We are at the mid-point of the semester and approaching a turning point in the year. As the days begin to shorten and the leaves begin to fall, our connections to each other forge the bonds that will help sustain our engagement and energy in the months ahead. DEI themes for the rest of the fall term focus on fostering belonging. We hope the events featured in this newsletter help nurture belonging and inclusion in our Tippie community.
The following represents more of a curated list than a catalog. For a fuller listing of all that is available in the UI community please check out the Division of DEI’s events https://diversity.uiowa.edu/Celebrations/october-2022-celebrations
Pam Bourjaily, on behalf of the Tippie DEI Committee (Julie Alexander, Kris Arens, Pam Bourjaily, Gabrielle Chelette, Larry Cook, Amy McDonald, Gabriela Rivera, Michele Williams, Ying Yang, Armando Zavaleta and student liaisons Jacob Mascardo and Mina Song)
Featured Tippie event relating to DEI and belonging
Tippie Monday Memoir: Mon. Oct. 17, 12:30 – 1:00 pm (Zoom)
“Does Success Require White-Washing? Becoming Your Authentic Self: A Journey in Progress” with Hira Mustafa
Join Zoom Meeting
https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/5349208362
Please join us for our 2nd Monday Memoir as we feature a former Tippie student and UI alumna, Hira Mustafa’19. Hira served as President of UI Student Government, recognized nationally as Student Body President of the Year, and received the Hancher Finkbine Medallion. After 2 years as a management consultant at Accenture, she is currently a 1L at Fordham and a TikTok influencer, sharing her south-Asian identity with a growing platform of over 200K followers.
Featured UI Calendar events relating to DEI and to belonging
https://diversity.uiowa.edu/Celebrations/october-2022-celebrations
LGBTQ+ History Month: There’s so many events, including National Coming Out Day on Tuesday, Oct. 11 and Inclusive Field Day on Saturday, Oct. 22 at Hubbard Park. Here’s how to connect with what’s available https://multicultural.uiowa.edu/celebrations/lgbtq-history-month
National Disability Employment Awareness Day was Oct. 1. Here’s an event to attend later this month: UI Lecture Committee event:
- Deaf Gain: How Being Different Can Be a Benefit, Dr. Joseph J. Murray, Professor of Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University. Thursday, Oct. 13, 7:00 PM, Main Lounge, IMU
Indigenous People’s Day is October 10 - Here’s a link to the university’s Acknowledgement of Land and Sovereignty https://nativeamericancouncil.org.uiowa.edu/acknowledgement-land-and-sovereignty
Celebrations of cultural heritage and pride – including the continuation of Latinx/a/o Heritage month https://multicultural.uiowa.edu/celebrations/latinx-heritage-month,
Filipino American History Month https://diversity.uiowa.edu/Celebrations/october-2022-celebrations
Italian American Heritage Month https://library.qc.cuny.edu/blog/italian-american-heritage-month-highlights-from-the-italian-american-studies-guide/
Homecoming Week is October 23 – 29 – There’s more to Homecoming than the Saturday game with Northwestern—here’s a link to the week’s events, including a Multicultural Block Party on Tues. Oct. 25 https://homecoming.uiowa.edu/schedule-events
Ongoing UI workshops and trainings relating to DEI and belonging
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion-Related Workshops for faculty, staff, and grad students (incl. Sparkshops!):
Sessions for 2022-23 are available for registration through the Employee Self-Service My Trainings portal. Multiple sections will be offered in the series listed below:
- Building University of Iowa Leadership for Diversity (BUILD) Certificate Program: This initiative is an opportunity to gain strategic knowledge and skills to contribute to a welcoming and inclusive environment.
- LGBTQ Safe Zone Project: This campus-wide program offers a visible message of inclusion, affirmation, and support to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people in the university community.
- National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI): This campus-wide program works through a coalition-building model to provide leadership training for inclusion and equity with the goal of eliminating all forms of prejudice and discrimination.
To learn more about these UI DEI workshops and additional initiatives** visit training and workshop options.
** Check out Sparkshops: In partnership with Faculty Senate and Center for Teaching, Inclusive Education and Strategic Initiatives host 20-minute sessions focused on one specific skill or practice.
Our goals are that individuals who participate in these sessions will:
- Explore quick skills and tips around relevant DEI-related topics
- Increase connection and exposure to larger initiatives across campus
- Build confidence around inclusive and equitable practices
Each session is framed around thinking about what, so what, and now what.
Cultivating Inclusive Communities: New, online, and voluntary, DEI simulation-based professional development program available for faculty and staff this fall.
Using Kognito’s learning methodology, game design, and simulation sciences, the program will enhance conversational skills in a practice-based scenario. These communication strategies will improve confidence and preparedness to have conversations across differences while supporting faculty and staff’s role in cultivating inclusive communities.
We end the newsletter with a shout out to Halloween on Monday, Oct. 31 – here’s some of the backstory on the holiday:
All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween) is a celebration observed in a number of countries on the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. It begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs and all the faithful departed.
Samhain (October 31 – November 1)
Samhain is a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter or "darker-half" of the year. The Festival of Samhain marked the end of the Celtic year and the beginning of the new one and as such can be seen to the equivalent of New Year's Eve.
In the northern hemisphere, it is held on November 1st, but with celebrations beginning on the evening of October 31st, as the Celtic day began and ended at sunset.
Samhain is thought to be the inspiration behind Halloween, as - during this day - a family's ancestors were honored and invited home, whilst harmful spirits were warded off. People wore costumes and masks to disguise themselves as harmful spirits and thus avoid harm. Bonfires and food played a large part in the festivities.