Unity Star Newsletter
Mark Your Calendars! Diversity Week 2015
Although it may not seem like it, October is right around the corner, and the summer for ODI means Diversity Week planning is underway. This year, Diversity Week will take place from October 12-16, with the Diversity Breakfast happening on Monday, October 12 at 8 AM. As our signature event, we always invite our UCF family to participate in, create, host, or present an event that will reflect the year’s theme. This year, it is: RESPECT UCF: Engaging, Exploring and Advancing an Inclusive Culture. You also may offer any other activity that you believe encompasses the ideals behind diversity and inclusion here at UCF and/ or in the Central Florida community at large. More information about how you can be a part of Diversity Week, and how to submit a program request will be available on our website mid-summer.
Diversity and Inclusion Impact Awards
Applications are now online, if you or someone you know has shown exemplary service and commitment to enhancing diversity and inclusion here at UCF. Please consider nominating them before August 14. Award categories include Community Partner Diversity and Inclusion Impact Award, Faculty/ Staff Diversity and Inclusion Impact Award, and Student Diversity and Inclusion Impact Award. Complete eligibility requirements are on our website. Winners will be announced during the Diversity Breakfast on October 12.
Diversity Week Student Poster Contest Last year, we held the Diversity Week Student Poster Contest. We had so many great submissions from our talented and creative Knights that we brought it back. This year’s theme is RESPECT UCF: Engaging, Exploring and Advancing an Inclusive Culture, and we’d like to encourage our artistic students to submit a poster Two submissions design which from 2014’s could serve as Diversity Student Poster Contest
the representative image for the 2015 Diversity Week. Students are asked to visit our website, www.diversity.ucf. edu, for complete rules and entry form. Please send your poster design to us by 12 Noon on June 30, 2015. The top 15 selections will be announced on July 13. This is a great opportunity for student designers to gain exposure not only within the UCF campus, but within the Central Florida community. Happy designing, and good luck!
Distribution: All Without OPS and F
Summer 2015
Walk On!
On March 28, we joined this year’s AIDS Walk Orlando, as part of Team RESPECT UCF. As a group, we raised over $800 in support of the work the Hope & Help Center does in its mission to end HIV/AIDS in Central Florida. On May 2, Team RESPECT UCF joined the Best Buddies Friendship Walk, to support leadership development and integrated job opportunities for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Take note of RESPECT UCF as you’ll be seeing this message a lot this year. We’ll be bringing you more walks you can join and more event presentations.
Team RESPECT UCF at AIDS Walk Orlando in Lake Eola. Photo courtesy of Hank Lewis.
WWW.DIVERSITY.UCF.EDU Gets a Facelift We are excited to announce that this summer there will be a new look to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s website. We’ll still bring you the information you need about the diversity and inclusion climate here at UCF, training, events, and our wonderful mentoring programs, but on a more dynamic platform, with a modern look. Keep checking our website for updates on this, and many new projects coming to you from your Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
ODI Spotlight
Cheers and Standing Ovations
Congratulations to our LEP and LEGACY 2014-2015 Scholars April 13 saw the closing in this year’s LEGACY ceremony of another Connect program successful year with the aimed at motivating members of the 2014-2015 the junior and senior Leadership Enhancement students at Evans High Program. The outstanding School to continue their women and men of this year’s educations beyond the class worked together to high school corridors produce a great Leadership was exemplary. For their Institute on March 27, where dedication to LEGACY, close to 200 guests attended and the scholars they a variety of breakout collaborated with during sessions on Inspiring their time in LEGACY, Leadership through Diversity: we thank you and wish A Mosaic of Opportunities. you only the best in your From the exhilarating future endeavors. keynote speaker, Dr. Pamela 2014-2015 LEP Members: McCauley’s presentation on Front Row: Mr. Rupert A. Neish II , Ms. SueAnn Mann, Ms. Traci A. “The Incredible Power of Milbuta, Dr. Baiyun Chen, Ms. Jennifer A. Elliott, Ms. Vanessa B. Cogswell, Ms. Kallie A. Reyes, Mr. Rhodney L. Browdy Back Row: Ms. Lisa A. Cruz, Resilience,” to Mr. Jacques Werleigh’s reflections Ms. Jenna R. Nobili, Ms. Brittany L. Blount, Dr. Vanessa A. Lopez-Littleton on “Dreaming Big,” this year’s LEP members 2014-2015 LEGACY brought together a group of Graduating Scholars individuals which reflected Seated: Mareysha Romero, the “mosaic” that makes up Gelissa Bultron, Rechelle Lambert, Christal Peterson, UCF. To the 2014-2015 LEP Sylvia Revangile, Andrea Scholars, we wish you much Young, Louise Bass, success in your UCF careers. Erin Pearson Exactly three days prior, we were congratulating Mentors the senior scholars of the Standing: Mr. A.J. Range, LEGACY Leadership and Ms. Holly McDonald, Ms. Mentoring Program on their Kathy-Ann Daniels Gittens, commitment to reaching Mr. Franklin Soares, Dr. Lisa Barkley their graduation goals. As a team, this group of scholars worked to inspire an even younger group of future Applications for the LEP Program will be available online in January of 2016. leaders. Their participation LEGACY Applications will be available online during the summer semester for fall enrollment. 2
Summer 2015 Workshop and Training Schedule TO REGISTER: • Faculty and Staff ONLY, register online via your My UCF account at https://my.ucf.edu. • Students or OPS, please e-mail your name, phone number, and PID/employee I.D. number to diverse@ucf.edu. • For the Safe Zone LGBTQ+ 101 workshops, use http://safezone.sdes.ucf.edu/training. For detailed descriptions of the diversity workshops offered, visit www.diversity.ucf.edu. Other opportunities for diversity workshops may be scheduled by calling the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at (407) 823-6479, or by e-mailing diverse@ucf.edu. All workshops are FREE unless otherwise noted. Please note that LOCATIONS VARY.
ABCs OF DIVERSITY (DIV008)
Tuesday, June 2, 1:30 - 4:30 PM Location: Research Pavilion, Suite 169 Facilitator: Barbara Thompson
DIVERSITY CERTIFICATE SERIES
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR UCF’S CULTURAL COMPETENCIES (DIV150) ONLINE
Visit: www.diversity.ucf.edu/online_workshops.asp, and follow the instructions. You must complete all three sections with a score of 75% or higher to receive credit.
(Attend all four modules to receive completion certificate): MODULES 1 & 2 (DIV210) Monday, June 15, 1:00 - 5:00 PM MODULES 3 & 4 (DIV211) Tuesday, June 16, 1:00 - 5:00 PM Location: Research Pavilion, Suite 169 Facilitator: Barbara Thompson
SECULAR AND RELIGIOUS MINORITY AWARENESS (DIV224)
INCLUSIVE COMMUNICATION (DIV053)
UNDERSTANDING POWER AND PRIVILEGE (DIV016)
Friday, July 24, 1:30 - 4:30 PM Location: Research Pavilion, Suite 169 Facilitator: Barbara Thompson
• Wednesday, May 27, 2:30 - 4:30 PM • Friday, June 26, 2:30 - 4:30 PM Location: Research Pavilion, Suite 169 Facilitator: Tee Rogers
Friday, July 31, 1:30 - 4:30 PM Location: Research Pavilion, Suite 169 Facilitator: Barbara Thompson
Have You Applied?
Diversity Activity Grants - We’re Taking Applications The Diversity Activity Grants program is designed to help fund activities and/or speakers that will enhance the UCF goal “to become more inclusive and diverse.” Grants of up to $250* may be awarded. This program is limited to UCF registered student organizations and faculty and staff organizations. Please note: We only are accepting applications from organizations who have not received this grant within the past two years. You may download an application from our website, www.diversity.ucf.edu.
ODI Services The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is available for individual, group, or classroom meetings in the form of Consultations, Presentations, and Training. For more information visit www.diversity.ucf.edu.
*Your request may not be fully funded. DAG funds cannot be used for food or any other items restricted for purchase with E & G funds. 3
12424 Research Parkway, Suite 169, Orlando, FL 32826 Ph: (407) 823-6479 F: (407) 823-6480 E: diverse@ucf.edu W: www.diversity.ucf.edu Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter: @UCFODI
Diversity Includes All of Us - - All the Time
Spring Activity at ODI
Hosting and co-hosting with much success We started in January with Do All CAH, SVAD, and Student Disability Lives Matter? The first two-person panel Services (now Student Accessibility on January 29 discussed the Tragedy in Sanford and the community’s response. The follow up event was held on February 23 and welcomed four panelists as they discussed the public’s response to the incidents in Ferguson, Staten Island, Cleveland, and Brooklyn. With more than 230 participants in attendance for both dates, conversations were Services). Not only lively, informative, was this a free and the audience’s movie presentation, participation was but the writer/ welcoming. We producer/director, would like to Jenni Gold, was thank everyone in attendance and who attended for Do All Lives Matter? February 23rd Panel. held an open Q&A their insight and Left to right: Robert B. Fisher, Esq., Chief session with those c o n s i d e r a t i o n Richard Beary, Dr. Kareem Jordan, and present. on these critical Commissioner Regina Hill. Also in March, Photo credit: Abi Bell/UCF subjects. we kicked off the On February 11 we co-hosted the first in what will now be known as movie presentation of Endless Abilities the RESPECT UCF Series, with Ms. alongside UCF Housing and Residence Maria Beckman, Director, UCF Office Life and the Recreation and Wellness of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Center. This was followed by the Action, and her presentation of Title presentation of Cinemability on March IX’s Requirements for Addressing Sexual 27 co-sponsored by our colleagues at Harassment in University Environments.
Definitions Document and Committee Formation
Diversity, Inclusion, and Cultural Competency are all aspects of the inclusive culture we strive for here at UCF. “Recognizing that each of us is an intersection of many aspects of diversity emphasizes the complexity of our experiences and the need to develop a culture that appreciates difference and sees diversity as a strength in our role as educational leaders.” This is an excerpt from the Definitions Document currently available in English and Spanish on our website. In the words of our CDO, Karen Morrison, we’re setting up the platform “to lead the university’s efforts to improve communication about our collective diversity and inclusion efforts and to facilitate greater collaboration.” We hope you’re ready to join us. We recently started two new committees designed to improve crosscampus coordination: the UCF Diversity and Inclusion Working Group (DIWG) and the Hispanic Serving Institution Exploratory Committee (HSIEC). 4
The Mission of the DIWG is to support the University of Central Florida’s (UCF’s) goal of becoming more inclusive and diverse, by seeking to: • •
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improve cross-campus communication and collaboration; exchange supportive data and strategies for improving culture and recruitment and retention of faculty, staff and students; discuss policy and procedure for campus diversity and inclusion efforts, training and events; cross-promote programs and events; and anticipate issues and opportunities to improve diversity and inclusion at UCF.
There currently are 26 participants in the DIWG, and we invite you to learn more about it.
Diversity and Inclusion Staff Karen Morrison, J.D. Chief Diversity Officer Barbara Thompson Assistant Director Katie Pomp Administrative Assistant, Diversity Breakfast Coordinator Carmen I. Afonso Executive Secretary Dayanara Hudson Program Assistant Stefanie Campbell LEGACY Coordinator Judith Geneus Office Assistant Morgan Forestier Student Assistant Adrieanna Wilcher Student Assistant