Human Rights Day is observed every year on December 10, the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The UDHR is a document that proclaims the inalienable rights which everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Available in more than 500 languages, it is the most translated document in the world.

This year’s Human Rights Day theme, "Recover Better," focuses on the need to ensure that human rights are central to all efforts to rebuild global systems and economies in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, applying human rights standards to tackle entrenched, systematic, and intergenerational inequalities, exclusion and discrimination.

Tonight at sundown, the Jewish members of our community will celebrate the first of the eight nights of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights.

In Hebrew, Chanukah means “dedication,” referring to the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple in the 2nd century BCE after the Jews’ successful uprising against Greek occupation.

The Talmud tells the story of a miraculous vial of oil which lit the Menorah (Temple candelabra) for eight straight nights until more could be obtained, though it was only enough oil for one night. The holiday is observed with special prayers, eating foods fried in oil, lighting the candles of the hanukkiah, giving gifts, and other traditions symbolizing joy, light and hope.

WishingChag Urim Sameach to all who will be

celebrating the holiday in the coming week!

The DEI division will sponsor a virtual "Grab & Go Joy" program on Wednesday, Dec. 16. This is a brief, simple opportunity for us to gather to learn, share and practice skills for finding joy and building resilience to keep us in the long work of social change for equity and inclusion. Open to students, faculty and staff.

The DEI division is delighted to announce a second Community Book Read of the book The Person You Mean to Be: How Good People Fight Bias, by Dolly Chugh. 

All participants who register by the end of December will receive an e-book which is theirs to keep. Click below to register.

Dr. Chugh is an award-winning psychologist and faculty member at the Stern School of Business at New York University who studies how and why most of us, however well-intended, are still prone to racial and gender bias. The book provides a practical guide for how, as individuals, we can move past personal barriers to become active builders for the systematic work of diversity, equity, and inclusion, including racial injustice.

The community book read is open to all staff, full-time and part-time faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, alumni and board members.

The book discussion group will meet virtually over Zoom on January 8, 15, and 22 from 12- 1 pm.

Coming up in January 2021, the DEI Division is honored to welcome Dolly Chugh, Ph.D., for a virtual "fireside chat" in conversation with Dr. Tiffany Galvin Green, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Dolly Chugh is an internationally recognized social psychologist and TED speaker and is the author of the book The Person You Mean to Be: How Good People Fight Bias, which was our Summer 2020 Community Book Read selection. She is an Associate Professor in the Management and Organizations Department at New York University Stern School of Business. She has been named one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics by Ethisphere magazine.

This program is open to students, staff, faculty and alumni. Registration will open in January.

Faculty members: if you want to consider incorporating Dr. Chugh's work into your spring semester syllabus in advance of this event, we can help you with materials! Please contact [email protected] for details.

Undergraduate and graduate students often ask how they can contribute to the work of diversity, equity and inclusion on campus. One concrete way to contribute this year is to complete both parts of the online educational module “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Students." This training is designed by EverFi and is being offered to all students through the efforts of the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion.

As a community, we grow stronger as we learn more about how to best create inclusive spaces through opportunities like this training. In this course, students will:

Trying to figure out how to raise the difficult topic of holiday plans in this unusual year? Wondering how to engage in meaningful, civil dialogue about issues of equity and justice with that difficult family member over the holiday dinner table (or, more likely, in the family Zoom call)? Do you want to speak up, but afraid the only way to keep the peace is by staying silent?

Just in time for the holidays, Dr. Tiffany Galvin Green has created two "pocket guides" with tips on navigating difficult conversations with family and friends. Click below to download!

Are you interested in learning more about ethnicity and race around the world? Campus Ministry is teaming up with Dr. Aaryn Green from CSDI for a virtual immersion this May. Applications are due by this weekend!

The immersion will be held for 5 days with two 1.5 hour sessions per day, each with a different global partner. Typically there is a 1.5 hour session in the morning and 1.5 hours in the afternoon. We begin after Graduation, Monday May 24- 28^th.  We hope you consider joining us as we set out to learn more about how race, caste, colorism and equity look around the globe! Cost: $25.  (In the case of financial hardship, please write Anne, contact below.) Applications due Dec. 13, 2020.

You will hear back from us by Dec. 18th so that you have time over Winter Break to read some excerpts from Caste by Isabel Wilkerson.

There is an optional 1 credit class you can take with the immersion. Please register for AR 160 if you are interested. Our program partner is International Partners in Mission (IPM): https://ipmconnect.org/

Contact Anne, [email protected] with any questions.