Volume 98 | October 2021
OGA Newsletter
The Office of Global Activities (OGA) is dedicated to connecting MSW students to international social work opportunities through fundingspecial programs, academic resources, internationalized curriculum, and arranging faculty and student exchanges at partner institutions.
Indigenous Peoples' Day (October 11)
Today is Indigenous Peoples' Day, a day meant to celebrate and honor Native Americans and indigenous populations in the United States. DoSomething.org says: "The holiday recognizes the legacy and impact of colonialism on Native communities, and it also celebrates the cultures, contributions, and resilience of contemporary Native peoples." The celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day in replacement of Columbus Day was first proposed in 1977 at the United Nations International Conference on Discrimination against Indigenous Populations in the Americas.
Spotlight: Global Social Work Event Grant
The Office of Global Activities (OGA) offers event grants to students who would like to propose and plan an event with a global theme.

Two grants per semester are available in the fall and winter, each grant is up to $125. Student events that have been proposed and funded in the past include showing a documentary with a global focus, hosting a discussion on a global topic, or organizing a panel of social workers who work (or have done work) abroad. Events are not limited to these categories and we encourage students to get creative and propose something new.

The OGA Event Grants are given on a rolling basis. However, the full application must be received before the following deadlines and at least 14 days prior to the event date proposed.

  • Fall semester events: the end of the first full week of November
  • Winter semester events: the end of the second Friday in March
Events
Date: Monday, October 4 - Sunday, October 17
Brief Description: You are invited to attend Professor Rogério Pinto's installation entitled Realm of the Dead where he tells how his family grieved the loss of his sister, Marília, who died in a sudden accident when she was three years old. Using dozens of sculptures built into vintage suitcases, Professor Pinto tells his story of growing up in poverty in Brazil, then at 21 coming as a poor immigrant to the United States. The Realm of the Dead installation is part of this year's U-M SSW Centennial Celebration.
Date: Wednesday, October 13 from 12:00 - 2:00 PM EDT
Brief DescriptionThe UM-SSW community continues to raise awareness of important issues to the Latinx community as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. Thus, The University of Michigan Latinx Faculty and Staff Research Group, in collaboration with the SSW Global Social Work Pathway and Office of Global Activities, invites you to engage in a discussion with Dr. Fernanda Cross and Laura Sanders from the University of Michigan School of Social Work to discuss research and experiences among undocumented Latinx immigrants living in Southeast Michigan and to explore how parents talk about immigration and deportation with children.
Date: Wednesday, October 19 - Friday, October 21
Brief Description: The Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law of UNSW Sydney will bring together extraordinary speakers and delegates from around the world. This truly global event takes participants to the cutting edge of thinking at an urgent time in policymaking. Whatever the outcome of the upcoming Glasgow talks, people will continue to move away from the impacts of climate change and disasters – often because they have no choice. Where will they go and how? Will the law be a help or a hindrance? How do we make practical progress? Sessions will accessible from multiple time zones, and registered delegates will be able to view them on demand. All students are welcome to register for free.
Date: Friday, October 15, from 1:00 - 2:30 PM EDT
Brief Description: International Coffee Hour is a great place for international and U.S. students to socialize with each other and meet new people from around the world. Coffee and snacks will be provided! This is an informal event, so you can come and go at any time you like. The October Coffee Hour will take place outside of the Duderstadt Center in Duderstadt Plaza (North Campus).
Date: Wednesday, October 20 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT
Brief Description: International Student Lunch Conversation is a casual time and space for international students to virtually connect with each other and talk about life as an international student in the U.S. and at U-M. The International Center and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) will inform you of the current services they are offering, share resources for your mental health, and more, but you are also open to bring your own topics of conversation. Feel free to eat your lunch during this event!
Date: Wednesday, October 20 from 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT
Brief DescriptionInterested in pursuing a career overseas in the Netherlands? In this virtual session, Overseasy's founder Tim Zhang will discuss visas, relocation, and job market considerations when moving to the Netherlands. Topics include: visa requirements, process and timelines, Dutch culture, and job market. In particular, the session will focus on the Dutch Orientation Year Visa, a program that does not require sponsorship for U.S.and international students and recent graduates who received their master’s, post-master’s or doctoral degree. Join us to learn about why the Netherlands could be a good fit for you whether you are a U.S. citizen or an international student.
Date: Monday, November 1 from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
Brief Description: Next week, the International Institute will be hosting its first webinar for the Masters in International and Regional Studies (MIRS) Program. This session will discuss topics related to the program structure, admissions requirements, funding and financial aid, specialization tracks, and dual-degree opportunities for students interested in applying for the Fall 2022 term.
Date: Friday, November 19 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT
Brief DescriptionJoin the International Center virtually over lunch to discuss special topics and explore the resources available for international students and scholars. Discussions are informal and it's a great place to get your burning questions answered!
Announcements
Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! (September 15 - October 15)
September 15 marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month! People across the country spend time this month celebrating the diversity, histories, cultures and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Hispanic Americans make up the largest minority group in the nation and have significantly contributed to our government, culture, and economy over generations. See some Hispanic Heritage Month-centered events below.
Date: Wednesday, October 13 from 4:00 - 5:00 PM EDT
Brief Description: Translocas: The Politics of Puerto Rican Drag and Trans Performance, written by Lawrence La Fountain-Stokes and published in 2021 by the University of Michigan Press, focuses on drag and transgender performance and activism in Puerto Rico and its diaspora. The author also pays careful attention to transgender experience, highlighting how trans activists and performers mold their bodies, promote social change, and create community in a context that oscillates between glamour and abjection. This event is part of IRWG's Gender: New Works, New Questions series, which spotlights recent publications by U-M faculty members and allows for deeper discussion by an interdisciplinary panel.

Date: Saturday, September 25 - Sunday, November 7
Brief Description: In celebration of Dia de Muertos, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), in partnership with Detroit's Mexican Consulate, invite you to explore a community exhibition of ofrenda altars. In Mexico, and other Latin American countries, the Day of the Dead is the time of the year to celebrate the lives of close relatives, friends or community members who have passed away.

"Generations of artists have returned to the themes of the US-Mexico border and the impact of its inconsistent and often arbitrary enforcement on the lives of Mexican, Mexican American, and other Latinx communities. Visual art, music, and literature produced from the 1930s through the present offer rich data for contemplating shifting representations of the border and immigrants over time and for exploring factors that shape the context, content, and tone of such representations."
International Career Pathways is a cross-unit initiative that aims to compile and highlight events happening across campus pertaining to global internships, service, and careers!

Date: Wednesday, October 20 from 4:00 - 5:00 PM EDT
Brief Description: Interested in careers in public policy, law, and human rights? Join to learn from Hardy Vieux, Chief of Staff of Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), and Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley Foundation Policymaker in Residence at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.

Date: Thursday, October 21 from 12:00 - 2:30 PM EDT
Brief Description: The International Opportunities Fair is a great way to connect with organizations with an international focus! The Fair includes post-graduation opportunities, internships abroad, volunteering abroad, teaching abroad, and grants/fellowships/scholarships.

Date: Monday, October 25 from 12:00 - 1:00 PM EDT
Brief Description: Interested in humanitarian and international development careers with Mercy Corps? Join to learn from Michelle LeMeur, Gender Equality, and Social Inclusion (GESI) Director, Mercy Corps Nepal.

Date: Wednesday, October 27 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM EDT
Brief Description: A panel of global health and development professionals will share their career stories, including preparation, training, and advice for prospective global professionals.
Professional Opportunities
Application Deadline: Monday, October 11
Brief Description: The mission of the Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies (LRCCS) is to promote broader and deeper understanding of the peoples and cultures of China, both past and present, through research, teaching, and the full range of public information venues available both within the University community and beyond. They are looking for a team member with a passion for the region and those who study it.
Application Deadline: Wednesday, October 13
Brief DescriptionStudents Engaged in Global Health (SEGH) is recruiting panelists for their annual Round Robin discussion on internships and other global experiences. Each panelist will answer a series of questions, including what steps they took to arrange their experience. Please note that this opportunity is open to graduate students in all disciplines, and is not limited to those who have done internships or fellowships. Students who completed globally-focused internships remotely or domestically are also welcome to apply. Contact segh-eboard@umich.edu with any questions.
Application Deadline: Friday, October 29
Brief Description: The Graduate Certificate in World Performance Studies (GCWPS) provides students an opportunity to join an interdisciplinary cohort of Graduate Fellows, interested in performance as an artistic and scholarly field of inquiry. The GCWPS requires 9 credit hours of coursework over the span of twelve months. Graduate Fellows are awarded a $3500 stipend for a summer research project, internship or practicum, to take place in the summer.
Application Deadline: Monday, November 1
Brief DescriptionThis unique 12-month professional development opportunity is designed for individuals dedicated to a career in international relief and development. CRS is one of the largest and most trusted international relief and development organizations. In more than 100 countries worldwide, CRS promotes transformative and sustainable change by using holistic approaches, engaging people at all levels, and tailoring their work to the needs of the people they serve.
Brief Description: Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels is seeking 4 MSW students for office assistant positions. Office Assistants support AAMOW's meal deliveries by cleaning coolers and baskets, counting meals, greeting volunteers, bagging Ensure, and occasionally delivering meals in their own vehicle or a University vehicle. Office Assistants also help with general tasks in the office that may include answering phones, entering data, and attending in-home assessments with AAMOW social workers.
Grant Opportunities
Application Deadline: Tuesday, November 16 by 8:00 PM EDT
Brief DescriptionThe CLS Program is an intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program for American students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. Students spend eight to ten weeks abroad studying one of 15 critical languages. The program includes intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences designed to promote rapid language gains. This opportunity would be appropriate for 20-month SSW students and possibly dual degree students. 
Application Deadline: Thursday, December 30 at 5:00 PM EDT
Brief DescriptionBlakemore Freeman Fellowships are awarded for one academic year of full-time, intensive language study of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Khmer or Burmese at the advanced level in approved language programs in East or Southeast Asia. Applicants must be American citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
Deadline: Rolling
Brief Description: Subject to availability of funding, awards will be made to faculty, students, and staff presenting Africa-focused papers or serving as chairs or discussants for Africa-focused sessions at regional, national, or international conferences. Priority is given to applicants who have not received prior ASC funding and to projects focused on Sub-Saharan Africa.
Deadline: Rolling
Brief Description: The International Center offers a grant opportunity to help student organizations and University departments recognize the diversity of the U-M international student population through special events and programming. Organizations and departments should apply at least 14 days in advance of their event (the earlier, the better). Grants amounts will vary based on the submitted budget and the availability of funds.
Deadline: Rolling
Brief Description: The U.S. Department of Education provides a variety of grant opportunities. Eligibility, funding amounts, and deadlines vary.
Resources
Global Impact: News Story of the Week
*All news stories presented are likely to include bias. Please be aware of this as you read the article. If interested, we encourage you to read further about the topic at your own discretion.

"Almost four decades ago he traveled to The Gambia and decided to focus his research on malaria. Since 2014 he leads the WHO Global Malaria Programme... When Pedro Alonso began studying medicine at the Autonomous University of Madrid, he did not imagine that his role would be key years later, in the news that the World Health Organization (WHO) has made public this week: the approval for the first time in history of the widespread use of a vaccine against malaria."
To find previous OGA Newsletter volumes, click the OGA Newsletter Archive.
Email ssw.oga@umich.edu if you have any questions.