2013-2014 Year in Review
Reflecting & Moving FORWARD 2013-2014 marked a turning point for the Equality Research Center. At the beginning of the academic year, the Center was known as the Center for the Study of Equality and Human Rights. Since its inception in 2010, the Center had been working hard to establish itself as a resource for information, awareness, and education regarding Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender equality issues. During that time, in addition to initiating and implementing several community connected projects, the Center’s staff was laying the foundation for expansion. This year, those efforts began to take off. The year began by bringing the nationally acclaimed FEARLESS PROJECT photography exhibit to campus and ended with an inspirational message from the nationally recognized Reverend Frank Schaefer at the Center’s first major fundraising banquet. Along the way the Center brought seven new research projects into the public sphere, featured nearly 20 fantastic speakers, presented its own work at academic conferences and community festivals, engaged more than a thousand people and organizations in its mission, began the important task of raising funds to support work with even more impact, and got a new name. The Equality Research Center brand stands for change. As the social environment changes around us, with real equality progress happening at a rapid pace at nearly every level of policy and community life, the Center recognizes the need to ground change in credible research, evidence and information. Much work remains in the world of LGBT social justice and human rights. The Equality Research Center is poised to be an active and influential participant in achieving real equality in all the places we live, work, learn, and love.
New Offices In September 2013, the Center moved to a new home at 329 King Hall. The new office suite quadrupled the office footprint and gave the Center room to house the expanding staff and allowed space to grow. The Center continues to be supported by the EMU Communication, Media and Theatre Arts Department and the College of Arts & Sciences.
Dr. Corvino Lecture: “Meaning of (Gay) Marriage” On September 25th, the Center Co-Sponsored a lecture by nationally recognized speaker and activist, Dr. John Corvino, entitled “Meaning of (Gay) Marriage”. The event was co-sponsored with the EMU Philosophy Department and was attended by approximately 150 students, faculty and community members.
Fearless Project The Equality Research Center hosted an exhibition of the internationally acclaimed “Fearless Project” by sociologist, artist, and activist Jeff Sheng. The photography exhibit included portraits of “out” LGBT high school and collegiate athletes. “Fearless” has appeared at over 50 high schools and colleges, ESPN World Headquarters, the Vancouver Olympic Games, and Nike World Headquarters. The exhibit was on display in the EMU REC/IM throughout October and was visited by over 300 students, staff and faculty.
“Amazing” “Incredibly Moving” “Everyone should take time to check it out” -EMU Students, about the Fearless Project
AUTUMN
On October 16th, the Center sponsored an on campus public forum, “Playing Sports/Being Out” featuring Jeff Sheng and the research of EMU faculty member Dr. Thomas Cieslak, II. The event was attended by over 150 students, faculty, and community members.
Bridging the University and LGBT Communities: Curriculum and Academic Support The Center’s Director, Michael Tew, coordinated and presented the Center’s work at a panel at the National Communication Association Annual Convention in Washington D.C. on November 21-23, 2013. Dr. Tew was joined on the panel by representatives of the Movement Advancement Project, Equality Michigan, and the Williams Institute of UCLA.
Development of the ERC Advisory Board The Center held its first formal Advisory Board meeting in January 2014. Eleven members of the board provided feedback on the Center’s programming plans for the remainder of 2014, input on and support for the rebranding campaign, and committed to serving as “Table Captains” (financial support) for the first annual Equality Connections fundraising banquet. Board members additionally participated in the Center’s first conference (May 2014), rebranding meetings with University Marketing, attended Equality Speaker Series events, and assisted the Center in staffing the Motor City Pride booth. In all, since the first meeting, the Board has been highly engaged in the Center’s development. The Advisory Board meets twice per year. The next meeting is scheduled for October 2014. The Advisory Board is listed below: James Dyer, Mayor, City of Marshall, Attorney, JRSJ, P.C., John & Genevieve Dyer Educational Foundation Representative Dennis M. Beagen, Faculty Emeritus, Eastern Michigan University Terry W. Bonnette, Partner, Nemeth Law, P.C. Attorneys and Counselors Emily Dievendorf, Executive Director, Equality Michigan Dale Domke, Field Manager, Brooks Brothers Thomas Falstrom, Lecturer, Communication, Media, and Theatre Arts, Eastern Michigan University Jay Kaplan, Staff Attorney, ACLU of Michigan, LGBT Project Mary Larkin, Coordinator, LGBT Resource Center, Eastern Michigan University Sally McCracken, Ph.D., Faculty Emeritus, Eastern Michigan University Suzie Staley, Director, Youth Mentorship Program, The Henry Ford Rocky Sulfridge, Ph.D., Lecturer, Communication, Media, and Theatre Arts, Eastern Michigan University
The 2014 Equality Speaker Series
Research Needs Survey
The Equality Speaker Series began in January and continued through March. Kicking off the Series, the Center presented new sponsored research by Dr. John Palladino (EMU) and Dr. Mark Giesler (SVSU) entitled “In and Out when Out and About: Identifying the Needs of Pre-Service Teachers and Social Workers.” The lecture was attended by approximately 30 people.
The Center concluded its survey of Michigan Advocacy Organization Research and Information Needs and Priorities (an original research project to gage community information needs and future research priorities).
In February, for the second time, the Center lead a workshop and was an exhibitor at the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Education Conference, sponsored by the SOGI Initiative at Oakland University. In addition to presenting a panel, the Center’s booth was visited by the approximately 150 people in attendance at the conference.
WINTER
In February, the Center presented the second Equality Speaker Series event: new sponsored research by Jon M. Wargo (MSU) entitled “Elastic Literacy: Mapping Queer Identities and the Social Fault Lines of (In)Equality in Educational Spaces.” Jon Wargo also presented at the SOGI Conference on the Center’s Panel with John Palladino and Mark Giesler.
Supporting Student Research The Center sponsored two undergraduate student research projects at the CAS Undergraduate Research Symposium on March 28th. These included Stephanie Arrieta, "Educators' Perceptions of Why Youth with Emotional Impairments Engage in Same-Sex Behaviors," and Silvana Alfaro-Bordon, "Effect of EPIC Panel Presentations on the Attitude of EMU Students toward LGBT Individuals."
During 2013-14, Center Associate Director, Meriah Sage, facilitated four “Safe Schools Project” workshops for over 120 pre-service teachers at University of Michigan using Theatre of the Oppressed techniques and scripts devised from local interviews on LGBT experiences in southeast Michigan schools.
Equality Speaker Series: March The Center concluded the 2014 Equality Speaker Series with a standing-room only presentation on research by Dr. Natalie Dove (EMU) and Randal Brown (UN-Reno) entitled “Promoting Equal Rates of STI Testing for LGBT Individuals.”
Equality Leadership Colloquium
Equality Connections Banquet The Center held its first annual Equality Connections Banquet fundraiser at the historic Grosse Pointe War Memorial on May 12, 2014. Over 130 donors and supporters were present at this celebration of progress for the center and over $8,000 was raised towards future research and programming. The event featured remarks by guest speaker Rev. Frank Schaefer, a nationally recognized LGBTQ advocate within the United Methodist Church.
Spring
On May 16th, the Center hosted the Equality Leadership Colloquium: LGBT Issues in Higher Education. This was the first academic conference event sponsored by the Center. It was funded by an internal grant from the College of Arts and Sciences Project Development Initiative program. It featured seven speakers (two board members, one EMU Faculty Member, two members of the LGBT advocacy community) including two nationally recognized speakers: Dr. Kristen Renn (MSU), Principle Investigator of the National Survey of LGBT Student Success, and T.J. Jourian, trans*gender activist and member of the cast of “TransGeneration.� The event was attended by approximately 60 educators, students and advocates. The Center also developed and launched the Equality Resource Network. This project is a wiki intended to provide a central resource and information community for K-12 and post-secondary educators.
The Big Announcement: Rebranding the Center In November of 2013, at the Provost’s suggestion, the Center met with staff of University Marketing to initiate a rebranding campaign. In order to create greater visibility, public understanding of the organizational purpose, and to optimize marketing (both traditional, social media, and web based), the Center was renamed the Equality Research Center (official in April of 2014). The change resulted in a new logo, new marketing materials, changes to the official website, and changes in social media outlets. The change was fully supported by the Center’s Advisory Board and was embraced by our Community Partners. The above rebranding effort contributed, in part, to a significantly expanded social media presence. Along with event advertising and informational posts, the Center’s Facebook page engaged over 100,000 Facebook users and tripled the number of page “likes” (to a total of 861, at present). The Center’s Twitter feed followers increased by 50% to a present total of 134. Finally, increased posting activity on the Center’s Wordpress Blog, “Equality Insight” resulted in increased distribution of the Center’s message and mission.
The Center at Motor City Pride On June 7 & 8, the Center participated as a vendor and exhibitor in Motor City Pride. This year Motor City Pride was attended by more than 50,000 people. This event resulted in an expansion of the Center’s contact list by over 200 names, robust sales of Center merchandise, and an opportunity to connect with both community members and other advocacy organizations. In its second year as an event exhibitor, the Center has established a recognizable and anticipated presence at Motor City Pride.
ERC Founder, Dr. Timothy Dyer Honored
Center Equality Knowledge Project White Papers Published Online In June, the Center published reports, or white papers, of the completed 2013-2014 research projects online at www.emich.edu/equality/research/equalityfellows.php.
Summer Fundraiser The Center will be holding a Kayak Fundraiser on July 27th in coordination with Riverside Kayak Connection. Half of the cost of the tour will be donated to the Center for future research projects. Many thanks to RKC for their support!
SUMMER
Dr. Timothy Dyer, ERC Founder, was honored with the Alumni Association Porter Distinguished Service Award on June 14th. Dr. Dyer served 12 years on the EMU Board of Regents and is currently a Trustee on the EMU Foundation Board. He has been a teacher, coach, principal, superintendent, Ypsilanti City Councilman and Mayor of Ypsilanti. Tim Dyer has been strong supporter of EMU and CMTA for many years. Thanks to Dr. Dyer’s generous planned gift in Fall 2010, the University established the Dr. Timothy J. Dyer Distinguished Interdisciplinary Chair in Forensics/Debate and Human Rights. It was in direct response to this generosity that the Department of Communication, Media & Theatre Arts established the Equality Research Center. Congratulations to Dr. Dyer on this well-deserved honor.
In summary The Center sponsored seven new research projects, presented the work of sixteen academics, advocates, and activists, sponsored five lectures, participated in two academic conferences, sponsored one academic conference, and launched a community support online resource network. Over 100 new donors supported the Center and over 1000 participants/audience members attended the many public events.
3
5
Conferences (Involved In)
Lectures on New Research
7 16 100+ 1000+ New Research Projects
Researchers
New Donors
Center Newsletter The Center published four issues of its newsletter, Equality Connections (now named ERC Connections) in 2013-14. The newsletters were posted to the Center’s website and linked to our Facebook page and Twitter feed. To be added to our mailing list, please email equality_humanrights@emich.edu.
Participants & Audience Members
In the coming year, the Equality Research Center will continue the tradition of research supported by the Equality Knowledge Project with new projects and researchers. We are excited to launch the first Equality Research Leadership Conference and a new Equality Leadership Series of seminars and colloquia. Through these and the Equality Resource Network, the Center will continue the work of connecting academics, advocates, and communities in the movement toward equality.
Congratulations to the 2014-2015 Equality Knowledge Project Research Award Recipients: Nick Romerhausen, Ph.D. and Nina Brennan, M.A. Eastern Michigan University Advancing the LGBT Community in Northwest Michigan: Strategic Planning for the Region's First Pride Celebration Erich N. Pitcher, Ph.D. Student Michigan State University Re-Conceptualizing Gender Equity in the Academy: Trans* Academics’ Narratives Michelle Kelsey Kearl, Ph.D. and Giuliana Sorce, Graduate Student Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne LGBTQ Coalition Building: A Case Study in Queer Community Making Beverly Mihalko, Ph.D. MPH, CIC Eastern Michigan University Closing the Gap in Culturally Competent Care of LGBT Older Adults: Current Practice in Michigan Long-term Care Facilities Student Award: Nicole Richards, MA Student; Tsai Sam Shen, Ph.D., Faculty Advisor Eastern Michigan University Gender Roles, Homophobia, and "The Closet": An Exploration of Lesbian Women's Experiences
For updates and upcoming events, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and www.emich.edu/equality.
Looking Forward : 2014-2015
Looking Forward: 2014-2015
Thank you Thank you to the EMU Communication, Media and Theatre Arts Department, the EMU College of Arts and Sciences, the John and Genevieve Dyer Educational Foundation, our Equality Research Center Advisory Board members and all our donors for making our work possible this year. Timothy Dyer John & Genevieve Dyer Educational Foundation EMU College of Arts and Sciences EMU Communication, Media and Theatre Arts Dept. EMU Office of the Provost EMU Foundation EMU Office of Government and Community Relations
Riverside Kayak Connection Lewis Jewelers Skydive Tecumseh Brooks Brothers The Auditorium Theatre Sidetrack Bar and Grill MaryAnn Watson
Dunes Development /Resort Detroit Opera House Five 15 Mojo Cafe The Henry Ford Tipping Point Theatre St. Julian Cat Care & all our individual donors
STAFF Faculty
Director: Michael A. Tew, Professor, CMTA Associate Director: Meriah Sage, Full Time Lecturer, CMTA
Students
Communication Coordinator: Benjamin Elmgren, Graduate Student Event Coordinator: Nicole Richards, Graduate Student Marketing Coordinator: Aaron Rosen, Undergraduate Student
Project Interns Speaker Series Promotion: Nicole Gestonian Press Releases/Media Alerts: Jordan Newman
329 King Hall, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197 Equality_HumanRights@emich.edu
734.487.3032 www.emich.edu/equality