx of immigrants in the 1950s to contemporary worries about refugees and terrorism, "The Crisis of Multiculturalism in Europe" examines the historical development of multiculturalism on the Continent. Rita Chin argues that there were few efforts to institute state-sponsored policies of multiculturalism, and those that emerged were pronounced failures virtually from their inception. She shows that today's crisis of support for cultural pluralism isn't new but actually has its roots in the 1980s.

Chin looks at the touchstones of European multiculturalism, from the urgent need for laborers after World War II to the public furor over the publication of "The Satanic Verses" and the question of French girls wearing headscarves to school. While many Muslim immigrants had lived in Europe for decades, in the 1980s they came to be defined by their religion and the public's preoccupation with gender relations. Acceptance of sexual equality became the critical gauge of Muslims' compatibility with Western values. The convergence of left and right around the defense of such personal freedoms against a putatively illiberal Islam has threatened to undermine commitment to pluralism as a core ideal. Chin contends that renouncing the principles of diversity brings social costs, particularly for the left, and she considers how Europe might construct an effective political engagement with its varied population.

Challenging the mounting opposition to a diverse society, "The Crisis of Multiculturalism in Europe" presents a historical investigation into one continent's troubled relationship with cultural difference.

Event Accessibility: Ramp and elevator access at the E. Washington Street entrance (by the loading dock). There are accessible restrooms on the south end of Lane Hall, on each floor of the building. A gender neutral restroom is available on the first floor.

February 5, 2018 - 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM ET

Join us as historian Douglas Lewis (Attorney/Director, University of Michigan Student Legal Services) shares stories about the courageous contributions of Blacks in shaping the West. His interactive presentation and larger than life stories will enlighten and inspire us all.

February 5, 2018 - 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM ET

Please join us in welcoming Pidgeon Pagonis (pronouns: they/them) to campus. Pidgeon will be opening the 3rd Annual LGBTQ Health and Wellness Week on Monday, February 5th in the Educational Conference Center in the School of Social Work Building.

Pidgeon (Chicago, IL) is an intersex activist, educator, and filmmaker. They are a leader in the intersex movement’s fight for bodily autonomy and justice. Their goal is to deconstruct the dangerous myths that lead to violations of intersex people’s human rights, including common, irreversible medical procedures performed without consent to make bodies conform to binary sex stereotypes.

Pidgeon has a decade’s worth of experience giving talks and facilitating intersex workshops around the globe. In 2015, they received the LGBT Champion of Change Award from the White House. They can be seen on the cover of National Geographic’s January 2017 issue titled, "Gender Revolution". This past fall, they co-led the #LurieEndSurgery protest outside of Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago on Intersex Awareness Day.

This event is free and open to the public.

February 3, 2018 - 9:30 PM to February 4, 2018 1:00 AM ET

A closing night celebration of No Safety Net

Having important, often tough, and constructive conversations is worth celebrating. And after three weeks of No Safety Net, with over 20 performances and many community dialogues and workshops, we all deserve a little self-care. Join us for a relaxed closing night celebration featuring DJs from Detroit’s Seraphine Collective, appearances by No Safety Net artists, mixing and mingling, snacks, and a cash bar. Ages 18+. Free entry with a No Safety Net ticket stub, or $5 cover; cash bar.

February 3, 2018 - 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM ET

In the last five years, the visibility of transgender people has increased dramatically. From Laverne Cox's meteoric rise to fame portraying a transgender inmate on "Orange is the New Black" to the high profile gender transition of athlete and television personality Caitlyn Jenner, we've entered into a moment where gender identity is at the forefront of our cultural conversation. This combined lecture and panel will provide a basic primer on preferred language around gender identity, and explore the lived experiences of transgender people in our community.

In collaboration with the U-M Spectrum Center's "My Voice" program, which provides panels of trained LGBTQ+ speakers to share their personal stories with audiences. My Voice panels provide information about LGBTQ+ from personal experiences and facilitate vibrant discussions about topics of attractionality, sexuality, and gender.

Post-Performance

UMS will invite a panel of community leaders, thinkers, and activists to engage with audience members around the themes of each performance. The floor will be open to panelists and audience members alike to reflect on, discuss, analyze, and respond to the performance they've just experienced. Panelists to be announced.

February 2, 2018 - 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM ET

This workshop introduces principles and practices for thoughtfully engaging with communities, including motivations, impact of social identities, and strategies for engaging in reciprocal, ethical, and respectful ways. This interactive session engages participants through small and large group activities and discussion, applying principles for effective community engagement to the practice of social work. Offered by Edward Ginsberg Center staff, in partnership with the SSW Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

RSVP here »

January 31, 2018 - 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM ET

Written and performed by Becca Blackwell
Directed by and developed with Ellie Heyman

"The audience emerged from the theater with a greater awareness of a sociocultural transformation underway… from confusion to denial, to reconciliation to who-the-****-cares-let-the- love-in…" (Bomb Magazine)

Part classic standup comedy special, part confessional memoir, and part performance art, They, Themself and Schmerm is Becca Blackwell's disturbingly hilarious personal tale detailing the tragicomic transitions in life, family, sex, and gender while asking what it means to be truly authentic. A New York-based trans actor, performer, and writer, Becca exists between genders and works collaboratively with playwrights and directors to expand our sense of personhood and the body through performance.

Contains adult language and frank discussion of gender and sexuality.

This performance is part of UMS's No Safety Net theater festival - a three-week look at works of theater that embrace contemporary social issues. Details available at ums.org/NoSafetyNet.

Additional Dates:

Wednesday, January 31 // 7:30 pm

Thursday, February 1 // 7:30 pm

Friday, February 2 // 8 pm

Saturday, February 3 // 8 pm

Watch Excerpts from They, Themself and Schmerm.
 

January 30, 2018 - 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM ET

Panel of experts will discuss their experiences in navigating their LGBTQ identities in the academia. Participants will also be given strategies. 

Registration is required: https://secure.rackham.umich.edu/wsEvents/wsreg.php?ws_id=472

January 29, 2018 - 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET

The SSW DEI Office will be hosting a movie showing to celebrate MLK Day and the upcoming Black History Month. We will be showing the documentary I am Not Your Negro which explores the history of racism in the United States through James Baldwin's recollections of civil rights leaders and his personal observations of American history. Food will be provided.

RSVP here »

January 27, 2018 - 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM ET

This workshop introduces principles and practices for thoughtfully engaging with communities, including motivations, impact of social identities, and strategies for engaging in reciprocal, ethical, and respectful ways. This interactive session engages participants through small and large group activities and discussion, applying principles for effective community engagement to the practice of social work. Offered by Edward Ginsberg Center staff, in partnership with the SSW Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

RSVP here »