#Leaders4Diversity Conference

#Leaders4Diversity Conference

At this action packed conference we have the opportunity to hear from nearly a dozen speakers and presenters, giving their insights about diversity. It provides opportunities to learn about culture, how to respect diversity, and opportunities for each of us in our daily lives related to diversity to over one hundred participants. Upon arrival a goody back is provided and later in the day lunch is served. This is a day you don’t want to miss. To attend this event, a small fee and registration in advance is required.

Date: Friday, March 27, 2015 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Location: Business Building 176

Register Here: http://tinyurl.com/L4D2015

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Dinner

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Dinner

Join us in celebrating a movement that changed the lives of many. During this event we will have the opportunity to hear from Mr. Yannis Banks on the topic of activism as well as enjoy a formal dinner. Mr. Yannis Banks works for the Texas NAACP as their Legislative Liaison to advocate for the views of African American communities on issues like education, criminal justice, and more. He is also the co-host of two radio shows and two music shows. To participate in this event, please register in advance.

Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2015 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Location: TSU Ballrooms

Register here: http://tinyurl.com/KingDinner2015

Hungry for Education School Supply Drive

In Texas, one in every 3.6 children (27.4%) lives in food-insecure households and may suffer from outright hunger. They have no idea where their next meal is coming from or even when they might be able to eat next. On any given day in Texas, there are over 79,000 people experiencing homelessness. It is without a doubt that hunger and homelessness are impacting our nation, but how are they impacting our youth? Living hungry and/or homeless is linked with poor academic achievements, school dropouts, physical change in the brain preventing ability to learn, chronic stress resulting in limited concentration and memory, and lack of support from communities.

Although we cannot alone change the status of these individuals, we can show our support of their education. While they are struggling to get their next meal or a place to stay, they may not have the funds to pay for what is necessary for schooling. Let us together show our support, help pay for their school supplies, and make a difference in the lives of others.

*(2014). Child hunger statistics. Tarrant Area Food Bank. Retrieved from http://www.tafb.org/children-hunger-statistics.html.

*(2014). Effects of poverty, hunger and homelessness on children and youth. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/pi/families/poverty.aspx.

Diversity Dialogue: Gina Brown

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion was honored to have Ms. Gina Brown at Tarleton State University to discuss HIV/AIDS. Gina currently serves as a Medical Case Manager at Priority Health Care, Inc., on the Positive Women’s Network; United States of America’s Board of directors and is a regional organizer for AIDS United.  Among all of these things Gina Brown was recently sworn in as a member of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA). The event was held on November 12, 2014 with nearly 100 attendees. During the event, Gina told her story, gave some advice about how to prevent HIV/AIDS, and how to live a life with HIV/AIDS. She concluded with answering some questions from the audience.

Gina’s story is one of an individual living with HIV/AIDS. She learned she was infected in 1994 while pregnant with her daughter. She assumed her diagnosis was a death sentence and she began to plan her funeral. With the stigma surrounding HIV at that time she felt isolated and humiliated only telling her mother and two sisters about her disease. A year later she was still alive and decided she was going to live. Through her journey with HIV she learned her voice was an important asset in helping other women living in her similar situation.

Following the event with Gina, free HIV/AIDS testing became available to the Tarleton community through a partnership with Student Social Work Association, Gay Straight Alliance, and Diversity and Inclusion. Many walked over to the humanities building for a chance to participate. Over 50 individuals took advantage of this free testing, proactively discovering their status.

Gina’s mission of spreading her message and the story of HIV/AIDS was actively given to the Tarleton community. This event touched the lives of many, giving them the knowledge needed to live a healthy and long life, HIV positive or negative. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is proud to have sponsored such an event and continues to be dedicated to sharing Gina’s message. Any questions regarding this event are always welcome to be brought to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion through email at diversitytsu@gmail.com or via phone at 254-968-9488.

“We've got to educate and empower women. We've got to get them to understand that HIV can affect anybody.” – Gina Brown

Multicultural Ambassadors Habitat for Humanity

Every day as we look around we can see people different from ourselves. People can be different in their study habits, in their skin color, in the way they talk, in their living situation, and much more. Every person, because of our differences, has something to offer and in some way is in need of help. Our multicultural ambassadors, dedicated to respecting and promoting diversity, saw a couple’s need and used their ability to offer help.

On November 1^st, 2014, nine multicultural ambassadors drove out to Granbury to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. In 2013, a tornado destroyed many homes in the area. They performed essential tasks for a couple’s home to be reconstructed. Traivohn was actively involved in the roofing process, making the home safe and ready for living. Many of the ambassadors, including Hope, Iyaesha, Leticia, Morgan, Randi, SummerDay, Vanessa, and Zulema, were involved in caulking and painting, protecting the home from extreme heat and cold as well as putting on those finishing touches. All of these tasks were accomplished in order to try and reach out to someone who was different and, in that moment, in need of help.

The multicultural ambassador program is dedicated to not only respecting diversity, but taking action on their beliefs. This is where the drive to help a couple rebuild their home came from. This is why in February the ambassadors will be volunteering for the Tarrant Area Food Bank. It is also the reason for ambassadors meeting on a weekly basis to plan out a diversity conference being held in March. These individuals have proven their commitment to promoting and helping those different from themselves.

We challenge everyone to explore how they can promote and help those different from themselves. Whether it be holding a door open for someone, standing up for our friends, or attending the diversity conference this March, we believe everyone has something to offer.

Meet members of MENtal Freedom and Bold!

Meet students in the Diversity & Inclusion MENtal Freedom and Bold Mentoring programs on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. in the lobby of Heritage Hall. Learn about these exciting mentoring programs and their impact on participants and the campus as a whole. 

Considering Costumes: Think First!

Halloween is approaching and we often find ourselves embracing the opportunity to explore a character or persona other than our own. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion encourages everyone to remember Tarleton's core value of Civility while making your costume decisions.

When dressing up, consider the impact your costume has on others. Is it stereotypical? Is it offensive? Explore the undertones present in your costuming.  The way you dress matters.

Remember, deciding to dress up as someone from another culture with or without the intention of being disrespectful can lead to inaccurate and harmful portrayals of others' cultures.

Diversity and Inclusion values creativity, inclusiveness, and respect. We encourage you to foster a safe and welcoming environment for all of our community members.

For additional information, please consider these web resources: 

• Halloween Hype No Excuse for Racism, by Jordyn Hermani
• Three Ways You Can Promote Inclusiveness This Halloween, by Julia Schemmer
• Student Leaders Raise Awareness About Culturally Insensitive Halloween Costumes, by Jack Lammers
• University of Boulder - Video 

Civil Rights Day at Tarleton State University

Civil Rights Day

 

Tarleton State University and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act on October 14^th. To celebrate the legacy of the Civil Rights Era of American history, Tarleton State University hosted a day of events on campus, called Civil Rights Day. 

Tarleton students played a major role in the success of the day. Across campus students could be seen advocating civil rights topics, picketing, and engaging in meaningful discussion about the various liberties that were won for minorities during this era. The Office of Diversity brought various student organizations and programs into the mix including MENtal Freedom, Bold, Multicultural Ambassadors, the Gay-Straight Alliance, and Tarleton Allies. Each of these organizations took the opportunity to advocate issues that related to them. 

Even so, this day was not a celebration that was limited to students. Professor Dr. Eric Morrow and The Department of Social Sciences worked very hard to ensure that the celebration included Tarleton staff, faculty, administration, and the community as whole as well. Because of their efforts, Tarleton was addressed by numerous professors like Dr. Marcy Tanter, who explained through poetry, what civil rights meant to her. Many other professors joined in the celebration and each brought a unique perspective and understanding of the legacy created by activists that came before us. 

Although it was an entire day of activities, the excitement of the day peaked near the time the keynote took the stage. Former mayor of Atlanta and an activist at the March on Washington, Shirley Franklin addressed a Tarleton audience that was enthusiastic to listen to her message. The first female African-American mayor of a major southern city, Franklin was elected in 2002 and served two terms until 2009. During her eight years in office, Atlanta experienced unprecedented growth and afforded Franklin the opportunity to partner and collaborate with local and regional leaders in addressing policy changes. She is best known as an advocate of ethics reform in government. In addition to her role as a public official, Franklin’s community service spanned nearly 40 years in Atlanta and included active participation in the arts, higher education and homelessness issues. Franklin delivered an inspiring message focusing on the importance of capitalizing and building upon the “inheritance” that we all enjoy today. 

 

Film Director, Dr. Enrique Aleman Hosts Film Screening of "Stolen Education" at Tarleton

Dr. Enrique Aleman Stolen Education

Wednesday October 1st, The Office of Diversity and Inclusion welcomed Film Producer, Dr. Enrique Aleman, to the Tarleton Campus.  Upon his arrival, nearly 300 excited Tarleton students greeted him in anticipation of both viewing and discussing his film, Stolen Education.

“Segregated by race. Punished for being Mexican American. Eight children testified against injustice. This is the untold story of how they changed education in Texas.”

 

A film documentary based in the small town of Driscoll, Texas, Dr. Aleman illuminates the dark history of discrimination that was so common in 1956.  For the elementary school in Driscoll, discriminating against Mexican-American students by segregating them and forcing them to repeat the 1^st grade was common practice. Although the school claimed that Mexican-American students were separated on the bases of “language”, the documentary unveils that they were actually segregated for many other reasons. The film brings to life the racial climate of the 1950s to the present, and demonstrates the students’ courage in an era when fear and intimidation were used to maintain racial hierarchy and control. The Mexican-American students won the case, but for almost 60 years the lawsuit was never spoken about in the South Texas farming community where they lived despite its significance. Aleman’s documentary also provides insight into how racism and language discrimination is still prevalent in today’s society.

As the “Office of Diversity” moved into the Q&A portion of the event, the impact of the film on the Tarleton audience became apparent. The students shifted the discussion from their own personal testimonies of discrimination, to the state of racism and discrimination today.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion would like to thank Dr. Enrique Aleman, not only for his passion, but also for giving Tarleton students the opportunity to experience such an emotionally impactful piece of Hispanic Heritage. One student effectively sums up the feeling you left us with: “Thank you so much for getting our story out there. It made me respect on what my parent went through. I wish my mom could have seen this film. She experienced this. With your film out there, this discouragement is less likely to happen to minority students. Thanks again.”

Hispanic Heritage Street Dance 2014

Diversity Blog

Hispanic Heritage Month 2014

Each year, we observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of our friends and ancestors who came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402. The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion participates in the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month by hosting multiple events at Tarleton. On September 17, ODI hosted the annual Hispanic Heritage Street Dance. From playing popular Spanish games, to listening to the latest Latino music, we explored Spanish culture in numerous capacities.

See below for a closer look at the Street Dance:



Soccer at the Street Dance

Un Vaquero Joven

Learning at the Street Dance

 

 



 

Big Sombrero at the Street Dance

 

Continue celebrating Hispanic culture with us next week as we host a screening of the film “Stolen Education” and welcome its write and producer, Dr. Enrique Aleman. 

Office of Diversity and Inclusion Cupcake Mixer

Office of Diversity and Inclusion

Cupcake Mixer

As a new semester begins and Tarleton students arrive to campus, the stress associated with all the excitement can begin to be seen. Some students handle it well. Others can be seen idly lingering, offering a confused facial expression that borders between panicky and disoriented. Will their college experience be as pleasant as they always hoped? Is this University even the right place for them? Here at the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, we strive to optimize the transition and experience at Tarleton State by providing students with a safe and accepting environment where they can ponder and discuss questions like these.  

This year “ODI” immediately began working toward this goal by hosting our first ever Cupcake Mixer. A smashing success, many students attended. Although some of them came simply searching for free cupcakes, all of them discovered the resources and support that the Office of Diversity and Inclusion can provide. We even had a visit from the purple poo!

See below for a closer look at the Mixer:  

Purple Poo at the Mixer

#DiversityDuck Enjoying Cupcakes