Unity Star Fall 2011

Distribution: All Without OPS and F

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Opportunities for diversity workshops may be scheduled by calling the Office of Diversity Initiatives at 407-823-6479 or by e-mailing diverse@ucf.edu. All workshops are FREE unless otherwise noted.

TO REGISTER: Online registration for Faculty and Staff ONLY at http://my.ucf.edu. Students or OPS please send your name, phone number, PID/employee I.D. number, and e-mail to diverse@ucf.edu.

ABC S OF D IVERSITY (DIV008) Dates and Times (attend one): Monday, September 12, 2011 Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Human diversity impacts each of us on a daily basis. Gaining an understanding of differences and similarities is essential for effective functioning in today’s work environment.

This workshop focuses on how stereotypes and biases can get in the way when creating a diverse and inclusive space for all employees. Participants develop ABC action plans for enhancing awareness and appreciation for diversity.

1:30-4:30 PM 1:30-4:30 PM

Location: Research Pavilion, Suite 169 Facilitator: Barbara Thompson

T HE I MPACT OF S EXUAL V IOLENCE ON A M ODERN S OCIETY (DIV079) Sexual violence is a significant problem in the U.S. According to the Center for Disease Date: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 Control, an estimated 20% to 25% of college women in the U.S. have experienced an attempted or completed rape during their college careers, and an estimated 1 in 6 women Time: 2:00-4:00 PM and 1 in 33 men reported experiencing an attempted or completed rape at some time in their lives. How do we as a modern society address this epidemic? Join motivational Location: SU 224 speaker and AIDS educator Cathy Robinson-Pickett for this open discussion on the issues Facilitator: Cathy Robinson-Pickett and impact of sexual violence and who ultimately shares the cost for such violence. A disFor speaker bio, please see page five. cussion on UCF’s “Mentors in Violence Prevention” program will follow.

D IVERSITY C ERTIFICATE S ERIES (DIV000) Dates and times: Section 1 (attend both; each session 1:00-5:00 PM) Friday, September 16, 2011– Modules 1 & 2 Friday, September 23, 2011– Modules 3 & 4 Section 2 (attend both; each session 1:00-5:00 PM) Wednesday, October 26, 2011– Modules 1 & 2 Wednesday, November 2, 2011– Modules 3 & 4

The world looks different today than it has in the past, and as a consequence, new ways of interacting and communicating with others are required. This four-part program focuses on the legal, ethical, and practical issues organizations face in this dynamic new environment while demonstrating how we can use human diversity to maximize competence and performance.

Module 1: On the Threshold of Change Module 2: Gender & Sexual Orientation Workplace Issues

Location: Research Pavilion, Suite 169

Module 3: Race, Ethnicity, Language & Religion Workplace Issues

Facilitator: Barbara Thompson

Module 4: Age & Physical Ability Workplace Issues

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I NCLUSIVE C OMMUNICATION (DIV053) Dates (attend one): Monday, September 19, 2011 Thursday, December 1, 2011 Time: 1:30-4:30 PM Location: Research Pavilion, Suite 169 Facilitator: Barbara Thompson

This workshop identifies some common mistakes made when communicating about age, class, disabilities, ethnicity, gender, language, looks, race, religion, and sexual orientation. It also highlights words, phrases, and behaviors that can enhance the process of communicating about and across various dimensions of influence.

Note: Workshop requires an interdepartmental transfer or cash/ check payment of $10.00. Tuition for SDES participants has been prepaid. Call (407)-823-6479 for details.

A LLIES A DVANCE (DIV033) Dates, Locations, and Times (attend one):

Learn about issues affecting GLBT people, homophobia, and heterosexism, and the benefits and responsibilities of being an Ally.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011– SU 316D, 3:00-6:00 PM Wednesday, October 19, 2011– SU 316A, 3:00-6:00 PM Tuesday, November 1, 2011– SU 221, 9:00 AM-12:00 Noon Thursday, December 1, 2011– SU 221, 9:00 AM-12:00 Noon Facilitators: Michael Freeman or Counseling Center Staff

T HE ABC S OF D ISCRIMINATION S ERIES (DIV069) Dates (attend all three): Wednesday, September 28, 2011– True Colors and Under Suspicion (race) Wednesday, October 5, 2011– Linguistic Profiling (voice/race) and The Ugly Truth (looks) Wednesday, October 12, 2011– Age & Attitudes (age) and The Fairer Sex? (gender) Time: 2:00-4:30 PM Location: Research Pavilion, Suite 169 Facilitator: Barbara Thompson In past years, ABC News Exposés addressed the issues of racism, ageism, and discrimination based on gender, looks, and voice.

Using the original films, this three part series examines where we were “then” and explores what, if any, progress has been made to alleviate discrimination.

P OWER & P RIVILEGE : M EMBERSHIP H AS I TS B ENEFITS (DIV016) Dates, Times, and Locations (attend one): Wednesday, September 28, 2011, 9:00 AM-12:00 Noon University Tower, 2nd Floor Conference Room Tuesday, October 11, 2011, 9:00 AM-12:00 Noon Rosen Campus, Library Conference Room Tuesday, October 18, 2011, 9:00 AM-12:00 Noon SU 221 Facilitator: Michael Freeman

This session looks at the concepts of power and privilege in detail and describes actions that can be adopted to mitigate the effects of social injustice.

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C OMMUNICATING A CROSS C ULTURES (DIV044) Date: Friday, October 7, 2011

The ability to prevent misunderstandings through effective cross-cultural communication is an important skill in today’s world. This session introduces the three basic Time: 1:30-4:30 PM components of any communication. Further, it dramatically illustrates 12 common Location: Research Pavilion, Suite 169 causes of verbal miscommunication across cultures including conventions for courtesy, degree of assertiveness, accents, and hot buttons. Finally, the crucial role of body lanFacilitator: Barbara Thompson guage in communication is discussed.

C REATING T EACHABLE M OMENTS : A W ORKSHOP Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 Time: 10:00 AM– 12:00 Noon Location: ORC, University Towers Facilitator: Michael Freeman

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W ORKSHOPPING ! (DIV076)

Many everyday experiences of microaggressions, bigotry, and discrimination go unchallenged. There are many reasons for not interrupting them. Beyond reasons of safety, our inaction is often fear or lack of “tools to address” the issue. This workshop will examine the reasons for our “lack of action” as well as provide participants with tools in creating their own “teachable moments.” This is a highly interactive experience with self-assessment, problem-solving, and role playing.

D IVERSITY L EADERSHIP S ERIES Dates and Times (attend all three in order): Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 9:00 AM-12:00 Noon Wednesday, November 2, 2011, 1:00-4:00 PM Tuesday, November 29, 2011, 9:00 AM-12:00 Noon Location: SU 221 Facilitator: Michael Freeman Notes: Pre-requisites for the series are: 1) ABCs of Diversity and 2) Power and Privilege. The leadership series is to be taken in sequence as each course builds upon the previous.

Session 1– The Illusion of Inclusion (DIV021): What does it mean to be inclusive? Is it something you can feel, or does it exist when certain diversity objectives have been met? This workshop explores the critical elements in building organizational inclusion and discusses how to determine whether their implementation creates real and sustainable change or merely reflects “the illusion of inclusion.”

Session 2– The Fine Art of Organizational Transformation (DIV081): Building on the previous workshop on evaluating organizational inclusiveness, this session will examine the process of institutional change required to meet the demands of an effective multicultural organization. Participants will exam the roles of people, policies, and processes in responding to change and development of cultural competencies.

Session 3– Microaggressions–Manifestations, Dynamic & Impact (DIV067): This session expands on the Micromessages of Communication class to explore, as Dr. Sue states, “the damaging consequences of everyday prejudice, bias, and discrimination upon marginalized groups in our society.” These invisible but powerful forms of communication often render the receiver, and others who witness it, marginalized, threatened, and demeaned. Its consequences, personally, interpersonally, and organizationally, are measured in loss of individual performance, team dysfunction, and organizational turnover. This workshop also will provide tools for leaders in creating more inclusive environments for individual and organizational success.

B ARNGA (DIV077) Date: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 Time: 2:30-4:30 PM Location: OD&T Training Room Facilitator: Patty Farris

Barnga is a simulation activity that allows participants to explore and experience the challenges and communication barriers of life in a cross-cultural setting. Participants will recognize the subtlety of cultural differences, understand how cultural differences can create communication barriers, and discover and discuss ways to overcome communication barriers.

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G ENERATIONAL D IVERSITY : U NDERSTANDING THE G IFTS AND C HALLENGES (DIV052) Date: Wednesday, November 9, 2011 Time: 3:00-5:00 PM Location: SU 316C Facilitator: Michael Freeman

In many workplaces, including institutions of higher learning, there exists four generations. Dealing with diversity and building organizations of inclusion require understanding and relating effectively with people who are different. The differences in age are no exception. Language differences, performance expectations, and work-life definitions are just a few of the challenges facing a “multigenerational workplace.”

This workshop explores the challenges and the gifts present around this critical dimension of diversity and addresses opportunities to build strength and unity into individual work areas to maximize performance.

D IVERSITY IN A P OST -R ACIAL A MERICA : I S I T S TILL R ELEVANT ? (DIV080) Date: Thursday, November 10, 2011 Time: 2:30-4:30 PM Location: Research Pavilion, Suite 169 Facilitator: Dr. Valarie Greene King

The candidacy and successful election of Barack Obama as the first African American President of the United States has ushered in the notion by many that America has moved beyond issues of race and ethnicity as defining elements of our culture. Panelists, representing diverse perspectives, will explore the concept of post-racial America and relate it to issues of diversity and inclusion.

U PCOMING ODI E VENTS – F ALL 2011

DiversiTea “Making Definitions of Gender: Popular Culture as a Magic System” Thursday, September 1, 2011 * 12:00 Noon-1:30 PM * Please RSVP to Barbara.Thompson@ucf.edu

Diversity Week 2011 “Cultivating Diversity through Cultural Competency” October 17-21, 2011

Diversity Breakfast October 17, 2011 * 8:00-10:00 AM * UCF Student Union Keynote Speaker: Frank L. Matthews, publisher/editor-in-chief of Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

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The Office of Diversity Initiatives Fast Facts 2010-2011 Facilitated 308 workshops on 121 different topics to 8,212 participants.

Cultivated relationships with some of the most influential organizations in our community, including the Nile Foundation, Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida, and the Florida Association of Teacher Educators.

Co-sponsored the Florida Diversity and Leadership Conference, which was hosted at UCF. Established a partnership with the UCF Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, which included sponsorship of a Diversity Faculty Fellow.

Collaborated with more than 30 units including Victim Services, the College of Medicine, and the Counseling Center.

Sponsored a track in the Summer Faculty Development Conference by which 29 scholars, from five colleges and Student Development and Enrollment Services, identified core cultural competencies for potential incorporation into the curriculum.

Continued our faculty and staff Leadership Enhancement Program in partnership with EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University.

Implemented a community service project with Jones High School as a part of our LEGACY Mentoring and Leadership Program for students.

Received diversity awards from the Beacon Network, Seminole State College, and the UCF division of Student Development and Enrollment Services.

The Impact of Sexual Violence on a Modern Society Guest Facilitator Bio (see class on page one) Cathy Robinson-Pickett Cathy Robinson-Pickett is a motivational speaker and HIV/AIDS activist who has spent the last 30 years of her life educating about the disease that also was a part of her life. In 1991, Cathy learned through a routine life insurance exam, she was HIV positive. Her infection was traced back to a rape that occurred in 1984, as a college freshman.

Cathy has been recognized, globally, for her work as an HIV/AIDS educator and lectures on subjects such as domestic and sexual violence, health and wellness. She is the recipient of the National Ten Outstanding Young Americans, the Young Floridian of the Year, and numerous other awards for her tireless work.

Cathy, recently retired as a health educator at Florida Southern College in Lakeland to spend more time with the organization she and her late husband, Steve Pickett, founded. Friends-Together is a non-profit organization dedicated to meeting the needs of those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS including providing camps, retreats, workshops, and education.

Read more about this inspiring hero at http://www.cathyrobinson.org

Diversity Philosophy

Office of Diversity Initiatives 12424 Research Parkway, Suite 169 Orlando, FL 32826 Phone: 407-823-6479 Fax: 407-823-6480 E-mail: diverse@ucf.edu

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We live in a global community that is becoming increasingly intertwined and interdependent. Demographic, technological, cultural, and economic changes no longer afford us the luxury of living in isolated enclaves. These dramatic shifts and trends require that our educational systems equip us to live and work with a wide variety of peoples. To survive and thrive in a modern organization like UCF means to understand that each of us is mutually connected to the other. An increasingly diverse society expects that higher education will meet the varied learning needs of its citizens by providing effective diversity instruction and experiences. To this end, the Unity Star distributed by this office represents opportunities available to UCF’s students, staff, and faculty to build understanding, appreciation, and respect for human diversity.

Completion certificates are available as follows: Diversity Certificate Series – for completing all four modules; ABCs of Discrimination Certificate – for completing all three sessions; Continuum of Learning Certificate – for completing any four workshops other than those listed above.

S ERVICES Consultations: An individual or group meeting to assist in planning diversity related programs, events, and activities. Consultations may occur face-to-face, by e-mail, or by telephone.

Presentations: We make presentations to classes, departments, organizations, student groups, and external organizations. Our presentations cover a variety of topics to meet specific needs.

Training: Selected topics in English and Spanish

Office of Diversity Initiatives Staff Valarie Greene King, Ph.D., Director Michael Freeman, Assistant Director Barbara Thompson, Assistant Director

Katie Pomp, Administrative Assistant Carmen Afonso, Executive Secretary Lynnsey Hicks, Graduate Assistant