Presenter: Heather Akou, Ph.D.

Description: Islam is the second largest religion in the world, but Muslims are estimated to make up just 1.3% of the US population. As a convert to Islam who grew up in rural, northern Wisconsin, Heather Akou has been through a long process to feel comfortable expressing herself as both a deeply-rooted Midwestern American and a visible, practicing Muslim. Her faith informs everything she does: what she eats, how she dresses, how she parents her children, how she interacts with her students, and how she serves as a leader at work and in the community. She often finds that her students and coworkers are curious, but afraid to ask questions. What questions do you have? What stereotypes have you heard that might have made you concerned or even afraid of Muslims? What do you think about “people of faith” in general? heather invites you to have a conversation. Ask her anything!

Presenter: Karen Franks

Description: Antisemitic incidents are higher in America than at any time in the recent past. We are now in an era where antisemitism is not only growing, but antisemites also feel much freer to express themselves in both word and deed. But there is no indication that the sources of today’s antisemitism are at all different from those that appear to operate perpetually. In this session, Karen Franks with the Borns Jewish Studies Program will discuss the rise in antisemitism, dispel common myths about the Jewish community, and talk about ways to be a good ally in the face of antisemitism.

Presenter: Melanie Castillo-Cullather, Gloria Howell, and Bruce Smail

Description: Over the last decade, we have seen an increasing number of local, state, and national incidents that directly impact various communities on Indiana University campuses. Three directors of IU Bloomington’s Culture Centers discuss various ways they have developed programs and services to support students impacted by external events. This workshop is about supporting students facing ongoing events while facilitating holistic success on a college campus.

Presenter: MarChe’ Daughtry

Description: Join me for an intimate and eye-opening workshop on living an intersectional life through the lens of my own experiences as a Black, blind, and queer person who also uses a wheelchair. We’ll explore how my different social identities intersect, as well as the challenges and opportunities I encounter as I navigate issues of accessibility and representation.

Panelists: Madhuvanti Karyekar, Jerono Rotich, and Anne-Sophie Stringer

Description: Join a diverse panel of IU staff as they share their unique experiences, challenges, and wins that come with working within the IU Bloomington landscape. Our panelists started their careers in other countries and then came to work in the United States. They’ll offer insights into the subtle and not-so-subtle cultural dynamics that influence their daily work life and professional relationships. You’ll leave this session with a greater understanding of the importance of cultural awareness in the work environment.

Presenter: Adin Kawate

Description: No one is invisible. This session will be an exploration about the right to "take up space" in institutions like Indiana University and that taking up space also means creating space for others to be themselves. We will also challenge the notion that "space" means "separation" when really, in Pasifika terms, it actually means connection and relationship.

Presenters: Frank Epperson

Description: As a person with a lifelong disability, Frank Epperson has had his ups and downs, and learned (sometimes the hard way) to control what he can control and leave the rest alone. In this session, Frank will discuss his successes and failures, hosting an honest and open conversation about how and why he decided to not be a victim. During the session Frank will talk about growing up as a kid with a disability, his wheelchair racing career, his ballroom dancing, his work with people with disabilities, and his work in advocating for people with disabilities…a.k.a. his life.

Presenters: Lisa Burchenson and Lindsay Valderrama

Description: When Loving vs. Virginia was decided in 1963, only 3% of marriages in the United States were interracial. Today, interracial marriages account for 20% of all new marriages. That’s a significant rise in multicultural families in a relatively short time. What does it mean to be a transcultural family? How does being in an intercultural relationship affect the way you think? How do you support a partner or children when they face racism or bigotry? In this session, Lisa Burchenson and Lindsay Valderrama, both partners of immigrants, will discuss the challenges and joys of being in a multicultural family, how these familial relationships matter in our work lives, and how to navigate this unique kind of allyship.

Game Master: Bryan Roberts

Description: Disparity Trap: The Socially Conscious Board Game provides an easy way to have the hard conversations around race & privilege in America and how they impact society in systemically dominant (SD) and systemically non-dominant (SND) ways. The game play is like many of its kind, where your individual goal is to accrue as much wealth as possible. Within this game you also step into someone else’s shoes; to experience the disparities within an identity different from your own. Throughout the game, the dice roll correlates your identity in the game to real life statistics. So like life, the dice are in your “hands,” but the odds are not. Join this session to play a round of this “unfair game of life”.

Don't have much experience with board games? That's okay! Disparity Trap will be played in cooperative mode with players working together, and the Game Master is there to help explain the rules and answer questions.

Presenters: Emma Loveland and Pam Patton-Richards

Description: In an increasingly diverse and inclusive campus, effective communication is essential. Join us for an informative presentation designed to provide staff members with practical guidance on two critical aspects: locating an interpreter and cultivating meaningful collaboration with them. Whether you're an educator, administrator, or support staff, understanding the process to secure interpreting services as well as fostering a productive working relationship with them can greatly enhance your ability to communicate with the D/deaf faculty and students on campus. This session will offer key insights into optimizing interactions with interpreters, promoting effective communication, and creating an inclusive atmosphere for all. Explore best practices, communication tips, and strategies for building strong partnerships with interpreters, ultimately contributing to a more accessible and enriching academic experience for the entire campus community. By the end of this presentation, you'll be equipped with the knowledge and tools to ensure you secure the access you need in our diverse educational environment, promoting inclusivity and effective communication.

Presenters: Wendi Goodlett

Description: Adequate housing is a human right, yet 1.8 billion people worldwide do not have access to it. In this interactive session, we will discuss local and personal housing challenges to gain insights into the extensive impacts on various populations. You will also learn about Habitat for Humanity’s efforts to realize our vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Presenters: Rachel Boveja and Jen Thomas-Giyer

Description: Wellness in the university setting is prioritized for students. As a result, staff wellness may appear lacking in resources and services. On the contrary, this interactive session will provide opportunities for activities around topics such as navigating healthy relationships by leaning into complex conversations, establishing boundaries and sitting in discomfort and the necessity and reality of self-care as a practice of personal wellness and growth. Participants will leave the session with university wellness resources as well as skills associated with advocating for their own wellness needs, healthy coping strategies for the workplace and more.

Panelists: Ashley Mills, Vy Munos, Caty Pilachowski, Mayghan Rider, and Steve Tait

Description: In this session we discuss some of the practices and ways of engaging between faculty and staff that sometimes manifest as "clashes" in the work environment. These practices may range from varying communication styles to contrasting expectations concerning workplace etiquette and can lead to misunderstandings that affect staff-faculty relationships and the general climate of our departments. This interactive session creates an open dialogue that allows for the sharing of experiences and input from attendees on best practices for fostering more inclusive and collaborative work environments.

Panelists: Ashley Mills, Vy Munos, Caty Pilachowski, Mayghan Rider, and Steve Tait

Description: In this session we discuss some of the practices and ways of engaging between faculty and staff that sometimes manifest as "clashes" in the work environment. These practices may range from varying communication styles to contrasting expectations concerning workplace etiquette and can lead to misunderstandings that affect staff-faculty relationships and the general climate of our departments. This interactive session creates an open dialogue that allows for the sharing of experiences and input from attendees on best practices for fostering more inclusive and collaborative work environments.

Presenter: Juan Cano and Anna Galvez

Description: In the wake of the decision by SCOTUS in the summer of 2023, the Kelley Office of Diversity Initiatives had to reinvent its approach to recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority (URM) students. We want to share with you all the efforts that we have put together to help our URM students at one of the largest schools at IUB. We also want to hear from other staff and faculty on how SCOTUS' decision will affect their efforts in the upcoming years.

Game Master: Bryan Roberts

Description: Disparity Trap: The Socially Conscious Board Game provides an easy way to have the hard conversations around race & privilege in America and how they impact society in systemically dominant (SD) and systemically non-dominant (SND) ways. The game play is like many of its kind, where your individual goal is to accrue as much wealth as possible. Within this game you also step into someone else’s shoes; to experience the disparities within an identity different from your own. Throughout the game, the dice roll correlates your identity in the game to real life statistics. So like life, the dice are in your “hands,” but the odds are not. Join this session to play a round of this “unfair game of life”.

Don't have much experience with board games? That's okay! Disparity Trap will be played in cooperative mode with players working together, and the Game Master is there to help explain the rules and answer questions.

Presenters: Rachel Boveja and Jen Thomas-Giyer

Description: Wellness in the university setting is prioritized for students. As a result, staff wellness may appear lacking in resources and services. On the contrary, this interactive session will provide opportunities for activities around topics such as navigating healthy relationships by leaning into complex conversations, establishing boundaries and sitting in discomfort and the necessity and reality of self-care as a practice of personal wellness and growth. Participants will leave the session with university wellness resources as well as skills associated with advocating for their own wellness needs, healthy coping strategies for the workplace and more.

Presenters: Wendi Goodlett

Description: Adequate housing is a human right, yet 1.8 billion people worldwide do not have access to it. In this interactive session, we will discuss local and personal housing challenges to gain insights into the extensive impacts on various populations. You will also learn about Habitat for Humanity’s efforts to realize our vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Presenter: Cecilia Buckley

Description: Whether you are a colleague or a supervisor of someone on the autism spectrum, this workshop will give you information that will help ease communication, understanding, and support for those autistic faculty and staff. Together, we’ll delve into the concepts of neurodiversity and the social model of disability, identify key characteristics of autism, and investigate some potential job accommodations. Finally, we’ll focus on the positive aspects of autism for the workplace that can benefit everyone!

Presenter: Office of International Services

Description: Culture often plays a part in written as well as interpersonal communication. In this session, participants will work in small groups to: observe differences in written communication style, recognize the impact of style on workplace productivity, and explore style switching to influence task accomplishment.