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Reflections On Gratitude
Distinctively & Together

There are many studies that talk about the power of gratitude as an essential ingredient to human satisfaction and happiness. Below under "Conversations" we offer readings on the topic of gratitude, which like many issues, is wonderfully complicated by aspects of identity such a culture, nationality, and religion. That said, and surrounded as we are by very U.S.-centric notions of giving thanks, we do hope that you find some time in the next few days to reflect on what you have accomplished this year, the people who have been most supportive of your aspirations and appreciative of your efforts, and the changes you're helping to make—both in your life and in the lives of others. As we've written before, we are appreciative of your support and engagement. Thank you.

Given the shortened month, we will not publish a newsletter at the end of December. So, we'll see you back here in late January. Accordingly, our "Happenings" section has both December and January events listed.

We hope everyone has a wonderful Intersession.

Happy December! Happy Holiday Season! Happy New Year, Everyone!

The D&I Team

Allies & Advocates in Action

LGBTQIA+ Task Force Recommendations and Actions
While the LGBTQIA+ Task Force's Final Report was released on May 29, Task Force members recently met with Provost Morrison and Associate Provost Williams to discuss next steps, which includes the creation of the new center focused on supporting LGBTQIA+ community members with an emphasis on staff and faculty. The new center will be located in the 808 Comm Ave. building and will be professionally staffed. The search for the inaugural director will begin in 2020. Read more about the University's next steps here.

Celebrating Roscoe Giles
Dr. Roscoe Giles has been named Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for his "...leadership and major contributions to increasing the participation of underrepresented groups in computing disciplines, particularly via leadership in curricula and organization that advance inclusion." On BU's campus, Professor Giles has been a steadfast and highly effective advocate for the full participation of all people. Huzzah, Roscoe!

College of Communication
The College of Communication hosted two events in November. The first, "Feet in 2 Worlds," was a 2-day event focused on telling the stories of immigrant communities and communities of color featuring more than a dozen speakers and guests. The second was a panel focused on "Changing the Face of Advertising," featuring ad agency executives and moderated by COM professor Michelle Sullivan.

Graduate Medical Sciences
GMS hosts a bi-monthly informal “Chat and Chew Series” every other Friday. The goal of Chat and Chew is to create and catalyze connections for students from underrepresented groups. And, on Tuesday, November 19th, BUSM sponsored a talk on “Overcoming Stereotypes and Imposter Syndrome," which featured Alden M. Landry, MD, MPH, Assistant Director of the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Partnerships at Harvard's Medical School. 


Correction: In last month's newsletter, we attributed an ICG proposal to the BU Law School Student Association. The correct name of the organization is: BU Black Law Student Association. 

Conversations

At this time of year, we hear a lot about the importance of giving thanks. But, as with many things that seem normative to many of us, the implication and impact of gratitude as a practice is more complicated than at first it seems. We offer these articles as a means by which to catalyze additional thinking on this practice and its import, cultural meanings, and potential benefits.

Happenings

Lunch & Learn
The Role of Trigger & Trauma in Our Work
In collaboration with SARP (Sexual Assault Response and Prevention)
 
Please join us for a workshop focusing on triggers to avoid when working with those living and working with traumas.

This event is open to both faculty and staff and is limited to 35 attendees. Lunch will be provided.
 
Thursday, December 5, 2019
12 pm - 1:30 pm


Room R-115

72 E. Concord St
BU Medical Campus
RSVP Here
Elie Wiesel Center

Who built America?: A Response to Ben Shapiro
A Lecture by Professor Spencer Piston
Organized by the Elie Wiesel Center, co-sponsored by the African American Studies Program and Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Studies.

Monday, December 9, 2019
5:00 pm - 7pm


SCI 113
590 Comm Ave
Emerging Scholars Programs Information Session
The Emerging Scholars Program is part of our faculty hiring initiatives. It supports visits by individuals or groups of emerging scholars from racial/ethnic groups historically underrepresented in the academy. Come learn more about submitting a proposal! The submission deadline is January 21, 2020. This session is open to faculty.

Tuesday, December 10, 2019
11:30 am - 12:30 pm


Please RSVP for location, as space is limited.
RSVP Here
College of Communication
COM 2030: The Future Now

What is the future of COM? Come collaborate with your colleagues and Dean DiChristina to discuss and develop ideas around the future of COM in a day-long workshop that will include discussions, listening sessions, and breakout sessions. Can't stay for the whole day? They would love to have you attend the breakout sessions from 12:45-2:30pm. This workshop is available to BU faculty and staff.
 
Thursday, December 12, 2019
8:30 am - 3 pm


COM 101
640 Comm Ave
RSVP Here
LGBTQIA+ Identified Faculty and Staff Luncheon
Thursday, December 12, 2019
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm


Photonics Colloquium, Room 906
8 St Mary's St
RSVP Here
COMING IN JANUARY...
Emerging Scholars Programs Information Session
The Emerging Scholars Program is part of our faculty hiring initiatives. It supports visits by individuals or groups of emerging scholars from racial/ethnic groups historically underrepresented in the academy. Come learn more about submitting a proposal! The submission deadline is January 21, 2020. This session is open to faculty.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020
2:30 - 3:30 pm


Please RSVP for location, as space is limited.
RSVP Here
D&I Speaker Series 
Microaggessions on College Campuses
Dr. Derald Wing Sue 


Tuesday, January 28, 2020
11:00 am - 12:30 pm


COM 101
640 Comm Ave
RSVP Here
Author Q&A 
Q &A and Reflective Reading Discussion:
Microaggessions by 
Dr. Derald Wing Sue 

Tuesday, January 28
1:00 pm - 3:30 pm


Kenmore Room
9th Floor
One Silber Way
RSVP Here
Lunch & Learn
Workshop: Microaggessions
Follow up to Dr. Derald Wing Sue

Thursday, January 30, 2020
12:00pm 1:30 pm


Room 310, GSU
775 Comm Ave
CRC RSVP
Lunch & Learn- MED Campus 
WorkshopMicroaggessions
Follow up to Dr. Derald Wing Sue

Friday, January 31, 2020
11:30am 1:00 pm


Room R-112 
72 East Concord Street
BU Medical Campus
MED RSVP
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BU Diversity & Inclusion:
Distinctively & Together



The D&I Team
Speakers & Workshop Series
This month, the BU D&I Speakers Series will host Sociologist Eduardo Bonilla-Silva on the question: what is race? Surrounding his talk are a host of skill-building and learning opportunities for staff and faculty. Because of high demand, we've added additional learning opportunties, which are listed below under "Happenings." 

BU Inclusive Catalyst Grants (ICGs)
All students, staff, and faculty recently received notice about our new Inclusive Catalysts Grants, which are meant to support collaborative and creative programs and initiatives that generate learning and stimulate efforts that foster inclusive and equitable communities at BU. You can learn more here.

Staffing News
Shari L. Johnson, BU's Director of Inclusive Organizational Development and Training will be leaving BU at the end of the fall semester in order to pursue her passion for D&I work privately. While this is a loss for BU, we can still benefit from her knowledge and expertise through this semester. Shari will continue her work with departments and programs and host events as planned. We will undertake a new search to fill the role in the coming days.
 

Allies & Advocates in Action

Campus Planning & Operations has been hard at work in non-residential buildings transforming the remaining single-occupant bathrooms to all-gender. With these improvements, BU now has 730 all-gender bathrooms, nearly half of all non-residential bathrooms campus wide. 

Health & Wellness en hard at work in non-residential buildings transforming the remaining single-occupant bathrooms to all-gender. With these improvements, BU now has 730 all-gender bathroom.

Underrepresented Graduate Student Organization hosted its first annual research symposium focused on the work of graduate students from historically underrepesented groups on Thursday, September 26th. The event was a huge success and featured work by more than [insert] graduate students. Introductory and congratulatory speeches and comments were made by President Brown, VP for Research and Associate Provost Gloria Waters, Associate Provost for Graduate Affairs Daniel Kleinman, and keynote speeches by Professor Karen Warkentin and Associate Provost for Diversity and Inclusion Crystal Williams. The UGSO can be reached at: ugsobu@gmail.com

The Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground hosted three welcome receptions during the first week of the semester for LGBTQIA+, Black, and Latinx communities at BU. Each was a terrific success and provided opportunities for students, staff, and faculty to gather amid good music, good food, and even better cheer.
Raul Fernandez and Luz Lopez, members of the 2019 Inclusive Practitioners Cohort, at a recent reunion.

Conversations

D&I


 

Reimagining Disability & Inclusion Education

"Every single person is unique and has different skills, so why are students taught the same way? Jan Wilson explores the possibilities of a universal design for learning, and how every individual can benefit." ~TEDxUTulsa

Happenings

Thursday, September 5, 2019
3 - 4:30 pm
Mugar Library, Reserve Room
771 Commonweatlh, Ave, 1st Floor
RSVP here.
Tuesday, September 10
3 - 4:30 pm - 7 pm
Keefer Auditorium
72 E Concord St (Medical Campus)
RSVP here.

D&I Lunch for People Living With Disabilities

Tuesday, September 17, 2019
12 - 1:30 pm


Please join us for a luncheon for faculty and staff living with disabilities at Boston University. We hope that you’ll be able to stop by for a casual meal and the opportunity to meet and network with your BU colleagues. 
RSVP Here
RSVP Here
Friday, September 27, 2019
11:30 am - 1 pm


Photonics Colloquium Room
8 St. Mary's St, 9th Floor

As a follow-up to the campus-wide speaker series featuring a lecture on the social construction of race presented by Dr. Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, we will have a training on the importance of race identity in our classrooms and departments. This workshop is open to both faculty and staff, and there will be a separate training for staff and faculty on the Medical Campus. 

Seats are limited to staff and faculty.
STAFF RSVP Here
FACULTY RSVP Here
MED RSVP

Underrepresented Graduate Student Organization

Academic Research Symposium
UGSO is hosting its first annual symposium focused on the research of graduate students of color. Join them for interdisciplinary talks, posters, discussions, and socializing!

Thursday, September 26, 2019
4 - 8 pm


Metcalf Trustee Ballroom
1 Silber Way



The deadline for submitting research abstracts for inclusion in the symposium is Friday, September 6th at 5 pm.

The UGSO is also looking for faculty members who are interested in volunteering to be poster and lightning talk session judges. If you're willing and able, please reach out to ugsobu@gmail.com for more details.
Register Here
400 Years of Inequality: Breaking the Cycle of Systematic Racism

Friday, October 18, 2019
8:30 am - 2:30 pm


Hiebert lounge 
72 E Concord St
Boston, MA
Register Here
For Search Committee CHAIRS: 

Tuesday, September 10
Faculty Search Chair Training
9 am – 12 pm
RSVP Here

Tuesday, October 1
Faculty Search Chair Training
2 – 5 pm
RSVP Here
 

For Departments Planning to Submit a Search Proposal in 2020:

Wednesday, November 13
Setting the Stage for a Successful Search: Developing the Tools to Deepen Your Pool
9 am – 12 pm
RSVP Here

For Search Committee MEMBERS:

Wednesday, September 4

Faculty Search Committee Training
2 – 5 pm
RSVP Here

Wednesday, October 9
Faculty Search Committee Training
9 am – 12 pm
RSVP Here

Thursday, October 10
Faculty Search Committee Training
9 am – 12 pm
RSVP Here



We will provide the locations for these sessions to those who have RSVP'd.

Quips, Quotes, & Short Considerations

Human beings are not machines, and however powerful the pressure to conform, they sometimes are so moved by what they see as injustice that they dare to declare their independence. In that historical possibility lies hope." ~Howard Zinn, from You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train


Housekeeping:
To submit your happenings for possible inclusion in this newsletter, please email news items, events, and accomplishments to dinews@bu.edu. Thank you.




Boston University Diversity & Inclusion
1 Silber Way, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02215


Contact us at: dinews@bu.edu


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