Presenter: Chad Parkinson 

Chad shares his story of being diagnosed with Cone-Rod Dystrophy, a rare visual impairment that has formed his identity. This session will discuss the long road it took towards reclaiming his identity, and the challenges he, his twin brother, and his parents faced as they navigated the unknown. His experiences have nudged him into being an advocate for himself and others as he works toward designing a more accessible world.  

Presenter: Rory James 

If we want to achieve a sense of belonging as staff, we must unpack the overt and covert ways racism, sexism, ableism, and classism appear in the workplace. Ask yourself: What are the behaviors and practices shown in the work environment that exclude our colleagues, clients, and students? Conversely, how do we promote or show that we are working to create a welcoming and inclusive work environment? In this session, we will candidly discuss how tone policing, stereotyping, gatekeeping, and “weaponizing professionalism” are barriers to an inclusive workplace. We will also outline ways we can advocate for a more accepting workplace and workforce. 

Presenter: Jessica Hille 

This session will discuss sex, gender, and sexual orientation as distinct but intersecting concepts. Despite widespread, long standing social and political assumptions, none of these categories exist as simple binaries (i.e., female/male, woman/man, gay/straight). This session will introduce evidence-based, nonbinary understandings of sex, gender, and sexual orientation, as well as an overview of the biological and cultural factors that produce identity categories and lived experiences.  

Presenters: Frank Epperson and Lesle Stella 

In this interactive session, we will discuss how to engage and include people with disabilities in the workplace. We will address myths and help participants gain a better awareness of the diversity and talent within the disability community and how we can all support an inclusive workplace environment. We will also share resources available on the IU Bloomington campus and briefly explain the confidential Accommodation Request process.  

Presenters: Allison Adkins and Amy Cornell 

In this interactive session, you will learn about the diversity, equity, and inclusion staff training initiatives that have been undertaken by the Walter Center for Career Achievement. We will provide an overview that includes specifics about books, movies, and LinkedIn Learning modules we have used in the past. We encourage you to incorporate any of our ideas into your own department to spark learning about diversity, equity, and inclusion! 

Presenter: Rachel Boveja 

Complex cultural differences exist in every setting. Within a university context, intercultural exchanges may highlight misunderstandings, yet offer opportunities for promoting authentic dialogue amongst its community members. This interactive session will provide participants with a foundation in cultural intelligence. Participants will be offered a brave space in which to self-identify, then build on cross-cultural knowledge and skills that will assist in effectively adapting to the cultural nuances that make up the vibrant Indiana University community.

Presenters: Carmen Henne-Ochoa and Lindsay Valderrama  

Imagine yourself in a conversation where you heard someone expressing their experiences with sexism and someone’s response is: Well, sexism happens all over the world. And then imagine a different conversation where you heard: I don’t see color, we’re all just human beings. How would you respond?  

Engaging in discussions on topics such as gender, sex, race, ethnicity, culture, nationality, and language difference can be daunting. In this session, we’ll discuss the importance of creating an environment that normalizes the courage it takes to have authentic dialogue on challenging topics. After this session, you’ll take away a couple of strategies that we hope will give you just a little more confidence in having challenging conversations that can lead to communication for change. 

Presenter: Lesa Huber 

For the first time, we have five generations in the workplace. Over 40% of workers are older than their bosses, yet only 8% of organizations include age in their diversity initiatives. What strengths can each generation offer each other? What are the challenges in working together? We will look at the characteristics of each cohort in the workplace and consider ways to bridge generational gaps in how we work.   

Presenters: Gloria Howell, Nicky Belle, Melanie Castillo-Cullather, and Rabbi Sue Silberberg 

True allyship is one of the most challenging yet rewarding efforts in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The ambiguity of the term makes it a concept worthy of further exploration, particularly as it is practiced at higher education institutions. A true commitment to allyship is a nuanced process that requires hard work, deep reflection, and change on multiple levels. In this session, IUB Culture Center Directors will address the different ways people think of allyship and share examples and best practices of how to approach allyship in the various spaces we occupy.