Day of Learning and Community Building 2024
Join members of the Western community for this day-long Accessibility, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion event.
A Day of Learning and Community Building offers participants an opportunity to discuss the meaning and value of community building, as a path to enhanced ADEI and social justice efforts.
Throughout the day participants will hear about Western’s dynamic ADEI plan, learn about how to build community, engage in dialogue on current topics and practice community building skills.
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Starting at 9am
Concurrent Sessions every 90 minutes
IN-PERSON REGISTRATION OPENS AT 8:30AM WEDNESDAY IN THE VU MPR
Lunch will be provided
Event is open to current Western students and employees. Participants must register to attend. Capacity is limited so register early!
Sessions will be held throughout the day. WWU staff, faculty, and students can attend as many sessions as their schedule allows.
Morning Sessions
9:00 a.m. Opening Session
Dr. Jacqueline Hughes
Executive Director Office of Equity, Chief Diversity Officer
Overview of the draft Institutional ADEI Plan and framework.
9:45 a.m. Community as Verb: Lessons from Grassroots Movements about Building Community in Challenging Times
Dr. Veronica Velez
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Secondary Education, and Education & Social Justice for Woodring College of Education
John Korsmo
Associate Dean for Student Access, Success, and Outreach for Woodring College of Education and Professor of Human Services in the Health and Community Studies Department
Longoria
Associate Professor and Chair of Secondary Education in Woodring College of Education
Daisy Padilla
Director of Access and Inclusion for Woodring College of Education
In this session attendees will consider what it means to build community – not as an outcome but as a process – to create dignity affirming spaces in higher education.
9:45 a.m. Talking Circle: Well-Being at Western
Dr. Brandon Joseph, ph.d.
Office of Student Resilience Director, and WWU Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee
Travis Tennessen, ph.d.
Director, Center for Community Learning
Join us as we engage in conversations about wellbeing at WWU! In this session, participants will articulate their feelings & experiences at Western related to wellbeing.
9:45 a.m. Theory to Practice: Applying Trauma-informed Principles in our work with students. What does it mean to be trauma-informed and how do we practice this?
Liz Stuart, M. Ed.
Assistant Director of Outreach and Health Promotion, Coordinator of Peer Initiatives
Participants will learn about the six principles that define trauma-informed practices, consider how this approach can impact student learning and success, and share tools for practical application of these principles in our individual roles.
9:45 a.m. Identity, Intersectionality, and Social Perception
Dr. Adrian J. Villicana
Associate Professor of Social Psychology
Participants will be introduced to a social identity framework to understand our "self" is a combination of a personal and social identities. Participants will engage in an activity that challenges them to identify aspects of their personal and social identities as well as how those identities intersect. Intersectionality will then be introduced to understand how identities are tied to oppressive structures within the USA context. Finally, participants will learn the basics of how our social perception system works, and how it leads to interpersonal and intergroup issues.
Afternoon Sessions
1 p.m. Race, Power, and Privilege
Jevon Moore, LMSW (Moderator/Facilitator)
Black Student Support Specialist, Staff Therapist, Counseling & Wellness Center
Daniel Records-Galbraith, J.D.
Civil Rights & Title IX Director, Title IX and ADA Coordinator
Spencer Anthony-Cahill, Ph.D.
Professor of Biochemistry
Ed Love, Ph.D.
Professor, Chair, Department of Finance & Marketing
Learn how to engage in ADEI work as a person in a position of power and privilege.
1 p.m. Free Speech in the Classroom
Dr. Christie Scollon, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
Dr. Jennifer Devenport, Ph.D., MLS.
Associate Professor of Psychology
Eva Schmid, BScN, BSc.
Psychology Student
How free speech and inclusion can co-exist.
1 p.m. Theory to Practice: Applying Trauma-informed Principles in our work with students. What does it mean to be trauma-informed and how do we practice this?
Liz Stuart, M. Ed.
Assistant Director of Outreach and Health Promotion, Coordinator of Peer Initiatives
Participants will learn about the six principles that define trauma-informed practices, consider how this approach can impact student learning and success, and share tools for practical application of these principles in our individual roles.
1 p.m. Navigating Conflict & Difficult Conversations
Dr. Tara Perry
Professor, Communication Studies
Emma Lee, Sarah Fockler, and Candela Olivestro
Communications Studies Students
This session will focus on how to navigate conflict and controversial conversations while building community. The presenters will lead from a communication, diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism lens.
2:45 p.m. Closing Session: Let’s Talk; A Panel Discussion with Western Students
Ermias Hagos
Manufacturing Engineering Student
Jack Hueso
Interdisciplinary Concentration Student
Student Panelists:
Emery Rwigamba, Tabitha Johnson, Zay Hassan, Yvette Osei, Nahom Azmach
An honest conversation with students about identity, life at Western, and finding community.