Diversity Summit Archive

Past Diversity Summits

Taking Action: Advancing Equity at Geneseo - February 27, 2024

Featured Speaker
Understanding and Navigating Cultural Dynamics in the Workplace
Dr. Ricardo Nazario y Colón
Join us for an enlightening workshop where we delve into the essence of culture and its impact on organizational environments. We'll explore the concept of competency, including Pedersen’s Developmental Model, to understand how individuals develop skills and knowledge in a cultural context. Our session includes an interactive analysis of the 'Company Culture Iceberg,' revealing the hidden aspects of workplace culture. You'll learn about the various types of competencies and the stages of competence development, enhancing your ability to navigate diverse cultural landscapes. Finally, we'll introduce the Cultural Quotient (CQ) and discuss its application in fostering cultural competence, equipping you with the tools to thrive in a globalized business world.

Keynote Speaker
Tools to Transform Racialized Institutions of Higher Education
Dr. Estela Bensimon
There is a lot of talk about institutional change and transformation, purportedly to improve educational outcomes for racially minoritized students. However, the “change strategies” that are proposed to achieve transformation are, mostly, race neutral and unlikely to have the power to undo/decenter whiteness in the structures, practices, policies, and cultural norms of colleges and universities. In this talk, Bensimon puts forth a perspective on transformation that is premised on the idea of academic organizations as racialized entities. Institutions of higher education are extremely adept at “sensing disturbances” to the status quo and will seek to maintain homeostasis. The status quo/homeostasis is “whiteness,” “privilege,” “hierarchy” and “power asymmetries.” Drawing on the work of the USC Center for Urban Education, which Bensimon founded and directed for over 20 years, she will demonstrate tools to decenter “whiteness” in everyday practices. For more information on these tools, she invites you to preview them at https://www.cue-tools.usc.edu.

Community Art Project
Inclusivity and Representation in the Performing Arts
Join the Season Selection Committee, Theatre & Dance and Music & Musical Theatre Department colleagues in developing a community art project and in conversation about inclusivity and representation in the performing arts. Faculty and students from Theatre & Dance, Music & Musical Theatre and beyond are gathering, in community, around this topic and would love input and participation from the wider Geneseo community. We are thinking deeply about what it means to be included as an artist, and what diverse representation means to those viewing, receiving, absorbing the art. Beyond thinking, the goal is to create a sustainable culture of encouraging diverse perspectives and talents in the performing arts at Geneseo.

Inclusivity and Representation in the Performing Arts Town Hall
Bring your ideas, your ears, your voices, your words, and your creativity to our daylong community art project, and town hall discussion during the Summit Break.
 

General Sessions

LGBTQ+ in a Flash: Flash-Length Creative Writing Celebrating Identity
This interactive session will engage participants with the ways that flash-length literature (defined for these purposes as fewer than 1,000 words, genre can be flexible) can be a powerful and accessible tool for celebrating identity and building community. We will look at work by authors who are part of the LGBTQ+ community and will have writing prompts and time available for participants to write creatively about their own identities and life experiences.

The Hair Monologues
Hair is personal, political, and particularly salient to people of various marginalized identities. Whether you cut it, grow it, pick it, braid it, dye it, shave it, or lost it, we know that hair has a strong influence on identity, and that identity has a strong influence on hair. At this session, attendees will think in new ways about hair and its importance, as well as hear monologues from campus community members as they reflect on this important topic.

Diversity in the Classroom Requires Diverse Faculty
Students from historically underrepresented groups feel a greater sense of belonging and perform better in the classroom when they have instructors, mentors, and advisors that share their identities. Yet, at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) like Geneseo, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) departments often lack faculty diversity. The COPLAC ADVANCE PLAN project conducted an investigation of women faculty in STEM at 30 PUIs over the past five years, gathering data on women’s representation, the prevalence of policies focused on faculty equity, and administrator and faculty attitudes towards equity work on campus. We found that women are underrepresented in higher faculty ranks in STEM departments across the PUIs in our sample. Further, our survey results show that while administrators believe they are implementing equitable policies that help promote and retain diverse faculty, women faculty disagree. In this session, we present the findings of our latest survey that identifies the barriers to addressing equity among faculty. Our goal is to elucidate ways that faculty and students can work within their departments and hand-in-hand with administrators to implement policy change that promotes faculty equity and diversity not only in STEM, but across the campuses of PUIs.

Seeking Student Input: National Institute for Student Success Report
Throughout 2023, a working group from Geneseo joined forces with the National Institute for Student Success (NISS) to better understand factors related to student success and retention here. The group specifically sought input on improving the experience of BIPOC students towards graduation. This partnership culminated in a report that was delivered to Geneseo in October 2023.

Do White People Experience Racism?
Similar to Jubilee's spectrum events, we will be discussing our understandings of racism, bias, and prejudice. In particular, through a spectrum event we will be addressing the topic of "do white people experience racism?" The purpose of this event is to bring understanding and address the effects some of these mindsets have on the campus climate and how to take action when they are observed.

Relearning Disability: Using Accessibility to Combat Internalized Ableism
The goal of this session is to teach participants through dialogue and anecdotes to challenge their attitudes towards disabled individuals, and accessibility strategies one can use to become an ally to the disability community.

Starting on the Same Page: Learning Strategies You Can Use Now
Do you ever feel like other students just, somehow, magically know how to study or manage their time? It's not magic! They were taught those skills and you can learn, too. In this session, students will learn some easy ways to manage their time, tackle future assignments, and study for quizzes and exams. In addition, skills and strategies will be practiced in the session so you can help your friends and classmates, too! Regardless of what you're studying, you can learn to be more successful in the classroom and during finals week.

Exploring Identity Concepts & Advancing Equity with the Athletics DEI Committee
Participants will be encouraged to reflect on the labels they use to define themselves & others and explore key terms related to race and diversity & their definitions. This workshop is modeled after the mandatory trainings that have been facilitated by the Athletics DEI Committee for all first-year student-athletes over the last two academic years. Participation & an eagerness to learn about these important topics is a must!

Live Your Life More Accessibly 
In this session, we will be diving in discussing access and learning more about how everyone can support accessibility in their everyday lives. Little things that you can change or add to your everyday routine may make a huge impact for others.

Making Waves of Ideas: Fishbowl Dialogue
This collaborative dialogue emphasizes the importance of generous listening alongside speaking in order to generate ideas about how we can make SUNY Geneseo more equitable. We invite participants to enter the conversation and share their own experiences with equity (or lack thereof) at Geneseo. However, verbal participation is optional, and we encourage participants to engage in this conversation however they feel most comfortable. We will conclude our session with resources to make these equity initiatives a reality.

The Okanagan Charter: Envisioning a Campus that Promotes Wellbeing
This session will provide a brief overview of the Okanagan Charter, an aspirational document that helps colleges develop campuses that support wellbeing, with the understanding that wellbeing cannot exist without equity and sustainability. We will engage in open dialogue about what Geneseo can do to promote wellbeing in our policies, practices, pedagogy, procedures, and programs, with the goal of brainstorming action-based commitments that we can take in the future.

Ableism and Accessibility in the Classroom
The session will focus on sharing different accessibility tools to use in the classroom while also addressing different forms of ableism, and how to combat them. The session will also touch on different accommodations that a student may have in the classroom. Providing information on different ways to make a classroom more accessible allows students with disabilities to have fair and equal learning opportunities when compared with their non-disabled peers.

Building Connections
Our focus will be how the statement "I'm just a" is no longer acceptable on our campus and how everyone is important and plays a role in campus belonging. This session is to share often unheard staff perspectives and also provide insight on economic mobility. The discussion will help engage students, faculty and staff to learn more about who our custodial and trades mechanics and CAS team members are and to gain a better understanding of how they belong here and how they are integral to the services provided to our campus community. It will highlight how they intentionally go the extra mile to welcome and support others through their service. It will share journeys and career paths of staff who started at entry level positions and are now moving up the ladder.

Advancing Inclusivity In Sexual Health Education: The SEX[Ed] Program
In this session, Dr. Braksmajer and the SEX[Ed] interns will give a presentation about the genesis of the SEX[Ed] Sexual Health Peer Education Program (to be fully launched in Fall 2024), our efforts to build the program during the 2023-2024 academic year, our plans moving forward (including the development of an associated SOCL course and microcredential), and our plans to promote inclusivity in programming and outreach. This will be followed by a panel featuring our current interns, who will discuss their motivations for participating and their experiences with the program to date.

Identity and Experiences in Study Abroad: Student Led Panel
Race. Ethnicity. Religion. Sexual Orientation. Gender Identity. Gender Expression. Ability. And a multitude of other aspects of identity are transformed, challenged, and celebrated when traveling. Crossing national borders, in particular, can have a dramatic impact on how a person interprets their own identity. This is an opportunity to share, learn, hold space, and explore ways to positively impact student experiences abroad. In this panel presentation, students will speak about their experiences with identity and how it changes and grows through international experience. The goal is that by engaging with and preparing students, it will increase access and confidence for students from various backgrounds, including underrepresented students, to study overseas.

A Taste of Home: Diversity in Menu Planning
Join the Campus Auxiliary Services team for a panel presentation about the process of developing the menus in the dining facilities and for special events such as cultural dinners. With the dozens of recipes involved in the normal three-week menu rotation. weekly and monthly specials, and what is offered in a special or cultural event, there are many opportunities to introduce diversity into what is available on a daily basis.

Improving Inclusion in my Course or Club Today
Enhancing inclusive club and classroom practices is vital to meeting the many challenges of today’s world. Many course and organization leaders recognize the importance of this work. Still, one of the major challenges instructors and group leaders face in improving inclusivity and equity in their courses and spheres of influence is time. In this session, participants will be invited to use one hour to start or continue meaningful action toward their diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) goals. The workshop will open with ideas from colleagues and student leaders on where DEIB efforts can begin, including a summary of how inclusive content fits in STEM courses and student clubs. Participants will then be asked to start working toward one DEIB-related goal of their choosing, such as improving inclusive language on their syllabus, adding voices of historically excluded identity groups into course content, writing inclusion-related learning objectives, or talking through places they feel stuck with a group. Like an enzyme helping a chemical reaction over the activation energy hurdle, this session is designed to build momentum, encouraging participants to begin or continue their DEIB actions. Bring questions, ideas, inspiration from other Diversity Summit sessions, and let’s get to work.

Being BIPOC at Geneseo
Moderated by award-winning artist, educator, and activist, Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj, this panel discussion is a frank, open, honest conversation with current BIPOC faculty, students, and staff about being BIPOC at SUNY Geneseo. The conversation celebrates difference and diversity in the pursuit of common ground.

Impact of Creating and Receiving a Scholarship at Geneseo - Alumni Virtual Panel

Learn, Engage, Take Action - February 28, 2023

Keynote Workshop: Is America obsessed with race?

Join us on this thought-provoking roundtable discussion. We will uncover how "race" has been used to categorize, segregate, and divide groups of People since the very foundation of America.

Community Art Project 
Stitch for Ukraine 

Learn about Slavic arts, peoples, and cultures through art. Embroidery is a type of language with thread. The styles show us from what part of the Slavic world people come and/or are even indicative of the smaller regions or villages where the embroiderers live. Participants will engage in the art of Slavic cross stitch embroidery.

Avoiding Ableism and Becoming an Ally

This session is focused on bringing awareness to ableist actions in everyday life while teaching attendees how to become better allies to people with disabilities.

How Do We Stop Devaluing Race at Geneseo

A presentation to push a greater conversation on the need to abandon comfortable dialogues and create tangible action items in efforts to bring value to race, which is too often overlooked due to the sensitivity and fear of discomfort from the masses. With the intention of addressing the community's efforts to fulfill the vision of an equity-centered honors college, race MUST be at the forefront.

Self and Peer Education in DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging)

Systemic inequities manifest in all aspects of society, including in an educational setting. Working to dismantle these inequities requires first understanding these issues. Importantly, education on DEIB issues should not be the responsibility of marginalized groups. In this session, we will discuss ways in which we may educate ourselves and grow in understanding without putting the onus on certain groups or individuals. This may include reading books or watching videos, however it is important to engage with sources that reflect the experiences of marginalized groups through the lens of those who have experienced it themselves. This session will include a discussion of issues and challenges that come with learning about DEIB.

Disability Isn't A Dirty Word

We plan to present and educate members of our campus on disability, ableism, appropriate language, and how to be an ally to our disabled community. We also hope to share anonymous testimonials from students on our campus to give insight to what it's like to have experienced ableism, serve as a perspective, and sheds light on an often overlooked experience. We hope to obtain a variety of testimonials through a google form survey that will be sent out to all students - not just students connected with the Office of Accessibility.

Will My Counselor "Get" Me?: Strengths and Challenges of Shared Identities in Mental Health Treatment

Members of Counseling Services will be facilitating an open dialogue designed to explore how identity interacts with the therapeutic relationship. Students will be encouraged to share their lived experiences, connect with others, and reflect on barriers to accessing mental health care.

Accessibility Discussion Circle

Discussion questions surrounding on-campus accessibility will be asked to the participants of the session. Everyone will have a chance to speak. However, no one will be forced to speak.

Insights From Psychology For a Multiculturally Welcoming Campus

It’s no surprise that we think, learn, and interact with the world differently based on our cultural backgrounds, but what impact might these cultural factors have on the academic and social experiences of Geneseo students of diverse identities? This session explores current psychological research surrounding the varying influence that our culture has on us, the strengths and challenges it presents in different contexts, and the unique obstacles students face when their environment is not suited for their cultural skillsets. Topics such as communication, motivation, self-concept, and cognitive styles will be discussed with relevance to our multicultural student body, and the presentation will tie this information into highlighting strategies for our campus community to grow in promoting success and belongingness for Geneseo students of all backgrounds.

Transforming Classroom Learning into Contributions to Library Guides for Black Studies Courses

We want to present a case study of how the interdepartmental collaboration between Research Instruction and Black Studies/English departments can transform students' academic experiences into meaningful contributions to scholarly conversations and resources. As an ongoing project, we want to have a conversation with the participants to examine how we (presenters and the audience) can continue collaborations that develop creative projects useful to various academic communities beyond the classroom.

The Hair Monologues

Hair is personal, political, and particularly salient to people of various marginalized identities. Whether you cut it, grow it, pick it, braid it, dye it, shave it, or lost it, we know that hair has a strong influence on identity, and that identity has a strong influence on hair. At this session, attendees will think in new ways about hair and its importance, as well as hear monologues from campus community members as they reflect on this important topic.

Developing and Enhancing STEM DEI Actions

This session is a collaborative workshop that aims to support STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) disciplines working towards the overall STEM goal of supporting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI) in the Sciences. This session will be an interactive and engaging workshop where participants will get inspiration from active discussion about STEM-specific topics and issues. The workshop will include STEM disciplines sharing their various stages of development in DEI action plans with examples of discipline specific action plans related to STEM challenges such as labs, fieldwork, research, etc. Majority of the session will involve breakout groups where participants with different STEM backgrounds will mix into small groups and work on actions related to STEM DEI prompts. The prompts will be based on challenges that STEM disciplines encounter that are unique to the sciences. At the end of the session, participants will regroup with their specific STEM disciplines and share ideas and actions that were developed from the breakout discussion. Participants at all levels of action plan development are encouraged to be part of the workshop, the workshop is designed to help those that are in the early stages of action development to those that are working towards new iterations of their action plans.

Diversifying Role Models in STEM to Empower All Learners

The lack of diverse representation of identities in science can impact not only how students believe they can become scientists but also who belongs in the science community and the public’s trust of scientists. In our session, we will share what we have learned about how Geneseo students perceive scientists and the field of science. We will demonstrate how diversifying role models addresses some of these problems, and invite participants to help build a resource of diverse scientist role models for the Geneseo community.

Alumni Insights in Developing Programs to Bring Equity into Organizations

Panel

Equity in Sustainability: How might we reduce single use plastics?

Geneseo's Design Challenge Team welcomes you to participate in a design thinking workshop to develop strategies for reducing the presence of single use plastics and their impacts on marginalized communities. This session will be a continuation of a series of workshops hosted over the last semester with participants ranging from local elected officials and campus leadership to students and business owners. Design thinking is a process of solving problems by prioritizing the consumers' needs above all else. It relies on observing with empathy how people interact with their environments, and employs an iterative, hands-on approach to creating innovative solutions. Our goal is to remove single use plastics on campus and the surrounding community to as their presence in the waste stream disproportionately impacts low-income and marginalized communities.

Going Death-Con 3: Uncoding Dangerous Antisemitic Conspiracy Theories

This session will cover a broad range of antisemitic conspiracy theories from the past and modern day. The main focus is how those conspiracy theories impact Jewish communities today. This will help educate our campus community so that they are knowledgeable about these dangerous representations and can help combat them.

The Black Student Experience at Geneseo: Cultivating a New Climate

The goal of this session is to foster a space for students of color, and Black students in particular, to discuss their experiences at SUNY Geneseo. To open the session, the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee from the Department of Communication will analyze and break down several of the Campus Climate survey results and graphs that show an overwhelming amount of discontent from this population at Geneseo. Using these results, the IDEA Committee will use the remainder of the session to facilitate a dialogue with all participants with the purpose of not only understanding why this discontent exists but further what Geneseo can do to improve the experiences of future students of color on campus. Some guiding questions of the dialogue will be: Do you resonate with the results of this survey? Why or why not? What would’ve helped you in these situations? What can Geneseo do to make you feel valued? Please note that this space is intended for BIPOC individuals to voice their experiences but also for others to practice active listening and learn how to be better allies.

Building Global Community through Sharable Portable Course Modules

The Global Studies Cluster’s (GSC) Portable Course Module (PCM) invites faculty and staff to work with students to challenge themselves to consider how the global topics we engage positively impact the world around us, inspire action. Learning from the PCM developed around topics of Sustainability by Karleen West and Suann Yang, the Global Studies PCM envisions that each semester faculty and staff lead students to work over two weeks to develop a project with this outcome in mind. The end result is to provide a tangible project/document that can be shared outwards to the Geneseo community and beyond creating a growing archive of sharable teaching materials, assignment ideas, creative student work, etc. While developing the PCM, the GSC piloted it on its faculty during Fall 2022 in courses ranging from the following areas of study: Art History, Economics, Education, English, Global Languages and Cultures, History, and Political Science. The session will share some of these PCMs in the hope to gather feedback as it is developed to be shared with faculty, staff, and students campus wide.

Student-to-Student Microaggressions: Implementing change and becoming an ally

This session is designed to engage college students in a dialogue regarding the student-to-student microaggressions occurring on this campus, and how to become an ally and agent of change. First, we will begin by providing background information regarding microaggressions, with the goal of empowering students with the knowledge necessary to identify microaggressions when they occur. Next, we will discuss strategies for becoming an ally and having difficult discussions with other students regarding microaggressions. Lastly, there will be a discussion for action planning; where students will discuss what they can do to address microaggressions on this campus, both individually and as members of the social groups to which they belong.

 

Our Journey from Inclusion to Belonging - February 16, 2022

Analyzing Children's Books for Anti-Bias Education

Children's literature is a powerful resource to reflect children's identities, help children learn about the diversity in the world around them, and support inclusion and belonging. It is also a potential source of bias and stereotypes. Therefore, it is crucial for anyone working with young children to learn how to analyze children's literature for potential bias and to develop a library of books that truly reflect diversity, inclusion, and belonging. In this session, we (professor and student) will share an assignment the Early Childhood/Childhood students participate in early in their major to learn how to analyze children's literature for anti-bias education. Participants in the session will learn how to analyze children's books and practice this by analyzing one or more books.

2 Strangers Who Meet 5 Times: The Impact of Bias

Our lives are shaped by bias. Each of us has been conditioned since birth to hold certain pre-conceived notions about those who are different from us, '2 Strangers Who Meet 5 Times' tells the story of how prejudice changes lives.

On The Same Page: Faculty, Staff, and Students Belong Together 

The goal of this session is to create a space for academic departments to empower and assist each other regarding how to foster a welcoming and safe atmosphere within their department. The session will consist of two parts. To open the session, the Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee from the Department of Communication and the Bio-Diversity Committee from the Department of Biology will explain their models of student-faculty-run committees. In particular, they will discuss how these committees came about as well as the logistics of how they currently run and the challenges they encounter. Secondly, we will open the discussion to you (the participants) to speak about how intradepartmental relationships could benefit your academic department as well as why they are necessary and what these might look like in the context of your department. Some guiding questions of the discussion will be: What are the main needs for the students and instructors in your department in terms of IDEA? What does your department do (or can do) to celebrate and create a safe space for underrepresented groups? How can students contribute to creating a safe space for instructors in your department?

Fostering Belonging: Through Storytelling and Disability Awareness

The focus of this session is highlighting the experiences of people with disabilities. It aims to connect individuals by storytelling/listening in order to create a sense of belonging. Through the practice of empathy and compassion, attendees will be able to learn and resonate with one another. The personal stories that will be shared will be expressed in different forms such as video format, written format, and oral format. Some storytellers will be anonymous. We will have a debriding conversation after listening to stories in order to start and continue the conversation on the importance of the disabled community and the intersections of other social identities. This panel will be facilitated by members of the Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (I.D.E.A.) Committee in the Department of Communication. The session would aim to create and foster the inclusive space at SUNY Geneseo.

LGBTQ+ Life on Campus: From Inclusion to Belonging

This session will gather a group of individuals from different parts of campus life (students, staff, and faculty) to discuss and share ideas on how to foster a greater sense of belonging of the LGBTQ+ community both in the classroom and campus as a whole. Time will be designated for audience participation to engage in conversation about this topic.

The New Rules: Creating an Authentically Diverse Workplace

The IDEA committee of the library will present their findings from the book, Authentic Diversity: How to Change the Workplace for Good by Michelle Silverthorn. The book aims to help folks move beyond talking about DEI to taking actionable steps. In groups, we will explore how we can apply the new rules at our respective departments or offices at Geneseo. We encourage DEI groups on campus to attend this session as we are going to be talking about some of the key problems and solutions from the book, however, students are welcome to attend.

Ableism in the Classroom

An open dialogue and presentation on ableism in the classroom/on campus and how it effects students.

Graduate School Panel

The focus of this session will be applying to and navigating the graduate school process. This process is difficult in general, and is especially so for students from minoritized groups, such as BIPOC students and transgender students. The goal of this session is to host a question and answer panel with approximately five Geneseo alumni who can address this topic and speak to their own experiences with graduate school. Alumni panelists will introduce themselves and talk about their overall graduate school experience, and we will have time for student questions for the panelists as well.

Change The World One Stitch at a Time  

Crafting is one of the most comforting and much-loved activities. In the last twenty or so years we witnessed a revival of craft both on the political and consumer level. Nowadays, it is often used not only as a pastime but also for activist purposes. In this session/workshop four members of Geneseo faculty will discuss the meeting of activism and craft which result in successful, although at times also problematic art works. Lee Pierce (Communication) will discuss the dark side of yarn bombing (gentrification) and tensions between knitting as an individualized mode of self-improvement (like meditation) vs. knitting as a conduit for social progress and social justice. Jennifer Guzmán (Anthropology) will talk about the embroidery tradition of arpillera, which was originally developed by women in Chile to denounce human rights abuses. Today arpillera is a resource for raising awareness about contemporary problems such as climate change, privatization, and pollution. Alla Myzelev (Art History) will talk about Craftivism (Craft and Activism) in Eastern Europe. Using two examples form Belarus and Ukraine, Alla will explain how the use of craft helps to raise awareness of feminist ideas in the countries where patriarchy and misogyny remains part of the status quo. Alessandra Otero Ramos (Library) will talk about graffiti knitting or yarn bombing, one of the practices of craftivism that inspires discussion about political and social issues. Through the works of Victoria Villasana and Agata Oleksiak she will present examples of graffiti knitting installations that inspire discussion about female empowerment and environmental issues. After an initial 40 minutes of presentations and discussion we will offer a hands-on workshop which will introduce participants to the basics of crochet, knitting and embroidery. We will have some easy projects to work on but also welcome more experienced craftspeople. Bring your own project, show off your work, learn a new skill or just participate in the discussion. All are welcome to the inclusive space of craft making!

The Journey of Women in Finance - From Inclusion to Belonging

This session will feature a number of successful women in Finance both in person and virtually. They will discuss there career path, what they did to be successful, how they addressed obstacles and what advise they would give to students. Students will be asking questions and I will be the moderator.

Crafting, Creating, and Collaging a Community

In this session, Iris Magazine will provide for participants to paint, draw on, write on, collage, and generally cultivate while listening to a community conversation about the importance of safe creative spaces within a community. This session will integrate creativity and conversation to allow for a moving and influential experience for all participants.

The Hair Monologues

Hair is personal, political, and particularly salient to people of various marginalized identities. Whether you cut it, grow it, pick it, braid it, dye it, shave it, or lost it, we know that hair has a strong influence on identity, and that identity has a strong influence on hair. At this session, attendees will think in new ways about hair and its importance, as well as hear monologues from campus community members as they reflect on this important topic.

Alt Text As Poetry Workshop  

Alt-text is an essential part of web accessibility. It is a system of text descriptions built into websites, which makes visual content accessible to people who are blind, low vision, or have certain cognitive disabilities. Alt-text has existed since the 1990s, but it is often overlooked altogether or included only as an afterthought. Alt-text contains tremendous expressive potential, however. This workshop asks participants to imagine alt-text as a type of poetry, and provides exercises to practice writing it. We'll also provide practical guidance for how to quickly add alt-text on social media and other digital images.

Women in Chemistry Panel

A panel of 6 women will describe how they gained a sense of belonging in chemistry and highlight what challenges they've had to overcome to achieve this feeling. Audience members are encouraged to ask questions and if they'd like, share their own journey.

Finding Belongingness in Professional Settings

How do our identities impact our interactions and behaviors in a professional setting? We will discuss imposter syndrome which involves feelings of self-fraud and self-doubt. In professional settings, many students/employees from marginalized backgrounds feel out of place due to their identities. We will discuss what belonging looks like for faculty staff and students in leadership positions. Belonging looks different for everyone and different spaces provide that sense of acceptance and empowerment to be our authentic selves. In order to create inclusion within students the example needs to be established between faculty staff and work on the dynamics between faculty and students. After discussing the results of a survey we conducted during December and January, we will discuss in small groups some guided questions on how we can create spaces of belonging, inclusion, and acceptance.

Women in Classical Music: A Conversation with Composer - Jocelyn Hagen 

Jocelyn Hagen is a pioneer in the field of music composition, pushing the expectations of musicians and audiences with large-scale multimedia works, electro-acoustic music, dance, opera, and publishing. Her first forays into composition were via songwriting, still very evident in her work. The majority of her compositions are for the voice: solo, chamber and choral. In honor of SUNY Geneseo's 150th Anniversary, the Geneseo Chamber Singers, through the support of the Department of Music & Musical Theatre and the Office of the Provost, have commissioned a new piece by Hagen. This piece, "Say It Out Loud" (SATB div. a cappella choir and body percussion), will have its world premiere at the Geneseo Chamber Singers concert on Sunday, March 6 at 3pm. In her presentation today, Hagen will talk about her experiences as a composer in the twenty-first century United States, where women are still hugely underrepresented in the field of classical music composition. There will be ample time for Q and A with the audience.

In this Moment: Social Determinants, Human Trafficking, and Health Implications

The president of the Rochester Regional Coalition Against Human Trafficking, highlights the social issues that increase individuals' vulnerability to being trafficked. This talk will also discuss the health implications that victims of trafficking face, intersectionality of social determinants, human trafficking, and health consequences, and race as an indicator for human trafficking.

What Happened to the Rights of Adults with Developmental Disabilities?

The Willowbrook Decree of 1975 saw the deinstitutionalization of both children and adults with significant developmental disabilities in the state of New York. This movement led toward inclusion of these community members into homes and state operated residences into all the counties of the state. This session will trace the complicated intersection of societal norms, funding, and politics with one of our most vulnerable populations that have only had comprehensive federally protected civil rights since the passing of the American with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Beyond the Ideal Victim: The Intersection of Identity and Sexual Violence

What do you think of when you think of a victim of sexual violence? In this session, we hope to break the myth of the “ideal victim” and draw attention to the ways in which social identity intersects with sexual violence to impact the experiences of survivors. Attendants will learn about the ways in which LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and disabled communities are affected by sexual violence and participate in both large and small group discussions about the topic. Attendants will also be informed of resources available for victims of sexual violence.

Underrepresented Student Experiences with Microaggressions: Strategies for Change

This session is designed to engage the college community in a meaningful dialogue regarding students’ experiences with microaggressions, with a focus on developing strategies for change. First, we will provide background information regarding microaggressions, including what the research says about the impact of microaggressions on targets. Next, we will try to capture students’ experiences with microaggressions on our campus by presenting themes and quotes from our interview study based on in-depth interviews conducted with 40 underrepresented students, followed by a discussion of the implications of this research for addressing issues related to microaggressions on our campus. Lastly, session participants will collaborate in small groups to develop both personal and group/department-level strategies for reducing the prevalence of microaggressions on our campus.

Brave Space Pilot

A standardized voluntary training program for members of the SUNY Geneseo campus around issues of race, BIPOC identity, whiteness, inclusion, anti-discrimination, and anti-racism. Designed as a foundations course to supplement/complement/prerequisite advanced custom workshops from DICE. A generalized complement to DICE specificity. Some overlap with the Safe Zone program to create consistency but mostly unique in content and methods. Focus is on competency, inclusivity, and equity rather than “sensitivity” and similar pejorative labels. Includes trauma-informed and transformative/joyful perspectives (i.e. being BIPOC isn’t all sad). Maximize interaction and activities. Evolving curriculum in conversation with DICE. Centering intersectionality with BIPOC/LGBTQ (without comparison), dis/ability.

The Importance of Representation and Role Models in Biology

Historically marginalized groups such as BIPOC, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ community have been underrepresented in STEM. Students who identify as members of these historically marginalized groups do not have role models, and this can negatively affect their STEM education. During this session, we will talk about underrepresentation in STEM and how it affects students today. We will showcase biologists from both the past and present who are members of these historically marginalized groups, and talk about the impact they have had on biology. We will also provide resources for finding diverse scientists and increasing representation within STEM.

Jewish by Choice

Join Hillel as we talk to panelists who have made the decision to convert to Judaism. Together, we will learn about the process of converting to Judaism, the reasons behind their decision, and how they are viewed within the Jewish community.

Harnessing Course Content to Counter Stereotypes of Who Belongs in Science 

The lack of diverse representation of identities in science can impact not only how students view their potential to become scientists but also who belongs in the science community. In our session, we will share how we leveraged activities throughout the semester in biology classes to promote data literacy while highlighting the scientific contributions of scientists from historically excluded groups. We will demonstrate how this approach allows us to simultaneously accomplish content/skills objectives of our courses while also achieving social justice goals. We will present the responses of students to these activities in introductory biology and intermediate ecology courses, which included how these activities changed their views about the people who do science. We will provide examples of how such activities can be structured as well as some resources for finding scientists to highlight across all STEM fields. Finally, we will guide participants in imagining how they could adapt this approach to their own efforts of entwining social justice with learning in their disciplines

Creating an Antiracist Community - March 2, 2021

Protest by Design: Learning Diversity and Activism from Craftivists
by Alla Myzelev

Craftivism (activism + craft) is the style of protests that originated with Postfeminism. The presentation will introduce student to the history of feminist protests from Suffrage to the present. The special attention will be on the role of the crafts traditionally associated with femininity such as embroidery and knitting. We will discuss how feminists art in the 1970s had a great impact on feminist struggle because it was openly political but also understood by the majority. We will then turn to Craftivist strategies and will discuss the power of "soft" or non-violent rebellion using examples of the craftiest actions across the world. We will finish with in depth examining two Craftivist protests for comparison: one in the US and one in Ukraine. After that we will introduce the participants to the fundamental techniques of crochet to create craftiest tags for creating yarn graffiti. If time remains, we will design a site specific action for a campus peaceful protest.

Processing Feelings and Creating Effective Responses to Racial Remarks from a BIPOC Perspective
by Becky Leathersitch and Alessandra Otero Ramos

This interactive discussion will focus on techniques and tactics to acknowledge and express our emotions when confronted in a discriminatory situation. Participants will have the opportunity to practice expressing their emotions in a polite response. Tactics to do so will be provided by the facilitators. The first part of the workshop will create a safe space for all participants and provide information about emotional intelligence and tactics to respond effectively in a discriminatory situation, either as a victim or bystander/ally. The second part of the workshop will allow participants to practice in a small breakout room with a moderator. Participants will select a scenario (perhaps one from their own experiences) and take turns identifying what emotions they feel, and considering an emotional response and a constructive response.

GOLD Workshop: Trans 2.0: Gender, Privilege, and Misconceptions
by Charlotte Wade  

This workshop covers the differences between gender identity, gender expression, and biological sex. Participants will learn about the great diversity within the transgender community, as well as gain an understanding of power, privilege, and misconceptions as they relate to trans people. We will go over common transphobic microaggressions and misconceptions. This workshop is intended to be intermediate, and is most suited for cisgender people who want to be allies to trans folks but need help in doing so.

Beyond the Ashkenorm: How to be an Intersectional Ally
by Claire Shroder '23, Misha Firestein-Rudder '22, Shira Dubin '23

Come learn with Hillel at Geneseo E-board what it means to be an intersectional ally to minority communities in this workshop. We will examine how identities are often conflicting, and how to navigate these issues as a college student.

Racism In A Barbie World
by Denise Reed Lamoreaux '84

As children begin to recognize complex ideas and form their own opinions, parents, educators and caregivers can become agents of change so that young people can take ownership of the antiracist part of their identity and their own allyship.

Race and Ancestry
by Dr. Betsy Hutchison, Dr. Josie Reinhardt, Dr. Kevin Militello, and Dr. Hristina Nedelkovska

Presenters will introduce basic concepts of inheritance and population genetics. Presenters will discuss the concept of ancestry from a genetics standpoint, with an emphasis on how it compares and contrasts to the sociological concept of race, and how misuse of racial identifiers can lead to harmful misconceptions and generalizations. It is important to talk about race and ancestry in a Genetics course, in terms of educating students and creating an inclusive environment, and we will present guidelines on how to do so in a way that is both informative and respectful of racial identity.

Teaching for DEI: Lessons Learned during the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Dr. Cathy Adams, Dr. Hanna Brant, Dr. Susana Castillo-Rodriguez, Dr. Michael Masci, Dr. Alla Myzelev, Dr. Bruno Renero-Hannan, Dr. Amanda Roth, and Dr. Jewels White

This roundtable is organized as an informal, cross-disciplinary conversation for sharing insights, experiences, concerns, and innovations that can enhance our DEI efforts across campus. To focus our conversation we will consider ways that the COVID-19 pandemic has led us to innovate creatively in our teaching.

Standard Fare: An Antiracist Approach to Standardized English
by Dr. Gillian Paku and Brian Vargas '21

Contending with what has traditionally been called "Standard English" affects writing-intensive endeavors at Geneseo, most obviously via the first-year writing seminar which fulfills the SUNY Gen. Ed. requirement (INTD 105 & 106). This session considers the viewpoints of students who identify as BIPOC and presents pedagogical approaches connected to the scholarship on "antiracist writing assessment ecologies.”

Economic Inequality: The Challenge and Hope of Sustainable Development
by Dr. Karleen West, and panel

This session focuses on the topic of economic inequality and sustainable development.

The Hair Monologues
by Dr. Kristen Gentry, Charlotte Wade, robbie routenberg '05, and Cast Members

Although seemingly just dead skin cells hanging from our bodies, hair can represent so much related to race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, disability, and other identity categories. Come listen to Geneseo community members speak about their relationships with their hair. Attendees will gain an intersectional understanding of the importance of hair to personal identity development and expression.

Hunger and the Pandemic: A View From The Field
by Dr. Robert Boyd (School of Business Faculty and Treasurer at Westside Farmers Market and St. Peter's Kitchen), Mitch Gruber (Chief Partnerships Officer, Foodlink Rochester), Patricia Lorenzen (Executive Director, St. Peter's Kitchen), Hoody Miller (Volunteer Westside Farmers Market)

The panel will discuss the impact of the pandemic on hunger. Each speaker will discuss what they do, how it was impacted and how certain societal groups were impacted differently.

Preparing Culturally Responsive Teacher Candidates through Online Learning
by Dr. Thea Yurkewecz and Dr. Crystal Simmons

The goal of this session is to: (1) self-reflect on our virtual teaching approaches around culturally responsive pedagogy, (2) provide strategies that foster and promote anti-racism, and (3) share the stories/experiences from current/previous teacher candidates.

Microaggressions, Communication & How To be An Anti-Racist Introduction
by Dr. Tomicka Wagstaff and Stephanie Paredes

Let's dive into microaggressions and communication. Communication is key when having complex or vulnerable conversations. Let interact and discuss how communication and microaggressions impact dialogue. We also give a brief look into the book How to be an Anti-Racist.

Successful Antiracism Strategies in Higher-Education and in the Food System
by Jared Strohl

It is a challenge for most institutions to be antiracist, both because they are hierarchical, top-down structures that rely on relationships of power and oppression, and because they often lack BIPOC representation in their leadership. Through reflections from both diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work at a large university and food justice work in the city of Buffalo, this session describes successful strategies in the face of these challenges. At the University at Buffalo, one successful approach has been formally creating leadership positions across the campus that are focused on equity and justice. Another strategy in the fight against food apartheid in the city of Buffalo is supporting collective forms of leadership that provide BIPOC community members with more sovereignty and control over the food system. Finally, in both higher education and in the food system, organizational members and leaders must become allies by supporting BIPOC led initiatives to address racism, thereby avoiding the pitfall of creating “inclusive” policies and programs that are not BIPOC led. After describing these strategies, the presentation will conclude with a group discussion amongst attendees about successful strategies they have been a part of that have challenged institutional racism and injustice.

Don’t Delay Disarmament: Nuclear Colonization
by Jess Rivera '22, Yaro Bautista Martinez '23, and Margaret Hewitt '22

Nuclear Disarmament is an ongoing effort that has taken place over decades with the goal to reduce and eliminate the use of nuclear weapons. In this session, we will introduce related terms, themes, and developments, and use them to analyze and discuss the relationship between a failure to undergo nuclear disarmament and themes of neo-colonization.

Deliberate Anti-Racist Practice in an Educational Setting
by John Strong

Participants of this session will be first welcomed into a brave space and then begin the process of introspection regarding their understanding of anti-racism. The process will build through breakout room discussions and facilitator led information briefings, and then culminate with a look at a booklet that can facilitate the process of first dealing with anti-racism in the self, then the students, and finally the academic community.

How Does Race Relate to Food Insecurity?
by Jordyn Costello '21, Tessa Kilian '21, Caitlin Callanan '21, and Jill Demaria '22

The ongoing pandemic has contributed to the most severe food insecurity crisis since the Great Depression. Black, latinx, and Indigineous families are more than twice as likely to be food insecure than white families. This session will discuss how racism works against BIPOC and give room for open discussion on possible solutions to this issue.

Supporting LGBTQ+ Adolescents: Discussing LGBTQ+ Health Disparities & Preventing Adverse Outcomes
by Julia Deacon '20

LGBTQ+ adolescents face unique health and mental health disparities that serve as life-long stressors. By taking a look at both the statistics behind these disparities and the Minority Stress Model, this session will begin a discussion on the intersections between identity and health status. This session will encourage participants to begin thinking about, discussing, and planning ways they can advocate for and support LGBTQ+ adolescents on both a micro- and macro-cosmic level. While this session will focus on LGBTQ+ identities, participants will be tasked with thinking about how all social identities a person inhabits impact their health and mental health outcomes.

Group Discussion on Superior: The Return of Race Science
by Maya Craig '21, Jasmine Yeoh '21, Dr. Suann Yang, Dr. Mackenzie Gerringer, and the Biology Diversity Committee

“Science is not just a series of facts, it is a series of narratives.” - Angela Saini As part of the Biology department’s commitment to supporting racial justice and building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community, we invite you to join us in our Spring 2021 Group Read of Angela Saini’s Superior: The Return of Race Science - Science Books of the Year (Smithsonian Magazine) · Best Science Books of the Year (NPR’s Science Friday). Our reading of the book will allow us to engage with topics such as race as a social rather than biological construct, the false safety of objectivity in science, the role of systemic racism in medicine, and what actions we should take from what we learn from our reading. It takes everyone to build an equitable and inclusive community, so all - students, staff, and faculty from any field - are welcome to join in this discussion. We ask that participants read the book prior to our discussion. There are a few copies of the book in the biology office to borrow. For questions, comments, or concerns, please reach out to the Biology Diversity Committee at bio-diversity@geneseo.edu.

Experiences of BIPOC students with immigrant identity in STEM
by Mouhamad Berte '22, Syndou Cissé '22, and Dr. Suann Yang

The STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) attract relatively more immigrants than U.S.-born college students. For BIPOC students who are immigrants, how do these intersecting identities affect our persistence and sense of belonging in STEM classrooms? In our conversation, we will explore how immigrant narratives of work ethic and valuing education intersect with our racial and ethnic identities in this space. In addition to sharing our experiences, we also seek to connect members of our community who also have these intersecting identities, as well as allies.

Keynote Debrief
by The Student Association

After the Keynote speaker, the Student Association will be hosting a student-led debrief in which they lead a candid discussion around the sessions held, the keynote speakers’ topic, and the overall Diversity Summit. We will also be sharing our information on where to find our google form that gathers feedback on this year’s summit, but to also hear ideas related to the focus of next year’s Diversity Summit. This session also plans to gather student ideas and perspectives regarding NEXT year’s Diversity Summit’s T-shirt.

Mindfulness in Different Abilities
by Yuki Morita '22, Rocio Ruiz '23, Kyle Waltenberg-O'Brien '21, and Dr. Emi Kanemoto

In this workshop discussion and activities, attendees will better empathize with students of differing ability and gain an understanding of just some of the barriers that are faced by our peers on a daily basis. Attendees will gain communication skills and knowledge to create a more inclusive community. We hope that attendees walk away with more mindfulness and understanding of the importance of support and encouragement to our peers.

The Importance of Representation in Leadership
by Kaitlyn Bertleff '21, Xiara Colon '21

An interactive panel where SA exec members and participants dive deep into conversations about identity, leadership and the importance of representation in leadership. This panel discussion will be a space where we hope to set the tone in which you can feel free to rant, talk about personal narratives, and participate in our mini-activities.

Building an Inclusive Community w/ Support, Allyhood, and Activism - March 2, 2020

Teacher Candidates Application of Diversity and Inclusion in Public Education
by Thea Yurkewecz and Crystal Simmons; Student Panelists: Amy Forrest, Maria Ruiz Luna, Taya Coniglio, Leslie Mast, Emmy Lundquist, Ryland Frost, Jaylen Martinez

Teacher candidates from the elementary and adolescent education programs in School of Education will serve on a panel to reflect on the importance of diversity and inclusion.  This panel features a question/answer session facilitated by Dr. Crystal Simmons and Dr. Thea Yurkewecz.  Omékongo Students will identify how they apply course content in their planning and design of lessons that integrate multicultural perspectives and identities in the classroom. 

The Intersections of Mental Health and Social Identity
by Julia Deacon

Rooted in empirical findings, this session will address how social identities we inhabit and our mental health interact. Participants will be able to interactively begin to understand how their own social identities (ie: their race, sexuality, ability, and gender) are currently affecting their mental health. Participants should walk away with a better understanding of their own identities and wellbeing, as well as being able to identify areas of support they can access.

How to Be an Activist
by Kelsey Dux

Understanding how to be an effective activist is crucial in being a good ally and agent of change. Within this program, we will discuss the various avenues in which one can achieve change, the different types of change, and how our identities empower us as activists. Join us to share your perspective on activism and start your plan of action.

Microaggressions in Everyday Life
by Trillium Health (Andre Dixon)

Microaggressions are all around us. People who perpetuate them may never know that they’re doing it until they are given that awareness. It can be pretty eye-opening for folks to look deep and realize how they contribute to bias without even knowing it, but when you’re aware of microaggressions you can stop them. Let's pick apart and understand a piece of these issues we see on a daily basis.

Using Images that Reflect an Inclusive Student Population
by Alexis Clifton

Visual representations are important; what images are included to represent a college community in our presentations, course materials, and other campus documents can convey a lot to viewers. This session will explore opportunities for broadening our use of images depicting under-represented groups. Even changing out one icon on a slide deck can have a dramatic impact on inclusivity. New collections of images with a diversity/equity/inclusiveness focus, such as The Gender Spectrum Collection and the Redefining Women Icon Collection, allow us a good starting point to broaden our visual offerings. We will explore existing resources, identify opportunities to use these visuals, and talk about opportunities to create and share additional inclusive images with the world.

Black & Queer: Understanding Out Culture, Contributions, and Struggles
by Eunisha Tucker

Due to the idea that "normal" means being white, cisgender, and heterosexual, Black individuals and LGBTQIA+ folx are unable to exist without experiencing discrimination and dehumanization. What if you're both Black and LGBTQIA+, though? In this workshop, Eunisha will talk about the issues Black, LGBTQIA+ individuals face, and the culture and contributions of this marginalized community. To finish off, there will be a game of jeopardy that educates participants on Black, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and allies, past and current.

White Male Allyship and Our Place in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
by Garth Freeman

This workshop will provide a space where white men can speak about their lived experience as it relates to being allies. Being an active, white, male ally entails mindful self-reflection and a reimagining of how our privilege can be utilized while breaking from traditional roles of dominance, power, and influence. This workshop will allow participants to discuss how they intersect with this important work, how and when their voice can and should be used, and how they can respectfully and earnestly work towards the collective goals of a more equitable society and culture.

Indispensable Participation: LIVES and Literary Disability Studies Collaborations
by Gillian Paku & student panelists: Claire Corbeaux, Melisha Gatlin, Alexis Herman, Christina Luongo, Laura Newton, Brianna Riggio

“We act politically by sharing a meal—when doing so makes others uncomfortable or challenges what is deemed fit for public space. We act politically when we throw our bodies in dance—when dominant norms insist that our bodies are best hidden […]. We act politically when we open our classrooms to students with intellectual disabilities—as we find ways to practice alliance in academia” (Stacy Clifford Simplican). Our panel of students from English literature classes and Geneseo’s LIVES program aims to highlight a range of empowering, mutual experiences happening on, around, and beyond campus.

I'm Black: Imposter Syndrome at PWI's
by Kareem Hayes and Antonio Williams

This interactive workshop will equip individuals with the knowledge and understanding of how to combat Imposter Syndrome (IS) on predominantly white campuses. Discussions will focus on experiences both personal and professional with IS. Historically, African Americans have experienced some form of IS. Statistically, the transition from high school to college is still challenging due to students experiencing a lack of a sense of belonging and trust from peers, professors and school administration. Participants will engage in group discussions along with the movie, “Higher Learning '' as the backdrop of the discussion. Dialog will be centered on student retention and increasing graduation rates through understanding best practices to support student development and academic achievement.

Classroom Conversations: Leaning into Difficult Dialogues
by Sim Covington and Mary Bonderoff

The goal of this session is to engage in a discussion about difficult conversations in the classroom. We will share experiences, expertise of the group to allow faculty to develop a tool kit of resources. Navigating unexpected conflicts in the classroom can be difficult-being prepared for those situations is critical for our students.

Advancing Cultural Competency Certificate Program
by ACCC

Have you been hearing about the new Advancing Cultural Competency Certificate Program and wondered what it was all about? Maybe you've heard someone reference their experience in "A - Triple C" and wanted to know more? Come join us for a conversation about this new program, how it came to be, and the transformative impact it is already starting to have on campus.

Beyond the Ashkenorm: Immigration and Diversity in Jewish Community
by Hillel at Geneseo

Participants will challenge their worldview about what they think of when they hear the word “Jew” through a combination of case studies and discussion with members of the Geneseo Hillel. There will be an exploration of Jewish identities through the view of immigration and Jewish diaspora.

Words Matter: Language Choice and Mental Health Stigma
by Laura Swanson

This session will explore how the language we use can impact those around us. We will talk about the power of word choice and why precision of language matters on a micro and macro level. We will examine common phrases that perpetuate stigma, discuss the impacts of that stigma, and reflect on how to express ourselves in ways that reflect a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Say What?: Reflecting on Microaggressions
by Teddy Gyamfi, Alessandra Otero, Brandon West

The purpose of this workshop will provide a discussion on how individuals deal and handle comments, remarks, suggestions, opinions, and views of using to minimize others. A microaggression is a brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, and environmental indignity, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicates hostile, derogatory, or negative racial, gender, sexual orientation, and religious slights and insults to the target person or group (Wing Sue, 2019). This approach of communicating among two or more parties can be hurtful. The presenters will briefly describe the term "Microaggression" to provide participants a general understanding of the concept and contextualize the discussions to follow. The workshop activities involve reenacting tweets and real-life scenarios to show how microaggressions can be orchestrated. Each scenario will proceed with a discussion based on a series of questions. Disclaimer: This workshop is not intended to hurt or belittle any of the participants, as a series of scenarios will be reacted amongst the participants and host.

Is sustainability only for the privileged?
by Karleen West, Dan DeZarn, Meg Reitz

Meeting our climate goals (both locally and globally) depends upon our ability to explore the social justice pillar of sustainability by looking at the history of sustainability in underrepresented communities. In this workshop, we'll examine how social justice frameworks help us better understand sustainability. Further, we will consider how fostering sustainability inevitably also advances social justice. Through interactive exercises and conversations and focusing on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, we will explore how to weave social justice and sustainability more thoroughly into all of our work, advocating for meaningful change for all people.

Identity: The Path to Cultivating Inclusivity
by Alana Martin, Ousmane Sam, & Naomi Seid

Participants will engage in two activities that explore their social identities. This interactive session will include small group discussions and exchanges that aim to define social identities. This workshop will also explore how social identities interact with and influence systems that challenge inclusive communities. There will be an identity exploring ice breaker and then the Drawbridge activity which will explore how identities function in systems.

Planting Seeds of Inclusion and Education in our Community TOGETHER
by Shannon Curley

This presentation will show how programs like TOGETHER are effective in tackling and empowering college students in their understanding, connectedness, and integration of communities different from their own. To do so, it will utilize approaches and results from students who, over the past three years, have worked on our campus with non-English speaking families of farm-workers from different Latin-American countries and Puerto Rico residing in Livingston County in New York. Next, current United Nations goals, European Union policy, and theories from education professors will be used to demonstrate how TOGETHER is connected to global discussions about educational change and inclusion. Finally, the paper will include testimonies from tutors to show the impact that TOGETHER has had on Geneseo students. Labeled as a win-win program, TOGETHER shows how, in a short time, inclusive learning tactics can foster cross-cultural connections and enhance the meaning of community.

Ally: Noun vs. Verb
by Jada Atwood and Emma Lynch

Being an ally can be a complicated idea, as many times we don’t know where to start. This Wokeshop will explain what it means to be an ally, outlining the difference of ally as a noun vs. verb. Furthermore, this wokeshop will raise more self-awareness of one’s own privilege and the role of privilege in allyhood as well as the ways that anyone can become and act as an ally to marginalized communities.

Building Inclusive Programming on Your Campus
by Stephanie Paredes

In this interactive workshop, we will explore how to collaboratively work with academic and administrative units to provide a holistic range of programmatic efforts that support education and ensure a welcoming, inclusive, vibrant and accessible environment for everyone.

State of the community: Immigration policies and their powerful impact
by Student Coalition for Migrant Workers, Alianza Agrícola

This panel will feature accounts from members of Alianza Agrícola, a local im/migrant farmworker organization that is focused on advocating for immigrant rights in New York State, as well as immigration policy research presented by SUNY Geneseo’s Student Coalition for Migrant Workers. Each panelist will share some of their background and how immigration policies affect them and their communities. Attendees will learn about the history and the important role of local im/migrant farmworkers in our community, the evolution of our immigration policies, and the effects of current legislation on immigrants and the entire country. Panelists will also educate attendees on the positive impact of the new N.Y. legislations: the “Driver's License Access and Privacy Act” and the “Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act”. Attendees will leave this session with a better understanding of immigration issues in the U.S. and a way to get involved in their own communities through advocating for im/migrant rights and supporting their essential role in our communities.

Helping First-Generation College Students Understand Why and How to Pursue a PhD
by Kate Torrey

For most first-generation college students, a Ph.D. feels out of reach. This session examines tools used at RIT to increase the number of first-generation undergraduate students pursuing Ph.D. programs. These tools include a “PhD Exploration” program, which utilizes faculty mentors for lab tours, workshops, and research experiences; a “Roadmap to Graduate School,” which provides a timeline of tasks to help students be competitive graduate school candidates; and a “Pathways to Graduate School” class to help students write fellowship and grad school applications.

Celebrating Diverse Abilities at Geneseo
by Dr. Amy Fisk, Morgan Hernandez, Grace McMahon and Annika Mounts

The workshop will begin with a discussion of disability advocacy and the recent shift toward viewing disability through a social justice lens. Student Accessibility Advocates will discuss their own experiences as diverse individuals on a college campus, and help identify ways that students, faculty and staff may serve as key allies for access and inclusion across the Geneseo campus.

SA: Building an Inclusive Network for the Student Body and Administration
by Student Association

The Student Association (SA) is a multifaceted organization that works to advance undergraduate academic and co-curricular life through programming, allocation of funds, as well as advocacy efforts on behalf of students. As a major liaison between students and administration, SA strives to inform, engage, and connect all students with Geneseo affairs and resources. This session introduces the active network among student organizations, administration, and the student population as a whole while discussing how SA can increase visibility of advocacy efforts within that network. Additionally, it opens a conversation as to how SA can better facilitate opportunities for connections between students and a diverse network of on and off campus professionals. Lastly, this is also an opportunity for people to share take-aways with each other and learn about sessions for those who were unable to attend.

Unspoken Narratives - March 1, 2019

LGBTQI and Law Enforcement: Why the divide?

by Lieutenant Matthew Austin, University Police Department
A presentation and encouraged discussion on the intersections of LGBTQI communities and Law Enforcement over the last 40 (or so) years. An emphasis will be placed on victimization of members and under reporting of LGBTQI victims.

The Intersectionality of Men and Sexual Assault Prevention
by Jeremiah Knowles

Attendees will learn about the intersectionality of men and sexual assault prevention. The role of men in sexual assault prevention is two fold, not only to support women who stand against sexual assault and speak out, but to decrease the rate at which sexual assault occurs by changing men’s attitudes towards gender equality and consent. Increasingly, research is showing that peer led programs focusing on redefining masculinity and incorporate a deep respect for women and their autonomy has had a powerful effect at reducing toxic masculine norms and the objectification of women. In this approach, men are needed to engage other men to change the social dynamic away from sexist behavior and sexist humor towards gender equality. The goal of this session is to talk about the role of men in sexual assault prevention, and what SUNY Geneseo is doing to get men-identified students involved.

Oppression Faced in Black Greek Life
by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

The members of the Zeta Iota Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. plan to have a presentation to dispel the myths of multicultural greek organizations and help the Geneseo community understand why these greek organizations were created and why they are important to the community.

Nothing Goes Without Saying: Geneseo and The Arc
by Gillian Paku, Christian Alfieri, David Beyea, Virginia Eley, Kim Faulkner, Laura Newton, Krystin Petzoldt, Autumn Piletz, Emma Ranney, Sean Welch

Students in the English Department and members of the LIVES program and The Arc of Livingston-Wyoming have been working together on highly flexible approaches to talking about ourselves. On this panel, both Arc and SUNY Geneseo presenters join their voices in literal and figurative ways to share stories from a traditionally underrepresented group, individuals with developmental disabilities. Where typical narrative isn’t the most effective method of communicating, we employ different technologies and media. Some students pair with individuals to help write difficult end-of-life narratives, but also write self-reflectively about the challenges of that experience. In celebrating the reciprocity at the heart of service learning, we point out that when we become aware of our assumptions about effective communication and advocacy, nothing “goes without saying.”

What's in a Name?
by Diversity and Inclusion Community Educators (DICE): Karilyn Nieves & Shekiqua Reid

Names are a key part of our identities, and they can also tie heavily into our cultures and backgrounds. This Wokeshop focuses on why names are so important to us even when they may be taken for granted, and also helps us to explore the significance of our own names.

Culturally Responsive Classrooms through Critical Literacy and Learning
by Thea Yurkewecz, PhD and Crystal Simmons, PhD

This session examines how we are preparing educators and students to promote social justice action through the use of children’s literature and primary sources.   Join us as we share resources that give voice to those traditionally silenced or marginalized and strategies to promote critical conversations.

Teaching with a Focus on Social Justice
Melanie Medeiros, PhD and Jennifer Guzmán, PhD

This session, facilitated by faculty from the Department of Anthropology, will provide an opportunity for participants to consider how social justice can be adopted as a principle in our teaching. Centering our discussion on the college mission "to advance knowledge and inspire students to be socially responsible and globally aware citizens," the session will provide an opportunity for participants to share and discuss how social justice and our teaching practice can relate to and promote our college values of civic responsibility and sustainability. The facilitators will open this conversation by sharing from their own experiences with applying a social justice framework in introductory courses, upper-division methods courses, and student research mentorship.

If I were you, and you were me.
by Donat De La Cruz of the Geneseo Poet’s Society

Using writing as a medium of restorative justice we explore personification as a form embodying an entity other than our own.

Language: The Ebb and Flow of Power
by Kazon Robinson

To bring about dialogue on what language means for all of us. What power dynamics come from learning one language over another? Furthermore, what words describe what and what things do not have words for.

Hearing from Our Neighbors: Local Im/migrant Farmworkers Share Their Stories
by Student Coalition for Migrant Workers Jennifer Guzmán, PhD, and Melanie Medeiros, PhD

This panel features presentations by members of Alianza Agrícola, a local im/migrant farmworker organization that is focused on advocating for immigrant rights in New York State. Each panelist will share a little about their own personal story. Attendees will learn about makeup of the local Latin American immigrant community, what work in the dairy industry is like, and major challenges facing immigrants today. Panelists will talk about the difficulties posed by lack of access to driver's licenses and share information about the Green Light: Driving Together campaign, which is focused on ensuring equal access to driver’s licenses for all residents of New York State, regardless of immigration status.  Members of the Student Coalition for Migrant Workers will talk about the initiatives they are involved in to support local migrant and immigrant workers. Attendees will walk away with tangible action items they can take to support the local immigrant community. This panel is organized by the SUNY Geneseo Student Coalition for Migrant Workers and Department of Anthropology faculty Jennifer Guzmán and Melanie Medeiros.

Uncovering Your Personal Bias Through Theatre of the Oppressed
by Sharon M. Peck, PhD and Tracy Cretelle

What role does our personal narrative play in developing our personal bias? The goal of the session is to engage participants in theatre of the oppressed techniques aimed at active exploration of our own identity and bias. We will explore ways to acknowledge and move beyond our understanding so that we can act without bias. We will seek ways to eliminate barriers that prevent us from seeing the whole person, rather than a cultural identity. Participants will collaborate with others to break down barriers and explore ways to eliminate institutional racism and bias.

Privy to Your Privilege
by Diversity and Inclusion Community Educators (DICE): Margaux Carmel & Kevin Vazcones

By looking at the different personal and social identities that build up each individual, we're able to see how each of those pieces impact their perspective and privilege. This Wokeshop focuses on the deep impact each of these identities have, as well as acknowledging how to properly use them to be a better ally.

Learning from Unheard Voices: Campus Climate and Underrepresented Students’ Experiences
by Atsushi Tajima, PhD, and Monica Schneider, PhD

This session explores the college experiences of underrepresented students, with a focus on how faculty/staff can help create a campus climate that is inclusive and supportive to all students. Our Community Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion reads, “We recognize that our own identities are many and varied, forged by culture, circumstance, and choice. Some of us inhabit multiple identities where histories of exclusion or injustice intersect.” Yet, there are many student voices and perspectives that we often do not hear. We can learn much from those voices to create a better campus climate. We will present two studies examining Geneseo’s campus climate issues from the perspective of underrepresented students. Both quantitative data on how faculty/staff support is experienced by students and impacts student outcomes and qualitative data based on focus groups with students with diverse identities will be presented. We will emphasize major themes that emerged across both studies. A panel of students representing diverse identities will discuss how those issues/themes have impacted their personal experiences at Geneseo. The goal is for participants to engage in meaningful dialogue regarding their role in creating a campus climate where all members are valued and can thrive.

The Power of (Counter)-Narratives: A Focus on Identity
by Miguel Baique, McNair| Access Opportunity Programs

This session will allow participants to understand their dominant and minoritized identities in the various spaces they enter. By being open and vulnerable with “story-telling” practices, participants will share their narratives and experiences to understand how their identities (dominant or minoritized) affect their behaviors in the various spaces they enter. Participants will also hear the narratives and experiences of those that hold the “opposite” identity in similar spaces.

Ally: Noun vs. Verb
by Diversity and Inclusion Community Educators (DICE): Margaux Carmel & Morgan Hernandez

Being an ally can be a complicated idea, as many times we don’t know where to start. This Wokeshop will explain what it means to be an ally, and ways that anyone can become and act as an ally to marginalized communities.

Deliberative Dialogue: Identifying the Gaps in Mental Health Care
Beth Cholette, PhD, RYT, Sarah Covell, LMHC, NCC, Laura Swanson, LCSW

Join the presenters for a discussion of accessible and appropriate mental health care.  We would especially like to hear from those who have had challenges obtaining or receiving appropriate treatment due to factors such as culture, race, identify, stigma, (dis)ability, finances, or other concerns.  We invite you to sign our poster "What My Counselor Needs to Know About My Identify" as a means to have a voice.  (Note: posters may be displayed at this year's Mental Health Town Hall on March 11th at 4 p.m., Newton 204.)

You might be a redneck…
by Christa Aldrich

I am a descendent of an original redneck. This session will explore the origin of the term “redneck”. We will discuss the negative connotations associated with the term. I will present an alternate point of view, by presenting historical information on coal miners in Appalachia who were striking for better working conditions. I will share some data on the current state of the job market, lack of education and social issues in Appalachia.

Past Diversity Summit Keynotes

2024 Keynote - Dr. Estela Bensimon

Dr. Estela Mara Bensimon holds the prestigious title University Professor Emerita at the University of Southern California, awarded very selectively by the President based on multi-disciplinary interests and significant accomplishments in several disciplines. She founded the Center for Urban Education at USC, and in 2023, the Center was recognized with the Association for the Study of Higher Education Presidential Medal. She now leads Bensimon & Associates, a consulting firm that provides services with a focus on racial equity to colleges, universities, and philanthropic organizations. Bensimon is an elected member of the National Academy of Education and a Fellow of the American Education Research Association.

Dr. Bensimon has published extensively about equity, organizational learning, practitioner inquiry and change; and her articles have appeared in journals such as the Review of Higher Education, Journal of Higher Education, Liberal Education, and Harvard Educational Review. Her most recent book is From Equity Talk to Equity Walk: Expanding Practitioner Knowledge for Racial Justice in Higher Education, co-authored with Tia Brown McNair and Lindsey Malcom-Piqueux. Her work has been supported by national foundations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, Lumina Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, and the College Futures Foundation.

In 2023, Bensimon received the Council for the Study of Community Colleges Inaugural Presidential Citation of Excellence. Since 2020, Bensimon was awarded the Stan Jones Legacy Award by Complete College America, ASHE’s Howard Bowen Award and the Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education which celebrates innovation, inspiration, and impact in education. She serves on the boards of the Campaign for College Opportunity and Complete College America.

Keynote:
There is a lot of talk about institutional change and transformation, purportedly to improve educational outcomes for racially minoritized students. However, the “change strategies” that are proposed to achieve transformation are, mostly, race neutral and unlikely to have the power to undo/decenter whiteness in the structures, practices, policies, and cultural norms of colleges and universities.

In this talk, Bensimon puts forth a perspective on transformation that is premised on the idea of academic organizations as racialized entities. Institutions of higher education are extremely adept at “sensing disturbances” to the status quo and will seek to maintain homeostasis. The status quo/homeostasis is “whiteness,” “privilege,” “hierarchy” and “power asymmetries.” Drawing on the work of the USC Center for Urban Education, which Bensimon founded and directed for over 20 years, she will demonstrate tools to decenter “whiteness” in everyday practices. For more information on these tools, she invites you to preview them at https://www.cue-tools.usc.edu.

2023 Keynote - Emmanuel Kulu, Jr.

Emmanuel Kulu, Jr. is an African Historian/Author of Cameroonian descent (Zulu/Bantu Tribe). As a career Social Worker, Kulu also expresses his deep passion for history, writing, the creative arts and film. 

Kulu began his professional creative career in 2015 with screenwriting & acting for films such as The Rize & Fall of Tephlon Ent, Bug Love and The First Purge.

In more recent years, Kulu turned his focus to his African lineage. After several years of deep study and research of great African kingdoms, Kulu was drawn to Ancient Egypt as the monarch of African Studies & Antiquities. Kulu questioned the validity of prior novel and film depictions of the ancient Egyptians who were, in fact, African people.

As an African Historian, Kulu has traveled (Nationally & Internationally) giving lectures, seminars, and conferences on the miseducation of African history at various high schools, colleges, and universities. Based on his thorough research, Kulu created a historical fiction adventure series based on true events; "I, Black Pharaoh: Rise to Power & "I, Black Pharaoh: Golden Age of Triumph". Both novels restore the true African imagery of Ancient Egypt (Kemet). In 2022, Kulu founded A.A.A.R.I.A (Ancient African Antiquities Research Institute of America), with the mission of creating a Middle & High School curriculum of African studies. 

2022 Keynote - Keith Boykin

Keith Boykin is a CNN political commentator, New York Times best-selling author, and a former White House aide to President Bill Clinton. Boykin teaches at the Institute for Research in African-American Studies at Columbia University in New York and previously taught at American University in Washington, D.C. He is a co-founder and first board president of the National Black Justice Coalition. He was a co-host of the BET Networks talk show “My Two Cents,” starred on the Showtime reality television series “American Candidate,” was an associate producer of the film “Dirty Laundry,” and he has appeared on many other TV shows, including BET’s “Being Mary Jane.” A graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School, Boykin is a Lambda Literary Award-winning author of four books. He lives in New York City.

2021 Keynote - Qurrat Ann Kadwani

Geneseo alum Qurrat Ann Kadwani is an actress, producer, MC, TV Host and philanthropist. Her one woman show 'They Call Me Q' played Off-Broadway at St. Luke’s Theatre in NYC. Her keynote focused on representation of BIPOC in media, and promoting social change through theater, dance, and other special events, as she has done through her multicultural not-for-profit organization eyeBLINK.

2020 Keynote - Dr. Omékongo Dibinga

Dr. Omékongo Dibinga author of 'The UPstander’s Guide to an Outstanding Life' a life balance book for students, has the mission to inspire all across the globe to take a stand when they witness an injustice, no matter how small or large. His keynote lead a focus on Finding Common Ground in Uncommon Times.

2019 Keynote - Dennis Childs

Dennis Childs, author of 'Slaves of the State: Black Incarceration from the Chain Gang to the Penitentiary', lead a keynote on creating a Social-Justice-Centered Approach to Diversity. As a scholar-activist, Dennis has worked with various social justice organizations including the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, All of Us or None, and the Chicano Mexicano Prison Project.