Diversity Events Calendar – Fall 2019
 |
Hispanic/Latinx Heritage (“HLH”) Month at WCSU
An official celebration of those American citizens whose ancestry can be traced back to Spain, Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. The tradition of the Hispanic/Latinx Heritage celebration started out as a week-long event in 1968. Twenty (20) years later, in 1988, the celebration expanded to dedicate a whole month starting and ending in the middle of the month and inclusive of the Day of the Dead (“Dia De Los Muertos“) on November 2nd, to represent a traditional event in Mexico paying homage to loved ones who have past on. Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month pays tribute to the generations of Hispanic/Latinx Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society.
The celebration will take place between September 15th and October 15th and up to November 2nd. The 15th marks as the independence day of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. While Mexico, Chile, and Belize follow shortly after on the 16th, 18th and 21st respectively. Below are the listed events happening in September and October in celebration of Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month:
HLH Exhibition: American Subtitles
Exhibition opens from August 26th, 2019 to October 31st, 2019
In the Art Gallery on the West Side Campus, Visual and Performing Arts Center (“VPAC”)
Sponsored by the Art Department, Visual and Performing Arts Center (“VPAC”) and the Office of Diversity and Equity.
American Subtitles is an example of artwork which lends an interpretive voice to a growing list of crises existing in our nation which seem to be misunderstood, ignored, or not given the proper attention to resolve. The work on exhibit interprets jazz, and the American experience for people of color through collage, paintings and sculptured pieces of art. The body of work on display invites and challenges the viewer to explore their own contributions to humanity, while encouraging unity and diversity.
Featured Artist(s) are:
Andres Chaparro: www.chaparroart.com
Donald Boudreaux: www.jubileefineart.com/donald_boudreaux.htm
Robert Charles Hudson: N/A
An opening reception for the artists will take place on Thursday, August 29th, 2019, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., in the VPAC Art Gallery on the university’s Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury.
The exhibition will be open for viewing from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., from Monday through Friday and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission for the opening reception and general viewing will be free and open to the public; reservations to attend the reception should be made online on the VPAC events web page.
Workshop: Filling in the Gaps – Addressing Mental Health on WCSU’s Campuses
Monday, September 9th, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Midtown Campus, White Hall, Room 122
and
Tuesday, September 10th, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
West Side Campus, Campus Center Ballroom
Sponsored by the Office of AccessAbility Services, in partnership with the Counseling Center and the Office of Diversity and Equity.
“Filling in the Gaps – Addressing Mental Health on WCSU’s Campus” is an interactive presentation by Laura DiGalbo, a nationally known expert on mental health and the intersectionality of mental health on college campuses. This presentation is open to all WCSU Faculty, Staff, and Administrators.
Over the last several years, the Office of AccessAbility Services has seen an increased in various student populations who may have psychological disabilities while enrolled at WCSU. Nationally, mental health conditions are the fastest growing issues on college campuses amongst varying populations with numerous social characteristics. Through this interactive presentation, we are attempting to:
1) Raise awareness about issues related to student mental health and how it may impact retention/graduation,
2) Improve academic conditions on campus for students with mental health conditions and intersectional characteristics that may be present, and
3) Offer guidance and support tools for faculty, staff and administrators on how to address mental health conditions.
Lunch will be provided on a first come, first serve basis. Please RSVP your attendance by no later than Friday, August 30th to Elisabeth Morel, Director of the Office of AccessAbility Services at morele@wcsu.edu to ensure adequate lunch is provided.
HLH Online: Welcome to the Electronic-Cookbook (E-Cookbook) Challenge
Due Date: September 20, 2019
Sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Equity and Sodexo Food Service
In honor of Hispanic Heritage/Latinx Month, the Office of Diversity and Equity (“ODE”), in conjunction with Sodexo, is hosting an E-Cookbook Challenge. The saying “the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach” definitely rings true. During this month, we are gathering recipes from different countries to share and enjoy together. We are asking the university community to submit recipes either known to you or that you’ve grown up with to showcase dishes from around the world. ODE will compile a digital E-Cookbook of the submitted ethnic inspired recipes. ODE is reaching out to all cooks (and non-cooks) to share their ethnic inspired recipes, stories and experiences.
If you have a recipe you would like to share or have questions, please click here to fill in and complete the E-Cookbook Challenge Recipe Form. Once completed, please send your completed form as an email to ode@wcsu.edu. Deadline to submit one (or more) recipe(s) is Tuesday, September 20, 2019. Three prizes will be awarded to the cooks with the best recipes. Prizes include:
(1) First place winner will receive a brand new Keurig Single-Serve Coffee Machine;
(2) Second place winner will receive a $100.00 Bookstore Gift Card; and
(3) Third place winner will receive a paid voucher to the Danbury Room Monthly Sodexo Dinner experience.
At the end of September, the named winners will be invited to participate in the upcoming E-Cookbook Tasting Celebration to be hosted on October 8, 2019. All of the submissions will be shared as a digital E-Cookbook with the WCSU community through a link on our website by the end of October. When submitting recipes, please accurately fill out the E-Cookbook Challenge Recipe Form and include the following:
- Nationality of the recipe (i.e., Colombian, Cuban, Mexican, Peruvian, African, Thailand, Asian, etc.)
- The reference for the recipe. References should indicate the name, author, date & publisher of a cookbook, or if the recipe is a personal one, the reference should include: name of the chef, his/her college/department, and nationality
- A photo of the cooked meal or you may want to submit a photo of you as well (optional)
- List any information about one (or more) inter-changeable ingredients(s) in the recipe.
This challenge is open to WCSU students, faculty and staff.
 |
Domestic Violence Awareness (“DVA”) Month at WCSU
Domestic Violence Awareness Month takes place every October. It evolved from a Day of Unity first observed in October, 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The intent was to connect advocates for survivors of abuse across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children. The Day of Unity soon became a special week when a range of activities were conducted at the local, state and national levels, and has since grown to become a federally observed month of awareness and action on domestic violence.
Across the country, families and friends of victims have gathered during Domestic Violence Awareness Month to remember and honor their loved ones who have lost their lives at the hands of a person they once loved and trusted. Below are the listed events happening in October to educate/bring awareness for DVA Month:
Event: WCSU Human Library Book
Tuesday, October 1st, Time: 1:00. p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Midtown Campus, Haas Library
Sponsored by the WCSU Library Administration
Library Services will be holding its first ever Human Library event. A Human Library is an event that facilitates discussion between people of different backgrounds and experiences. By hosting a local Human Library event, we hope to break down barriers and challenge assumptions in our own community via the introduction of a wide range of personalities, experiences, and belief systems. The collection will be comprised of volunteers who have agreed to be “books” and share their stories and/or their expertise. Readers can “borrow” human books for up to 20 minutes at a time, which allows them to learn something new and ask questions about the book’s topic.
Events around the world have featured books with varying religious, cultural, ethnic, or political affiliations; books who have struggled with various kinds of adversity – homelessness, crime, abuse, food insecurity; books who suffer from serious physical challenges – eating disorders, addiction, learning disabilities, ADHD, mental illness; and many more. You can view a list of human books on the Human Library Organization’s website.
For more information, please email Professor Julie Hunter at hunterj@wcsu.edu about the listed event or view the above-short video about the Human Library Book.
Open to the public, WCSU students, faculty and staff.
HLH/DVA Event: Walking Tour with the Chief Diversity Officer
Monday, October 7th, from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Areas of the Midtown Campus
and
Monday, October 21th, from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Areas of the West Side Campus
Sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Equity
For more information, please contact Ms. Keisha Stokes by phone at (203) 837-8278 or by email at stokesk@wcsu.edu for a schedule of the walking tour. The Chief Diversity Officer along with members of the WCSU Diversity Council will engage members of the public and WCSU students faculty and staff on the above-identified campuses.
DVA Event: Red Flag Campaign
DATE/TIME TBA FOR OCTOBER 2019
Midtown Campus, Location: TBD
Sponsored by the WCSU Campus Response and Resource Team (“CaRRT”) and the Office of Diversity and Equity
The Red Flag Campaign is a public awareness campaign designed to address dating violence and promote the prevention of dating violence on college campuses. Through using the “bystander intervention” strategy, the campaign encourages friends and other campus community members to “say something” when they see warning signs (“red flags”) for dating violence in a friend’s relationship.
For more information, please contact the Office of Diversity Officer or by email at ode@wcsu.edu for a schedule of events.
HLH Event: Electronic-Cookbook (E-Cookbook) Tasting Celebration
Tuesday, October 8th, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Midtown Campus, Student Center Restaurant
Sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Equity and Sodexo Food Service
In honor of Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, the Office of Diversity and Equity (“ODE”), in conjunction with Sodexo, is hosting an E-Cookbook Tasting Celebration to honor those named winners from the E-Cookbook Challenge. Winners will be invited to talk about their winning recipe and their cooking experiences with those in attendance. Live music and a performance from the WCSU Dance Team Is scheduled.
This event is open to WCSU students, faculty, and staff and the public.
HLH Event: Taste of Latinx in October – WCSU Food Showcase
Thursday, October 3rd, from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
West Side Campus, Student Market Place
Tuesday, October 15th, from 4:30 p.m to 8:00 p.m.
Midtown Campus, Student Center Restaurant
Sponsored by Sodexo Food Service, the Division of Student Affairs and the InterCultural Center.
Sodexo will be serving authentic food from various Latin countries in honor of Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month. Students can use a meal swipe or Flex Points. This event is also open to the public with a surcharge of $10.00 per person.
DVA Event: Operation Jungle Red Week
DATE/TIME TBA FOR A WEEK IN OCTOBER 2019
Midtown Campus, Location: TBD
Sponsored by the Office of Housing and Residence Life and members of WCSU Campus Response and Resource Team (“CaRRT”).
Operation Jungle Red has been held for several years to educate WCSU students about domestic violence, sexual assault and rape. Students were encouraged to sign a pledge against violence. This year a series of events will be held that also included presentations about stereotypes and myths related to gender, race and the realities of abusive relationships. Events featuring hostile language, the impact of these words and who to intervene in those circumstances. Operation Jungle Red organizers say the activities are meant to promote reflection and to build awareness.
For more information, please contact the Office of Housing and Residence Life by email at Housing@wcsu.edu for a schedule of events.
HLH Event: Sodexo Elite Dinner Night
Wednesday, October 30th, from 4:30 p.m to 8:00 p.m.
Midtown Campus, Student Center, Danbury Room
Sponsored by Sodexo Food Service, the Division of Student Affairs and the InterCultural Center.
Sodexo will be featuring a dinner menu of authentic Hispanic/Latin food from various countries in honor of Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month. Students can use a meal swipe or Flex Points. This event is also open to the public with a surcharge of $10.00 per person.
(TENTATIVE) DVA Workshop: Trans-forming the Classroom and Workplace to be Inclusive
DATE/TIME TBA FOR NOVEMBER 2019
Midtown Campus, Location: TBD
Sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Equity
The goal of this workshop is to explore with faculty, staff and students the intersection of various campus challenges and misconceptions made with those in the transgender and/or gender-nonconformity communities on pro-noun use, definitions/terms, social status, relationships, and issues with sexual violence/misconduct. J.D. Melendez, GLAAD Public Information Manager will serve as the trainer to lead in discussion on the different types of identities and distinctions and how language is key is bringing forth respect and boundaries in the academic classroom and workplace.
Please contact Ms. Keisha Stokes by phone at (203) 837-8278 or by email at stokesk@wcsu.edu to register for this workshop no later than October 30th. Open to the public, WCSU students, faculty and staff.
Lecture: Beverly McIver, Artist
Monday, November 4th, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
West Side Campus, Visual and Performing Arts Center, Room 144
Sponsored by the Art Department, School of Visual and Performing Arts (“VPAC”) and the Office of Diversity and Equity
Beverly McIver is widely acknowledged as a significant presence in contemporary American art and has charted a new direction as an African American woman artist. She is committed to producing art that consistently examines racial, gender, social and occupational identity. McIver was born in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1962. She is the youngest of three girls born to Ethel McIver. Her oldest sister Renee is mentally disabled, with the mindset of a second-grader. Beverly is Renee’s legal guardian. Renee is a frequent subject of the artist, as are other family members. “Raising Renee”, a feature-length documentary film produced in association with HBO by Academy Award-nominated and award-winning filmmakers Steven Ascher and Jeanne Jordan, tells the story of the impact of McIver’s promise to care for her sister when their mother dies. The film played in festivals around the country and was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Arts and Culture Programming.
McIver’s work is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian, the North Carolina Museum of Art, the Weatherspoon Art Museum, the Baltimore Museum of Art, the NCCU Museum of Art, the Asheville Museum of Art, The Crocker Art Museum, the Nelson Fine Arts Center Art Museum at Arizona State University, the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, the Cameron Art Museum and the Mint Museum as well as significant corporate and private collections. McIver is currently the Esbenshade Professor of the Practice in Studio Arts At Duke University. She was the Suntrust Endowed Chair Professor of Art at North Carolina Central University, 2007-2014. Prior to this appointment, McIver taught at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ. for twelve years, Duke University, North Carolina State University, and North Carolina Central University. She has also held residencies at many of the nation’s leading artist communities, including YADDO, the Headland Center for the Arts, Djerassi, and Penland School of Arts and Crafts. She has served on the board at Penland and currently serves on the board of directors at YADDO in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Please click here to get a free event-brite ticket to this event. Open to the public, WCSU students, faculty and staff.
NOVEMBER Lunch with a Leader Series invites:
Steven Hernandez, Executive Director, Connecticut Commission on Women, Children & Seniors
Tuesday, November 12th, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Location: TBA
Sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Equity
What is Lunch with a Leader?
Mrs. Jesenia Minier-Delgado, Chief Diversity Officer will invite one (or more) guest speaker(s) to present and share stories of their professional journeys. Each invited guest/speaker holds a leadership positions in higher education, law enforcement, social services and/or business fields in the Danbury area and/or in the surrounding regions of Connecticut. Each invited guest/speaker will share their personal anecdotes about how they succeeded, challenges faced, and also offer general tips and advice to students, faculty and staff about their professional/personal journey into their leadership role(s). The attendees will have an opportunity to build a network and better understand the requisite skills to succeed in various career fields.
Please contact Ms. Keisha Stokes by phone at (203) 837-8278 or by email at stokesk@wcsu.edu to register and attend the November listed lunch series date. Attendance for the regular session is limited on up to 15 participants each session. Students are highly encouraged to attend and register, but faculty and staff are welcome to attend and register as well. Lunch will be provided for registered guests and you will receive a confirmation email upon your confirmed registration and the event location.
Workshop: “Am I Overreacting?” Understanding and Combating Microaggressions
Wednesday, November 13th, from 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Midtown Campus, Location: TBD
Sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Equity
The goal of this workshop is to give faculty, staff and students a focus on racial micro-aggressions that are prevalent in colleges and universities. Mrs. Jesenia Minier-Delgado, Chief Diversity Officer will lead this workshop with a focus on recognizing micro-aggressions when they happen on our campuses and their implications on marginalized groups.
Please contact Ms. Keisha Stokes by phone at (203) 837-8278 or by email at stokesk@wcsu.edu to register for this workshop no later than October 30th. Open to the public, WCSU students, faculty, and staff.
SPECIAL EVENT/SERIES
 |
Welcome to the Lunch with a Leader Series for Fall 2019
Sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Equity
What is Lunch with a Leader?
Mrs. Jesenia Minier-Delgado, Chief Diversity Officer will invite one (or more) guest speaker(s) to present and share stories of their professional journeys. Each invited guest/speaker holds a leadership positions in higher education, law enforcement, social services and/or business fields in the Danbury area and/or in the surrounding regions of Connecticut. Each invited guest/speaker will share their personal anecdotes about how they succeeded, challenges faced, and also offer general tips and advice to students, faculty and staff about their professional/personal journey into their leadership role(s). The attendees will have an opportunity to build a network and better understand the requisite skills to succeed in various career fields. In this special event, attendees will meet with prospective students and their parents to explore campus life, culture and meet with our guest faculty to share their personal and professional journey to their roles at Western Connecticut State University.
