FORINTERCULTURAL& RACERELATIONS
JOURNAL
2022-2023
Prepared By:
Marvin Baclig
Authored By:
Sade Abraham
Marvin Baclig
Hugo Cardona
Matias Ramos
HARVARD FOUNDATION FOR INTERCULTURAL & RACE RELATIONS
JOURNAL 2022-2023
AND RACE RELATIONS
HARVARD FOUNDATION FOR INTERCULTURAL
AND RACE RELATIONS
HARVARDFOUNDATIONFORINTERCULTURAL ANDRACERELATIONS2022-2023REPORT
HARVARD FOUNDATION
HARVARD FOUNDATION AND RACE RELATIONS FOR INTERCULTURAL
HARVARD FOUNDATION FOR INTERCULTURAL AND RACE RELATIONS FOR INTERCULTURAL
HARVARD FOUNDATION FOR INTERCULTURAL AND RACE RELATIONS
HARVARD FOUNDATION FOR INTERCULTURAL AND RACE RELATIONS
HARVARD FOUNDATION FOR INTERCULTURAL AND RACE RELATIONS
HARVARD FOUNDATION FOR INTERCULTURAL
AND RACE RELATIONS
AND RACE RELATIONS
HARVARD FOUNDATION FOR INTERCULTURAL
HARVARD FOUNDATION AND RACE RELATIONS
HARVARD FOUNDATION AND RACE RELATIONS FOR INTERCULTURAL
HARVARD FOUNDATION FOR INTERCULTURAL AND RACE RELATIONS
HARVARD FOUNDATION FOR INTERCULTURAL AND RACE RELATIONS
HARVARD FOUNDATION FOR INTERCULTURAL AND RACE RELATIONS
HARVARD FOUNDATION FOR INTERCULTURAL
HARVARD FOUNDATION FOR INTERCULTURAL AND RACE RELATIONS FOR INTERCULTURAL AND RACE RELATIONS
HARVARD FOUNDATION
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For over 40 years, the Harvard Foundation has hosted a number of relevant programming to enhance the quality of common life for all students at Harvard College.Someprogramshave College. Some programs have
beenpartofthecampuscommunityforover 30years,whileotherprogramshaverecently been added to the Harvard Foundation's portfolio. Our flagship programs vary in scope, size, and form, and they involve thousands of students in addition to dozens ofcollaborationswithoffices
FirstYearRetreat&Experience (FYRE)Pre-OrientationProgram
As the college's pre-orientation program for first-generation, low-income, and underrepresentedstudents,FYREreturnedtoafully in-person program for the first time since 2019, taking place from Saturday, August 20 to Wednesday, August 24, 2022. In its fifth iteration, FYRE served 124 students and was led by the FYRE Director and two student cochairs with the support of four steering committeemembersand28additionalteam leaders who served as peer mentors for studentsthroughouttheweek.
The unwavering passion and commitment demonstratedbyourFYREteamandcampus partners allowed us to provide students with atransformationalcohortexperience. Students were welcomed by faculty, staff, and student leaders who introduced them to the myriad college resources and offices available to support their transition to student life at Harvard College. Our participants engaged in a combination community building activities and research topics, such as academics, financial aid, sociallife,wellness,networking,andotheroncampus opportunities. We also continued to hostourflagshipprogramming,includingour Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Office Speed Friending, Silent Disco Party, and “Harvard, I Messed Up, a stand-up comedystyle event where faculty, staff, and students shared their experiences of growing from theirfailures
Through conducting pre- and post-program surveys, we found significant increases in students' confidence levels, feelings of belonging, and access to agency, academic, social, and navigational capital In particular, prior to the program, only 19.46% of students were confident in having a sense of belongingatHarvard
After FYRE, this figure jumped to 9474% indicating feeling confident about having a sense of belonging, with 60.53% strongly agreeing with this statement. 100% of FYRE participants also reported being satisfied withtheirFYREexperience,demonstratingthe success of a highly impactful FYRE 2022 experience.
CommunityConversations
Community Conversations, an initiative sponsored by the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations and supported by the First-Year Experience (FYE) Office successfully concluded its annual program for the college community. This year 'sprogramaimedtofosterdialogueand understanding about diversity and inclusion among first-year students, with the goal of creating a compassionate and respectful communityatHarvard.
The Community Conversations initiative has played a vital role in fostering a more inclusive and understanding community at Harvard College. Through thought-provoking discussions,studentshavebeenencouraged to reflect on their identities, challenge stereotypes, and engage in meaningful conversations about privilege, power, and socialresponsibility.Theprogram'ssuccessis evidentinthepositivefeedbackreceivedand the increased awareness and empathy among participants. As the initiative continues to evolve, it will contribute to creating a more inclusive and compassionateenvironmentforallmembers oftheHarvardCollegecommunity
The program ' s curriculum, training, and facilitation materials were developed by a team of dedicated diversity and inclusion professionals The Harvard Library, Office for BGLTQ+ Student Life, Harvard College Women's Center, Harvard Office of UndergraduateEducation,AdvisingPrograms Office, and Dean of Students Office provided valuableguidanceinpreparingthetextsand facilitation activities. Donna Mumme also
Pictured above is the FYRE 2022 cohort, which includes 124 FYRE participants, 32 team leaders, 2 co-chairs, and the director, in front ofthestepsofWidenerLibrary.Women's Center, Harvard Office of UndergraduateEducation,AdvisingPrograms Office, and Dean of Students Office provided valuableguidanceinpreparingthetextsand facilitation activities Donna Mumme also played a significant role in framing and selecting the texts The engagement and supportofproctorsandPeerAdvisingFellows (PAFs) were instrumental in facilitating these importantconversations
InternshipProgram
The Harvard Foundation Undergraduate Internship consists of a cohort of fourteen students who are passionate about diversity education, culturally affirming programming, and matters of identity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Interns engage in an academic year-long professional development opportunity and help advance projects and events within the internship’s two core components of diversity education and programming. Our diversity education work includes facilitating peer-led diversity dialogues,developingtrainingmaterials,and creating resources that equip students and organizations to take ownership of their ongoing learning and commitment to sustainable change on campus Our programming work includes supporting the planning and implementation of our office’s programming meant to promote campus visibility and appreciation of marginalized communitiesandtheircontributions,suchas the Cultural Rhythms Festival, FirstGeneration Visibility Week, and heritage monthandidentityrecognitionevents.
In total, Harvard Foundation interns spearheaded almost 30 events and diversity initiatives that embodied our mission of improving relations among racial and ethnic groups within the university and enhancing thequalityofourcommonlife
PortraitureProject
The Harvard Foundation Portraiture Project was established in 2002 by Dr. S. Allen Counter,theFoundingDirectoroftheHarvard Foundation and a distinguished Professor of Neurology. By commissioning portraits of peoplefromdiversebackgrounds,theproject seeks to redefine the narrative of success andaccomplishmentatHarvard
On Monday, February 13 the Harvard Foundation hosted a celebration of the Portraiture Project, featuring a conversation with the distinguished portraitist Stephen Coit(’71,MBA’77) Thiseventtookplaceinthe Faculty Room at University Hall and was part oftheFAS'inauguralDr.MartinLutherKing,Jr. & Coretta Scott King Celebration chaired by Dean Alta Mauro and Associate University Librarian (AUL) for Antiracism Jerome Offord Jr. It brought together various stakeholders, including senior university leaders, to commemorate the impact of the Portraiture ProjectontheHarvardcommunity
One of the standout elements of the Portraiture Project was the engagement of the Harvard University Men's Lacrosse Team TheprojectaimedtohonorLucienV AlexisJr '42, the first Black player on the team, with a commissioned painting. Lucien's legacy and trailblazing contributions were celebrated duringtheannouncementevent
The Harvard Foundation's Portraiture Project stands as a testament to the university's ongoingcommitmenttodiversity,equity,and inclusion Through the power of art, the project fosters a sense of belonging and recognition for all members of the Harvard community, inspiring future generations to shape a more inclusive and equitable campus
FirstGenerationVisibilityWeek
Designed as an initiative to fill in the gap of first-generation college students lacking a sense of belonging at Harvard College, the Harvard Foundation coordinated the inaugural First Generation Visibility Week on November 3-9, 2022. The goals of this initiative were to increase awareness around the systemic barriers that impact firstgeneration college students, validate and celebrate the identities of this resilient population, and equip first-generation collegestudentswiththecommunitycultural wealth to thrive at Harvard To achieve these three goals, this initiative included programmatic elements, such as the 22 events that consisted of socials and giveaways, peer-led dialogues, professional development workshops and opportunities, and events hosted by student organizations at Harvard. Additionally, this initiative included countless digital and in-person visibility campaigns, such as lamp post banners, tabling opportunities, postering, student features, newsletter features, and targetedemails.
To assess the impact of this initiative, we conducted pre- and post-program surveys that assessed quantitative data, such as participants' overall satisfaction and agreementlevelswithattitudesrelatedtothe program ' s goals, and qualitative data, such as participants' opinions of their most meaningful aspects of the initiative, visibility campaigns,andrecommendationsforfuture programming. We found a 97.9% overall satisfaction rate among program participants and significant increases in students strongly agreeing (17.7%) with being moreawareaboutthesystemicbarriersthat impact first-generation college students, strongly agreeing (343%) with feeling that their identity as a first-generation college student is celebrated at Harvard, and overall agreeing (28.4%) with feeling connected to resources and supports to thrive at Harvard. Students also named sentiments around gaining a sense of community, feeling seen and celebrated, visibility campaigns, and connecting with resources as some of the most meaningful aspects of the program. Students also provided recommendations to improve the program around the type, flow, and timing of the programming. Given the overwhelmingly positive response of this initiative, we hope to continue beating this drum to support first-generation college studentsforyearstocome
DiversityDialogueSeries
Ever since the merger of the Harvard Foundation and the Office of Diversity Education and Support, which included the Diversity Peer Educators, Harvard Foundation interns have facilitated a number of diversity dialogues throughout the years that address issues of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging This year, the Harvard Foundation interns facilitated eight dialogues. As part of FirstGenerationVisibilityWeek,internshosted “Queer in More Ways than One: The Intersection of Race and Queerness” affinity space in collaboration with the Office of BGLTQ Student Life, Queer Students Association, and Association for Black Harvard Women, as well as “Life as a FirstGenerationCollegeStudent”
In the Spring semester, interns hosted a variety of other diversity dialogues, such as “All About Love: a bell hooks Inspired Community Valentine’s Day Event” with the Harvard College Women’s Center, Office of BGLTQ Student Life, and the Committee on Ethnicity, Migration, and Rights. Moreover, interns facilitated “Exploring Afro-Latinidad” with Concilio Latino, Dominican Students Association,FuerzaLatina,andtheCaribbean Club. In partnership with the Harvard College Women’s Center, intern Isabela GonzalezLawand‘26facilitated“BigGirlsTalk:Sizeand Sexuality” During Cultural Rhythms, intern Hayat Hassan ‘25 faciliated “Art as Revolutionary Work,” which highlighted the worksofHarvardFoundationArtistoftheYear Issa Rae, and intern Santy Mendoza ‘23 partnered with professor Dr Karthik Pandian and his colleague Anthony Romero on “Serving Brown,” which is about the unity felt between Brown communities. As a follow up to her previous dialogue, intern Isabela Gonzales-Lawand ‘26 facilitated “Big Bodies in Hollywood.” Finally, intern LeMonie Hutt ‘26 facilitated a dialogue for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People’s DayonMay5th
Through hosting a total of nine Diversity Dialogues, Harvard Foundation interns partnered with countless student organizations, offices, and faculty members and provided opportunities for dozens of students to engage in peer-to-peer learning across differences on timely and relevant topics.
CulturalRhythms
Taking place between March 20 to March 25, 2023, the Harvard Foundation returned to a full week-long of programming for the office’s37thAnnualCulturalRhythmsFestival, the college’s oldest and largest festival that celebrates the rich cultural and ethnic diversity on campus. Harvard Foundation Interns Kyla Golding ‘24, Tiffany Onyeiwu ‘25, and Hayat Hassan ‘25 served as the Cultural Rhythms Director, leading the production, marketing, and programming committees, respectively.
The theme of this year’s Cultural Rhythms Festival was “The Block Party,” which honors the age-old tradition of meeting up for fun, fellowship, food, music, and more and is rooted in cultural migration Throughout the 20th century into now, people across identities and affinities arrived in the United States in search of better educational and employment opportunities for their families. These lineages and legacies have led many to the Harvard campus The Harvard block is full of cultural density, and Cultural Rhythms was used as a time to remember what it is liketocelebrateit
The festival started with a block party-style kick-offintheScienceCenterCentralArcade, and attendees moved into Science Center Lecture Hall B, where the Cultural Rhythms Directors revealed our Artist of the Year: Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated writer, producer, actress, and entrepreneur, best known for her work in the HBO hit series Insecure
Other programmatic elements consisted of peer-led diversity dialogues on topics, such as Art as Revolutionary Work and the unity feltbetweenBrowncommunities,andaLatin Dance Workshop We also partnered with student organizations on a few social events, suchasaPaintNightwithFuerzaLatina,Quilt DecoratingwiththeBlackArtsCollective,and a Movie Night with Indigo Peer Counseling We partnered with the Hip Hop Archive and featuredtheirWomeninHipHopFilmFestival. Furthermore,wehostedourCulturalRhythms Food Festival for the first time in many years, where 18 cultural student organizations affiliated with the Harvard Foundation’s StudentAdvisoryCommitteedistributedfood fromlocalrestaurantstoover200attendees. While on his visit to Harvard, Montenegro Prime Minister Drita Abazovic greeted attendeesattheFoodFestival
The last day of festivities started with the Artist Luncheon, where student leaders from the Association for Black Harvard Women and the Black Students Association shared their tributes for Issa Rae. Remka Nwana ‘23 and Madison Webb ‘25 also performed a spoken word piece and song, respectively, duringtheevent.
To close the festivities, we hosted our 37th Annual Cultural Rhythms Show to a sold-out crowd in Sanders Theatre, with phenomenal cultural student performances by Devon Gates & Friends (jazz performance), Harvard College Bhangra (Punjabi Dance), Candela Latin Dance Troupe, UNIQUE: Harvard College STEP Team, Harvard Philippine Forum (Philippine folk dance of Tinikling), Harvard Asian American Dance Troupe, Mai Nguyen featuring Sergio Javier Jara-Reynoso (traditional Vietnamese musical performance), Omo Naija x the Wahala Boys (West African dance with a modern twist), Mariachi Vetiras, RAZA Ballet Folklorico, and the Kuumba Singers of Harvard College Harvard Foundation Senior Director Sade Abraham and Associate Dean for Inclusion and Belonging Alta Mauro recognized Issa RaewiththeArtistoftheYearAward,andthe Cultural Rhythms Directors hosted a conversationwithher
In addition to the programmatic elements, the Harvard Foundation also coordinated various visibility campaigns to promote Cultural Rhythms This consisted of a large CulturalRhythmsbannerinfrontofMemorial Church, sixteen banners highlighting the performers and directors, and multiple features on the Harvard College Instagram and college-wide newsletters The Harvard Foundation also worked closely with the Office of Student Engagement to line up JuniorFamilyWeekendandCulturalRhythms.
ThroughCulturalRhythms,wehopedtobring backthethrillofwhataculturalexplosionon this campus looks like celebrating a new age, a new era, and a new season It was a time to rejoice and a cultural expression of solidarity where we celebrated culture and communitytogetherandinlife.
FoundationFridays
Launched last fall, Foundation Fridays was designed to engage and support BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), FGLI (First-Generation and Low-Income), DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), and historically marginalized student populations within our department. Through a combination of academic skill-building and social activities, Foundation Fridays have becomeacornerstoneofoureffortstofoster inclusivity and support the diverse needs of ourconstituents.
Foundation Friday No 1 set the precedent for successful events throughout the semester. The day commenced with a workshop on Time Management and Organization in collaboration with the Academic Resource Center Thisworkshopprovidedstudentswith valuableinsightsandstrategiestoeffectively manage their time and enhance organizational skills. In the afternoon, the Foundation Social provided an opportunity for students to unwind, build relationships, andengagewiththeirpeersinarelaxedand inclusive environment. The event showcased the power of community and highlighted the significance of socializing as an essential aspect of student well-being and overall success.
Foundation Friday No 2 further showcased our commitment to empowering students and building a strong sense of community. The day consisted of two parts: a learning session in the afternoon and a social gatheringlaterintheday
Katie Baker, Academic Coach at the Academic Resource Center, led a session on "Strategies for Success in Math & Sciences Courses," which addressed the challenges faced by students in college-level math and science courses. Participants engaged in discussions on effective learning strategies and academic life management that facilitate a successful transition The session catered to both students new to STEM subjects and those with prior experience looking to enhance their approaches. Following the informative learning session, students gathered at Grays Hall Lower Level for an afternoon of enjoyment and camaraderie.TheFoundationSocialoffereda range of activities, including karaoke, painting, games, and delectable food, creating a vibrant atmosphere for students, staff, faculty, and all attendees to connect andrelax.
The Foundation Fridays initiative is a testament to the Harvard Foundation's dedication to fostering inclusivity, supporting student success, and nurturing a sense of belonging among our constituents. We express our gratitude to all those involved in making these events possible, including the Academic Resource Center, guest speakers, and the dedicated staff and volunteers. Based on the overwhelming support, Foundation Fridays initiative will continue to play a vital role in building a stronger, more inclusiveHarvardcommunity.
FirstYearFacultyDinner
AdamsHousehostedtheHarvardFoundation at the temporarily-named “Adams Oaktel” for this year’s First Year and Faculty Dinner. The historic building, which this year housed Adams House undergraduates due to the ongoing Harvard Houses renovation project, provided a cozy, welcoming event for exquisite dining, lively music, and honest storytelling Dean Alta Mauro, Senior Director Sade Abraham, and Associate Director Matias Ramos were among the speakers providing short greetings to the invited guests, which consisted of Harvard faculty, administrators, and first-year students who were not hosting any family members for “First-Year Family Weekend.” Promotional materials for the event strongly encouraged first-generation, low-income, and undocumented immigrant students to sign up Dean Nekesa Straker, Senior Assistant Dean of Residential Life and First-Year Students or simply ‘Dean of First-Year Students’, addresses attendees with an empowering reflection of her own experiences as a first-generation student athlete turned higher education professional. Musical entertainment was provided by NicolasVallenas‘23andMaiK.Nguyen‘24.
IntimateConversations
"Intimate Conversations" a fireside chat conversation with Wall Street Bestselling Author, Gorick Ng, was held last fall on October8thaimedatprovidingstudentswith a unique opportunity to engage in a meaningful dialogue with a prominent figure andgaininsightsintocareernavigation.
Gorick Ng Harvard Alum, the Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of The Unspoken Rules: Secrets to Starting Your Career Off Right, graciously shared his expertise and experiences with a select group of 20-35 students over dinner This intimate setting created an environment conducive to open andcandidconversations.
TheeventtookplaceonTuesday,October18, from 6 PM to 7:30 PM at Adam House Goricks former residence on campus The response was overwhelming, and we were thrilled to witnesstheenthusiasmandeagernessofthe attendeestolearnfromGorick’sstory.
Gorick's book, The Unspoken Rules, published by Harvard Business Review Press, served as a valuable resource for attendees, providing guidance on taking control of their careers. AsacareeradviseratHarvardCollegeanda facultymemberattheUniversityofCalifornia, Berkeley, Gorick specializes in coaching firstgeneration and low-income students, offering insights into the unspoken rules of careernavigation
Throughout the evening, Gorick shared his personal journey and provided practical advice on navigating the professional world. His expertise and extensive experience in management consulting, investment banking, and research added depth and relevance to the discussions. Attendees were inspiredbyGorick'sinsightsandmotivatedto applythemtotheirowncareerpaths.
The event garnered particular attention and recognitionfromthestudentcommunitydue to Goricks rising profile as author. Gorick’s presence was truly an inspiration to our studentsasheidentifiesasafirst-generation college student and a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Business School. Gorick'sachievementsresonatestronglywith theHarvardcommunity.
We extend our gratitude to Gorick Ng for his participation and for sharing his valuable knowledge and experiences with our students.Wealsoexpressourappreciationto alltheattendeeswhoactivelyengagedinthe conversation,makingtheeventaresounding success.
The "Intimate Conversations" event with Gorick Ng exemplifies the Harvard Foundation's commitment to providing unique and enriching experiences for our students. We look forward to organizing similar events in the future, fostering meaningful discussions and supporting the professional development of our student community.
TraditionalEcologicalKnowledge Panel
The Harvard Foundation highlighted the importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in a panel discussion with DR.CutchaRIslingBaldy,DR.MelissaKNelson, CodyHenrickson,andElsieDuBray.Thispanel was put together and moderated by firstyear Foundation intern, LeMonie Hutt, and a Hoopa Tribal member, who grew up on the Hoopa reservation learning traditional
Knowledge (TEK) in a panel discussion with Dr Cutcha RIsling Baldy, Dr Melissa K Nelson, CodyHenrickson,andElsieDuBray.Thispanel was put together and moderated by firstyear Foundation intern, LeMonie Hutt, and a Hoopa Tribal member, who grew up on the Hoopa reservation learning traditional knowledge systems from elders in her Tribe. Hutt wanted to create a space that held traditional knowledge systems equal to Western knowledge systems at Harvard College; but the panel was also inspired by the newly released book “Traditional EcologicalKnowledgeSystems:Learningfrom Indigenous Practices for Environmental SustainabilityeditedbyDr Nelson
The panel featured Indigenous people who have done groundbreaking work in Traditional Ecological knowledge: Dr Risling Baldy,HoopaTribalMember,anddepartment chair of Indigenous studies at Cal Poly Humbodlt who teaches a course on Indian Natural Resource Practice, Elsie Dubray, Lakota Tribal member, Senior at Stanford University who has done tremendous work in Buffolo revitalization, Cody Henrickson, Ninilchik tribal member, a marine biologist whoisworkingonIndigenousk-12curriculum development, and Dr Nelson, Turtle Moutain Chippawe Tribal member, Professor of Indigenous Sustainability in the School of SustainabilityatArizonaStateUniversity.
We had a total of 16 Harvard students in attendance, who all observed the panel with a smile on their faces as the panelist described their passion for their work in TEK. Panelist, Elsie DuBray brought to light an important topic through her own experience as a student at a prestigious academic institution - the prioritization of Western knowledge over Indigenous knowledge. She expressed the difficulty of being an Indigenous student in STEM while trying to include her traditional teachings to uplift her work in buffalo revitalization while in the classroom. For the Indigenous students in stem in attendance, Dubray's words really resonated with them Harvard College currently does not offer an Indigenous Studies program, leaving little room for students to bring their traditional teachings intotheircoursework.TheStudentsattheTEK panel left with a new understanding of Indigenous people in the 21st century and theircontributionstoenvironmentalsciences.
Visitas:FacultyMeet&GreetforFirstGeneration,Low-IncomeStudents
As part of the programming efforts across the campus during Harvard Visitas the HarvardFoundationteamalongwithstudent leaders from the First-Generation, LowIncome Student Task Group and Primus hosted several faculty members for firstgeneration, low-income students to connect and engage with while being served Boba Tea and snacks Faculty members who attended include Americo Mendoza Mori (Latinx Studies), Jeffrey Swindle (Sociology), Mercedes Becerra (Global Health and Social Medicine), Stephen Chong (Computer Science), Eric Beerbohm (Government), Damina Khaira (Anthropology), and Caroline Light(Women,Gender,andSexuality).
TheeventtookplaceonMonday,April24that the Harvard Foundation in Grays Hall With the intention of giving FGLI students direct access to faculty and making them more comfortableinseekingfacultyasasourceof support throughout their time at Harvard, over 40 students attended along with a handful of faculty members representing theirrespectiveacademicprograms.
StudyJams&StudyBreaks
Tosupportstudentsduringreadingandfinals period in the fall semester while also promoting the visibility of our space, Harvard Foundation staff set up tables in our lounge and breakfast lounge as additional study space and provided snacks, tea, and coffee For one of the days of study jams, staff also gave out waffles from Zinnekin’s as a study break opportunity in our space, bringing in over50students
In the spring semester, FYRE Co-Chairs Emily Ramirez‘24andCindyPhan‘24hostedaFYRE Study Break during reading period as a way to reconnect and celebrate our FYRE participantswhocompletedtheirfirstyearof college by serving food from Halal Guys and handing out goodie bags, which included snacksandhandwrittenemailstohelpthem getthroughfinals
FirstGeneration/NextGeneration GraduationCeremony
Each year, students on the First Gen Affinity Celebration Student Advisory Committee select staff and faculty that have been supportive in creating a safe and welcome campus environment for the first generation student community for the stole presentation For this year’s First Gen Affinity Commencement on May 22, 2023 in Sever Quad, Senior Director, Sade Abraham, and Assistant Director for Student Programming, Marvin Baclig, were invited for this portion, along with math professor Dr Hakim Walker andGraduateCommonsDirectorLisaValela. As each graduate came to the stage, they had a stole placed on their shoulder by one ofthesestaffandfacultymembers
SFFAv.HarvardOralArgument ListeningEvent
On October 31st, 2022, the Harvard Foundation hosted an open-door event for peopletogatherandhearthelivebroadcast of arguments in a set of historic Supreme Court cases weighing in the future of considerationofracecollegeadmissions.The Foundation lounge became a meeting point for camaraderie, mutual support, clarifying questions, and debate The court heard hearings in two related cases: Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. University of North Carolina (UNC). Following the conclusion of the C-SPAN audio-only broadcast, students debated the merit of each argument and the performance of the legalrepresentativesinfrontofthecourt.
Dayslater,theHarvardFoundationaddresses the campus community through an online message, focusing on the long-view of advocating for justice while maintaining personalandcommunitycare:“Thismoment has created a heightened sense of concern andactionwithinourcampuscommunity As we engage in this critical work, we invite you tocentercareandattentiononyourphysical, emotional,andmentalwell-being Womanist activist Audre Lorde reminds us that ‘Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is selfpreservation’ and we encourage you to avail yourself of care-focused resources and spaces of community The Harvard Foundation is committed to continuing our legacy, history, and practice of actualizing inclusive excellence and embodying our highest hopes and aspirations for our campuscommunity”
Fellowships,Research,&Summer Funding101
AligningwithFirst-GenerationVisibilityWeek’s goal of connecting first-generation college students with the resources necessary to thrive at Harvard, Director of the Harvard College Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (URAF) Gregory Llacer and Research Ambassador Adede AppahSampong ‘23 facilitated a “Fellowships, Research, and Summer Funding 101” workshop on November 9th at the Phillips BrooksHouseAssociationParlorRoom.
Through this session, dozens of students cametoPBHAParlorRoomtolearnaboutthe timelines, resources, and best practices to secure fellowship, research, and summer fundingopportunities,applyingtheirinterests inside and outside of the classroom to professionalopportunities
Scholarship&SocialJustice(SSJ) Conference
The Undergraduate Research on Scholarship and Social Justice Conference returned to campus in its 2023 edition, introducing a hybrid format that allowed remote presenters and audience members to engage with in-person attendees. This annualevent,hostedincollaborationwiththe PhillipsBrooksHouseCenterforPublicService and Engaged Scholarship, first took place in 2015. It has proudly become a space to celebrate the work of students creating nascent pathways for careers in academia,
research,andpublicpolicy
A major focus of this year’s conference was the idea of how traditionally excluded voices can thrive in a higher education setting. The conference began on April 13th with a panel titled “Collaboration & Community: Research on Indigeneity, Afro-diaspora and Latinidad,” which included Faculty Chair Américo Mendoza-Mori of Harvard University’s
SocialJustice&EngagedScholarship
on Indigeneity, Afro-diaspora and Latinidad,” which included Faculty Chair Américo Mendoza-Mori of Harvard University’s Committee on Ethnicity, Migration, Rights, Araceli Hernandez-Laroche (University of South Carolina Upstate), Mneesha Gellman (Emerson College), Wade Campbell (Boston University), and Michel DeGraff, PhD, (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Interviewed by the Harvard Gazette, Mendoza-Moricommented,“It’ssoimportant to have these kinds of gatherings,” adding that the panelists felt really inspired from their conversations with undergraduate studentpresenters
Undergraduate students presented on six panels on topics such as Access to Public Health, New Challenges in Health Disparities in the Post-Pandemic Context, Education, Incarceration, Policy Advocacy and Gender Justice. Students from Harvard College and sixteen other colleges were selected as presenters, in either panel sessions or online poster presentations The event was an explorationofhowoutstandingscholarshave leveraged their academic disciplines to further human rights work, and how current students can envision themselves to follow that pathways in their future academic careers
ir peers in a relaxed and inclusive environment. The event showcased the power of community and highlighted the significance of socializing as an essential aspect of student well-being and overall success.
Foundation Friday No 2 further showcased our commitment to empowering students and building a strong sense of community
The day consisted of two parts: a learning session in the afternoon and a social gatheringlaterintheday
Katie Baker, Academic Coach at the Academic Resource Center, led a session on "Strategies for Success in Math & Sciences Courses," which addressed the challenges faced by students in college-level math and science courses. Participants engaged in discussions on effective learning strategies and academic life management that facilitate a successful transition The session catered to both students new to STEM subjects and those with prior experience looking to enhance their approaches. Following the informative learning session, students gathered at Grays Hall Lower Level for an afternoon of enjoyment and camaraderie.TheFoundationSocialoffereda range of activities, including karaoke, painting, games, and delectable food, creating a vibrant atmosphere for students, staff, faculty, and all attendees to connect
for an afternoon of enjoyment and camaraderie TheFoundationSocialoffereda range of activities, including karaoke, painting, games, and delectable food, creating a vibrant atmosphere for students, staff, faculty, and all attendees to connect andrelax
DiversityEducationStudent LeadershipSummit
What do campus diversity education programs provide students? How can student leaders take action in making campuses more inclusive as student populations diversify? These and other questions were central to the 2023 Diversidty Education Student Leadership Summit, hosted in April. Students from Harvard College, Wellesley College, and Bunker Hill Community College gathered in the Phillips Brooks House Parlor Room for a day of training and self-reflection workshops. Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations interns, led by Nayleth LopezLopez‘23andKarenTorres‘24,organizedthis event - with the support of Foundation staff and a SOCIAL Challenge grant from the PhillipsBrooksHouseCenterforPublicService andEngagedScholarship
Participants worked together to complete a series of workshops on topics such organizational leadership and personal narrative, and took a campus tour to reflect on the history of Harvard student leadership inhighereducation.Theeffortwasaforwardthinking initiative that seeks to revive the Foundation’s peer-led diversity education work As we equip more student to lead others in reflection, training, and mutual empowerment, we can envision a more welcoming campus and more fulfilling experience of belonging for Harvard College studentsatlarge
Dayslater,theHarvardFoundationaddresses the campus community through an online message, focusing on the long-view of advocating for justice while maintaining personalandcommunitycare:“Thismoment has created a heightened sense of concern andactionwithinourcampuscommunity.As we engage in this critical work, we invite you tocentercareandattentiononyourphysical, emotional,andmentalwell-being.Womanist activist Audre Lorde reminds us that ‘Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is selfpreservation’ and we encourage you to avail yourself of care-focused resources and spaces of community. The Harvard Foundation is committed to continuing our legacy, history, and practice of actualizing inclusive excellence and embodying our highest hopes and aspirations for our campuscommunity.”
IntersectionalLiteracyWorkshopfor FirstYearStudents
Harvard Foundation Interns Bhargavi Garimella ‘23 and LeMonite Hutt ‘26 worked together on developing a First-Year Intersectional Literacy Training that would build on the work of Community Conversations Its objectives include facilitating a holistic understanding of how identity, intersectionality, and equity play a role in how students navigate their first year at the College; activating critical thinking; prompt self-reflection and changes to interpersonalactionsinsocialandacademic life; and bridging the classroom and social spheres. While the workshop is not fully developed, this is a project that diversity education interns will be continuing in the nextacademicyear
HarvardFoundationLeadership Awards
The Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations played a vital role in the annual Harvard DSO (Dean of Students Office) Leadership Awards, celebrating outstanding individuals and student organizations within Harvard College who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to student life. These individuals and groups have not only shown dedication and excellence but have also actively worked towards improving intercultural and race relations,aligningwiththemissionandvision ofouroffice.
SocialJustice&EngagedScholarship
The Leadership Awards ceremony, held on May 1st at the Smith Campus Center, was a momentous occasion that brought together family, friends, senior leaders, and administrators, all united in their support for our exceptional students This extraordinary event was made possible through the hard work and dedication of the Student Engagement Office, which meticulously organizedeveryaspectoftheceremony.
We are thrilled to highlight the remarkable achievements of our award recipients, who haveleftanindelibleimpactonourcampus. The winners of the prestigious Harvard Foundation Insignia Award have been instrumental in improving intercultural and race relations, creating a more inclusive environment,andenhancingtheexperiences of historically marginalized BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) students at HarvardCollege
mentees and organizing events throughout the school year to create bonding within the cohorts. As director of the Franklin After School Enrichment program, Marie went above and beyond the responsibilities of her position to involve the BIPOC community at Harvard, organizing field trips and creating initiatives for Harvard students to share their career aspirations and perspectives with schoolchildren. Marie's efforts have had a pervasive and undeniable impact on marginalizedcommunitiesatHarvard
One of our Insignia Award winners is Marie Ayiah, a selfless and compassionate individual who has tirelessly served her communityduringhertimeatHarvard.Sheis passionateaboutracerelations,childhealth, and public health, and has led successful initiativesintheseareasduetoherimmense devotion of time and effort. Marie was president of the Green Scott Scholars, Harvard's premier soulful mentorship program between Black undergraduate and graduate students She worked tirelessly to build the success of the organization, recruiting and pairing 41 mentors with 65 mentees and organizing events throughout the school year to create bonding within the cohorts As director of the Franklin After School Enrichment program, Marie went above and beyond the responsibilities of her position to involve the BIPOC community at
Additionally, we recognize Ebony Smith, a jointconcentratorinGovernmentandAfrican American Studies, who received the Harvard Foundation Insignia Award. As the Alumnae Representative for the Association of Black Harvard Women, Ebony strengthened the Black woman alumni network and encouraged them to not only give back to the group but to provide valuable insight on careerpathsforyoungBlackgraduates After being inspired by a GENED course, Power to the People, Ebony created her own newspaper about the Black Liberation Movements and the Black Panthers and published it Additionally, Ebony has been a Team Leader for the FYRE (First Year Retreat and Experience) pre-orientation program for 3 years. She often works with low-income, first-generation, Black and Brown students in ordertoteachthemhowtonavigatecollege
SocialJustice&EngagedScholarship
Chidera Ejikeme, recipient of the Harvard Foundation Distinguished Senior Award, has been a passionate advocate for students of color from diverse backgrounds throughout hercollegecareer Asco-chairoftheHarvard Foundation Student Advisory Committee, Chidera oversaw the allocation of funding to culturally-focused student groups, ensuring they received the support needed to host events for their members She also played a pivotal role as the public service and inclusivity chair of the Harvard Black Student Association, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for Black students on campus Chidera's work with the Harvard Indigo Peer Counselor, as a mentor for the MissionHillAfterSchoolProgramandFranklin After School Enrichment, further reflects her commitment to supporting Black and Brown youth
For our Distinguished Senior Awards, we recognize Salma Elsayed, whose dedication to improving intercultural and race relations has been evident since her first year at HarvardCollege AsaDiversityPeerEducator, Salma facilitated dialogues and provided training to student organizations on diversity, inclusion, and belonging. She initiated conversations within the Society of Arab Students and Harvard Islamic Society, addressing anti-Blackness in the Muslim community and fostering inclusion for Arab internationalsandtheArabdiaspora.Salma's involvementintheHarvardSquareHomeless Shelter and her academic pursuits in social studies further exemplify her commitment to fosteringequityandsocialjustice.
Weextendourheartfeltcongratulationstoall our award recipients and express our deepest appreciation to the Student Engagement Office for their exceptional efforts in organizing the Leadership Awards ceremony. Their hard work and dedication have played a pivotal role in making this eventaresoundingsuccess.
StudentAdvisoryCommittee
The Harvard Foundation Student Advisory Committee (HFSAC or simply “SAC”) supported a full year of in-person programming and events organized by Harvard College’s registered student cultural and identity-based student organizations. The four-person committee supported student organizations by administering grants obtained through the Student Activity Fee Committee. The HFSAC is one of the student-run grantmaking bodies along with the Harvard Undergraduate Association (HUA), College Events Board (CEB), and House Committees for each Residential Community (HoCos). This year’s HFSAC CoChairs were Abigail Romero ‘23 and Chidera Ejikeme ‘23 Caleb Gordon ‘23 served as Communications Chair, and Jordan Young ‘24wasthisyear’sFinanceChair.
TheSACstrivestosupportitsaffiliatecultural, identity, or affinity organizations financially and logistically, as well as to generate programming that promotes a culturally interconnected environment at Harvard College. SAC Board Members have established student organizational leaders who are elected by their peers in an annual election. SAC Board defends the ideals of inclusionandengagementwithdiversityand fosters a space for relationship building and mutualsupport
This year, the Harvard Foundation Student AdvisoryCommitteereturnedtoafullslateof in-person monthly meetings for organizational members Initial meetings were held at the Harvard Foundation, but high-interest levels established the need for a larger gathering space. The last several meetings, and the election of the 23-24 SAC Board, occurred at Phillips Brooks House These were the organizations that received grant funding from the HFSAC over the past year. We were proud to administer support and show solidarity to events and programs hostedby:
AssociationofBlackHarvardWomen
Bengali Association of Students at Harvard
BlackMen'sForum
ConcilioLatinodeHarvardCollege
Greener Scott Scholar Mentorship Program
HarvardAfricanStudentsAssociation
HarvardAsianStudentsArtsProject
HarvardBlackStudentsAssociation
Harvard Undergraduate Black Muslim Collective
HarvardCaribbeanClub
Harvard College Pakistani Students Association
Harvard College SoulFood Christian
Fellowship
Harvard Undergraduate Black Muslim Collective
HarvardCaribbeanClub
Harvard College Pakistani Students Association
Harvard College SoulFood Christian Fellowship
HarvardFrancophoneSociety
HarvardIslamicSociety
Harvard Radcliffe Chinese Students Association
HarvardRadioBroadcasting
Harvard Undergraduate Christian Fellowship
HarvardUndergraduatePRIMUS
Harvard-RadcliffeRAZA
LatinasUnidasdeHarvardCollege
NigerianStudentsAssociation
ScienceClubforGirls
SocietyofArabStudents
TheHarvardFrancophoneSociety
TheLavenderRoom
UndocumentedStudentSupport
The Harvard Foundation supported undocumented students at Harvard College through a series of critical engagement pointsandcoordination Inwhathasbecome a recent departmental tradition, the Foundation hosted an “Undocumented Student Welcome” in September with cohostingstudentorganizationHarvardCollege Act on a Dream A targeted email invitation administeredbytheHarvardAdmissionsand Financial Aid office alerted students who were most likely to be affected while maintainingtheirprivacy.Othersheardabout it through the grassroots, word-of-mouth, and community-building outreach work of Act on a Dream, a Harvard College student organization that for almost two decades now has provided a comforting and empowering space for undergraduate students advocating for immigrant rights and protections. Representatives of the Harvard Law School were present to inform students about their work to provide legal representation and social service support to all the undocumented/DACAmented members of the Harvard community and to assistthosewhoareconcernedaboutfalling outoflegalstatus.
With the future of DACA held up in the courts and no new developments from Congress, Act on a Dream’s focus this year was in providing campus support and recruiting new leaders to direct AOD’s post-pandemic work The Harvard Foundation opened its doorsforweeklySundaybrunchmeetings,as well as special community-building efforts such as the “First Gen and Immigrant Rights” workshop during First Gen Visibility Week, an open narrative event titled “Our Stories” cosponsored by the Harvard Immigration Initiative and a workshop on climate migration,partofIntersectionalEarthWeek.
The Harvard Foundation also provided specialized support for undocumented students through the coordination of the Undocumented Students Working Group, a network of staff in critical student service roles that act as a source of support in navigating unique institutional and legal situationsthatstudentsmightface.
First-Generation,Low-Income StudentWelcome
In partnership with Primus, the Harvard Foundation hoted the inaugural FGLI Student WelcomeonSaturday,September24,2022in Memorial Church and welcomed over 100 Harvard College first-year students who identified as first-generation andor lowincome Featured performers included Mariachi Veritas de Harvard and Onovughakpor Ottigbe-Dangerfield, and speakers included student leaders Laila Nasher ‘25 and Janna Ramadan ‘23, professor Dr Americo Mendoza-Mori, and then-Vice President, now-President of the First Generation Harvard Alumni Harold Lewis ‘95 Former Sweden Prime Minister Stefan Lofven served as the keynote speaker for the event.
Attendees told The Crimson that the ceremony reinforced a sense of belonging, with one attendee stating “I know everybody feels that we don’t belong here or at
Attendees told The Crimson that the ceremony reinforced a sense of belonging, with one attendee stating “I know everybody feels that we don’t belong here or at least that’showIfeelsometimes butIthinkthese types of events and types of community building that PRIMUS and other organizations here at Harvard create really make a person like me and other students feel at home and feelthatwebelonghere”
LatinoPioneersinBoston
HeritageMonth&Identity Recognitions
To celebrate and raise awareness of historically marginalized communities, the Harvard Foundation coordinated programming efforts and visibility campaigns for several heritage months and identity recognition days, which included Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month, Native American Heritage Month, National First Generation Day of Celebration, Lunar New Year, Black History Month, Women’s History Month Arab American Heritage Month, and AsianAmericanandPacificIslanderHeritage Month
LatinxHeritageMonth FamiliaFeud
HarvardFoundationinternSantyMendoza‘23 partnered with Raza, Fuerza Latina, and LatinasUnidastocoordinateFamiliaFeud,an event based on the popular television game show Family Feud. The event took place on October 13th in the Harvard Foundation Lounge, where students competed in four different teams to test their general knowledge on Latinx culture and answer survey-based questions on popular Latinx cultural topics, such as “Name a popular Latinx music artist” Around 30 students joined the event and ate delicious food from LaNetaTaqueria,andthewinnersreceiveda freedinnerfortheirteam.
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Harvard Foundation partnered with Phillips Brooks House Association; the Department of RomanceLanguages;TheFASCommitteeon Ethnicity, Migration, & Rights; and Fuerza Latina to hold a documentary screening of “Latino Pioneers in Boston''––a tribute to the unheard voices of the Latin American community who with “mucho sudor (lots of sweat)” paved the way for the next generations Thefileusesprintandexhibition to follow the journeys of eight leaders: Antonio Molina, Alfredo de Jesus, Maria Sanchez, Carmen Pola, Alberto Vassallo, Frieda Garcia, Jaime Rodriguez, and Regla Gonzalez
The documentary was followed by a fireside conversation with documentary maker Blanca Bonilla and Latino Pioneers: Tony Molina, Frieda Garcia, and Regla Gonzalez There was also a reception afterward for students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community members to connect and eat delicious food The event was well attended andimpactfulforthosepresent
Ultimately, this event was an example of the Foundation’s strategic areas of community, advocacy, support, academic inclusion, engagement, and success. It effectively brought together different organizations on campus, including two different academic departments to collaborate on planning the event Once it was planned, it brought together not only members of the Harvard communitybutalsomembersofthebroader community to the Smith Campus Center––a building open not only to Harvard students andfacultybutalsotocommunitymembers andvisitors.
ChickasawStickballGame
WealsocelebratedChickasawculturewitha game of Stickball or Itti' kapochcha to'li' in Chickasaw taught by Joel Chastain, Chickasaw Tribal member, and MIT MBA candidate. The game lacrosse originates from Stickball, we played with a traditional stick that Chastain had hand-crafted, and the goal of the game was to hit the blue fish ontopofatallpolebyscoopinguptheballin the net of the stick and flinging it at the goal whileyouropponentstriedtoblockyouraim. The game of stickball was held on the quad lawn where a few Indigenous students and those who passed by joined in on the fun!
Native American heritage month this year wasabeautifulcelebrationoftheIndigenous culturesrepresentedoncampus
NativeAmericanHeritageMonth StudentHighlights
Harvard has a vibrant Indigenous student population,sotocelebratetheiridentitieswe put together a series of light-hearted interviews where Indigenous students shared their experiences on campus The Native Americanstudentsweinterviewedwere:Kylie Huntsinwinter, Lena Tinker, Sophia Madrigal, Olivia Madrigal, Lakota James, and Ames Chalan. In Lakota's interview, a member of theChickasawNation,sharedaproverbfrom his tribe “We are the unconquered and unconquerable.”Lakotaexpressedthatbeing aNativeAmericanstudentatHarvardcanbe hardbutwhenhefacesthesechallenges,he can always lean back on this proverb that highlights the strength of his tribe This Chickasaw proverb represents Indigenous resistance to a legacy of colonialism, and many Indigenous students on campus can find strength as they face similar challenges oncampus
LunarNewYear SolidarityandCelebrationAmidst LossCandleLightVigil&Solidarity Space
In light of the shootings that occurred in California during the Lunar New Year celebrations, the Harvard Foundation partnered with proctors, Senior administrators, Counseling and Mental Health Services (CAMHS), and the Harvard Chaplains to host our Solidarity and CelebrationAmidstLosseventonJanuary26, 2023.DozensattendedourCandlelightVigilin frontoftheJohnHarvardStatuetohonorthe lives lost in the shootings, and many of the attendees joined us for a Community SolidaritySpaceintheHarvardFoundationto have an open dialogue that allowed folks to reflectandprocesstherecentevents
lives lost in the shootings, and many of the attendees joined us for a Community SolidaritySpaceintheHarvardFoundationto have an open dialogue that allowed folks to reflectandprocesstherecentevents.
BlackHistoryMonth HellaBlackTrivia
TocelebrateBlackHistoryMonth,theHarvard Foundation partnered with Black Community LeadersandtheBlackStudentsAssocationto host Hella Black Trivia on the evening of February 17th at Cambridge Queen’s Head with Quiz Master Jeff Rogers. Dozens of students competed in several teams answering several questions related to Black culture, such as naming African countries and Will Smith movies The top three teams won prizes, such as Harvard Foundation waterbottles,afreedinner,andthetopprize of seats at the Cultural Rhythms Artist Luncheon
TetCelebration
As part of the festivities for Lunar New Year, the Harvard Foundation partnered with the Harvard Vietnamese Association to host the Vietnamese New Year Tet Celebration on the evening of January 26, 2023 at Lowell House Dozens of students were able to learn more aboutandcelebrateVietnameseculturewith delicious food from Banh Mi Ba Le, games, andtraditionalVietnamesemusic.
ExploringAfro-LatinidadDiversity Dialogue
InpartnershipwithConcilioLatino,Dominican Students Association, Fuerza Latina, and the Carribean Club, Harvard Foundation intern Mariana Haro ‘23 facilitated a diversity dialogue on “Exploring Afro-Latinidad” to discuss the representation and inclusion of Blackness in the Latine diaspora and experience Hosted on February 28th in the Harvard Foundation Lounge, dozens of students attended the dialogue and addressed questions about who is included andexcludedfromthenarrativeofLatinidad, why is Blackness often excluded from the Latine identity, and how to have a more inclusiveLatinecommunityatHarvard.
Posters
HarvardFoundationinternSantyMendoza‘23 created several posters and sharable digital content that highlighted several Black artists and historical figures, which included actresses Zoe Saldana and Lupita Nyong’o, singer Celia Cruz, former astronaut Mae Jemison, and Mexican War of Independence movementleaderJoseMariaMorelos
Women'sHistoryMonth BigGirlsTalk:SizeandSexuality DiversityDialogue
As part of Women’s Week, Harvard Foundation intern Isabela Gonzalez-Lawand partneredwiththeHarvardCollegeWomen’s Center to host a diversity dialogue entitled “Big Girls Talk: Size and Sexuality” Hosted on March 2, 2023 in the Harvard Foundation Lounge, the dialogue explored the experiences of plus size women on campus andtheirjourney’sofexploringtheirsexuality
Harvard alumna Samyra Miller ‘21, who has a massive following on social media with 1.6 millionTikTokfollowers,virtuallyjoinedovera dozen students to share her previous experiences as a plus-size student at Harvard and cited that she wished these types of spaces existed when she was a student.
ArabAmericanHeritageMonth Posters
To highlight the achievements and contributions of Arab Americans, Harvard Foundation intern Mariano Haro ‘23 created several posters and sharable content in honor of Arab American Heritage Month. ThosehighlightedincludedRashidaTlaib,the first Palestianian American to serve in congress, Paula Abdul, a Grammy- and Emmy-winning singer and choreographer, Rami Malek, an Oscar- and Emmy-winning actor, Mona Hana-Atisha, a pediatrician and professor who was a key player in raising national awareness on the Flint Water Crisis, and Dr. Farouk el-Baz, an Egyptian geologist who helped plan all of the Apollo moon landings and pioneered the use of space photographytostudytheEarth
AsianAmericanandPacificIslander HeritageMonth Posters
For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Harvard Foundation created several posters and sharable content to honor the achievements and contributions of members of this community. Those highlighted included Michelle Yeoh, whobecamethefirstAsianactresstowinthe OscarforBestActress,LarryItliong,aFilipinoAmerican labor organizer and civil rights activist who played a central role in the founding of the United Farm Workers Union, Grace Lee Boggs, a Chinese-American activist best known for her work in Black Power advocacy, and Fred Korematsu, a Japanese-American civil rights activist who resisted the internment of Japanese AmericansinWorldWarII
MMIPDialoguewashostedbythreemembers of Natives at Harvard College (NaHC), Kyile Huntsinwinter, Dakota Daghnhart, and Lena Tinker, along with Foundation intern and NaHC member LeMonie Hutt. This is the first event in a very long time that the Harvard Foundation has done to honor Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, it was a great experience to have students recognize this veryintimateissueinasafespace.
Missing&MurderedIndigenousWomen andPeoplesRemembranceDay Dialogue
InhonorofMissingandMurderedIndigenous Persons (MMIP) remembrance day on May 5th The Harvard Foundation hosted a dialogue Indigenous people being disproportionately affected by sexual harassment, sex trafficking, rape, and homicide The dialogue sparked a greater understanding of the issue and provided a space for the Indigenous students to share how they have been impacted by MMIP. The MMIPDialoguewashostedbythreemembers of Natives at Harvard College (NaHC), Kyile Huntsinwinter, Dakota Daghnhart, and Lena Tinker, along with Foundation intern and
AlumniDatabase
This Spring semester, the Community Outreach team interns, Leslie Arroyo, Isabela Gonzalez-Lawand, and Cody Chou, worked on compiling an alumni database for the Harvard Foundation After the passing of Dr Counterin2017,themergerbetweenDiversity Peer Educators and the Harvard Foundation interns,andtheintroductionofnewstaffand interns, the Community Outreach team realized the importance of building institutional memory. Institutional memory is important for the Foundation as it allows the interns and staff to learn from the past and work towards new initiatives to continue building on our mission In addition to institutional memory, the interns are excited
interns and staff to learn from the past and work towards new initiatives to continue building on our mission. In addition to institutional memory, the interns are excited to create networking and mentoring opportunitiesthroughthisdatabase
To compile the alumni database, the Community Outreach interns turned to the Harvard Foundation past journals and recorded the names of past interns and Student Advisory Committee (SAC) board members. From here, the interns worked on collecting the email addresses of these interns and SAC board members In the end, theinternscollected132pastinternsandSAC boardmembers.
Now, the interns are completing the first outreach email which will invite all HF alumni to join our alumni database By joining the database, alumni will opt in to receive monthly newsletters which provide the followingopportunities:
Engagement opportunities with the Foundation, such as an invitation to a panelwithcurrentinternsandstaff Information on current events at the Foundation Information from alumni, which may include featured stories, advice, or professional opportunities for current and pastinterns
SocialEvents
JordanPeeleMovieMarathon
Since Oscar-winning Director Jordan Peele is known for his psychological horror and satirical films that address issues of race relations, Harvard Foundation intern Jett Strayhorn ‘25 honored his legacy by coordinating a Jordan Peele Movie Marathon on Halloween Night in the Harvard Foundation Lounge. Students stopped by to grab candies from around the world and watchhisthreefilms:GetOut,Us,andNope
attendeesathalftime,andencouragedthem to get involved in the advocacy for worker protections and rights in FIFA-related construction projects. As the games went on, students continued to use the Harvard Foundation as a gathering place to witness athletic excellence, engage in friendly debate,andponderonthesocialimpactthat sportscanbringtothecommunitiestowhich webelong
WorldCupOpeningMatchWatch Party
TheHarvardFoundationofficewasabuzzwith love and passion for the beautiful game on Sunday, November 18, 2023. In a social community event organized by Harvard Foundation interns, about 50 attendees gatheredinourloungetowatchtheopening game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup between Ecuador and Qatar. For many, it was the culmination for a sports-filled weekend, which also included the return of the Harvard-Yale football game to Cambridge afteralonghiatus.
Students enjoyed bagels, donuts, refreshments, coffee, and cultural treats as theydebatedwhowasgoingtocomeouton topafterthemonth-longtournament.Butthe event also provided an opportunity to engageincriticaldialogueandlearnthrough different perspectives: a group of student activists, inspired by the calls for justice for World Cup migrant workers, presented to attendeesathalftime,andencouragedthem to get involved in the advocacy for worker protections and rights in FIFA-related construction projects. As the games went on, students continued to use the Harvard
InternTrainings
Every Wednesday in the Fall 2023 semester, Harvard Foundation interns participated in mandatory intern trainings as a way to develop interns as leaders and equip them with the tools to better navigate equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging work at Harvard Thesetopicsincluded:
Public Narrative: Leadership, Storytelling, andAction
Intersectionality: Power, Privilege, and Oppression
FacilitatingDiversityDialogues
Trauma Informed-Practice facilitated by theOfficeofGenderEquity
Mindful of Race with Center for Wellness instructorAbrahamDejene
WellnessandSomaticResponseswithBok CenterAssistantDirectorAshlieSandoval; Strategic Organizing with Trotter Collaborative for Social Justice Staff DirectorDevonCrawford
Disability Justice with University Disability Resourcesstaff
ndigeneity with professors Dr. Americo Mendoza-Mori and Dr. Jorge Sanchez Cruz
MindfulnessforSelf-Careand FlourishingWorkshop
As part of the weeklong programming for First-Generation Visibility Week, the Harvard Foundation partnered with the Center for Wellness to facilitate an experiential session on November 7, 2022 that gave students an opportunity to practice mindfulness through briefguidedmeditationsforrestingthemind, restoring the body, and finding greater connection to their authentic selves Laura Arena, a first-generation college graduate herself, facilitated this session and emphasized that mindfulness can help firstgeneration students better navigate the many stressors they encounter while staying connectedtoadeeperpeace
Visitas:EDIUnitIceCreamTruck
AspartofajointefforthostedbytheHarvard BGLTQ Office, the Harvard Foundation along with the Harvard Women’s Center rented an ice cream truck during Visitas and gave away ice cream to students while engaging in information about the EDI offices and their partners. Students had the opportunity to discuss program initiatives as well as ask interns and staff about internship opportunitiesforthefallsemesterandevents thateachofficehosts.
This event occurred on Monday, April 24 at Thayer hall in front of the BGLTQ Office Several staff from the EDI units along with theirinternsandDeanAltaMaurostoppedby tohelpinthisjointeventforthecommunity.
ASpringRestorativeFoundation Friday
A mid-to-end semester event in the Fall and Spring semester of 2023 that the Harvard Foundation put on for the Undergraduate students and college staff celebrating progress and wellness in the community Staff hosted catering from local restaurants aswellasactivitiescenteredonwellnessand restoration such as painting, video games, volleyball in the Harvard yard, photo booths, karaoke and more. The event provided an opportunity for all members to engage with each other while celebrating the end of semester
FacultyofArtsandSciencesDean'sDistinction
Harvard Foundation staff is honored to have been awarded the 2023 Dean’s Distinction Award. This award is the highest honor bestowed upon staff and recognizes employees for their hard work and skillful collaboration that have delivered results for the academic community of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS). We are proud to have been one of two teams to receive the TeamDean’sDistinction
“2022 witnessed the renaissance of the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations. The completely new team has reinvigorated DEIB work with a renewed spiritandsetaprogressivetoneforaffirming and supporting historically marginalized students. The Foundation has revived languishing partnerships, boosted the College’s capacity, and launched timely new initiatives, all toward honoring the unit’s storiedhistoryandtraditions.”-AltaMauro AssociateDirectorMatiasRamos.
In receiving this recognition, our team extends our gratitude to our families, friends, campus partners, and the AMAZING Harvard Foundationinterncohort!