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VOICES
November & December 2023
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Welcome to VOICES, a monthly newsletter from the Office of Diversity & Inclusion. Our office works closely with academic and administrative departments to further our efforts to create an affirming and respectful climate for all members of our community. We are a stronger community when we can actively listen and learn from those around us who may have different religious and political views, cultural perspectives, or philosophical thoughts. You are invited to view our website at http://www.wm.edu/diversity for additional information on the programs and services offered by the office. We look forward to working together to advance a culture of inclusive excellence at William & Mary. If you have upcoming programs or events you would like to share, please send it to wmdiversity@wm.edu to be published quarterly.
- Chon Glover
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Office of Diversity & Inclusion | |
Art Therapy Lunch & Learn
On November 2, the Office of Diversity & Inclusion hosted its final Lunch & Learn of the semester, Art Therapy with Sarah Balascio, where attendees had the opportunity to learn about art therapy as a wellness practice and participate by creatively expressing their identity on canvas. Thank you to all who attended and please be on the lookout for future events in the new year! Our next Lunch & Learn of the series will be presented by the Studio for Teaching & Learning Innovation, please be sure to register if you would like to attend, we look forward to seeing you there!
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November 2023
National & Religious Holidays
and Cultural Celebrations
National Native American Heritage Month
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12 Diwali
26 Day of the Covenant
11 Veterans Day
23 Thanksgiving
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November is National Native
American Heritage Month
- In 1976 President Ford proclaimed a week in October as “Native American Awareness Week.” Since then, the President and Congress have observed a day, a week, or a month each year in honor of the American Indian and Alaska Native peoples
- In August of 1990, President Busch approved the designation of November as National American Indian Heritage Month. Each year a similar proclamation is issued.
- President Clinton noted in 1996, "Throughout our history, American Indian and Alaska Native peoples have been an integral part of the American character. Against all odds, America's first peoples have endured, and they remain a vital cultural, political, social, and moral presence."
- The holiday recognizes hundreds of different tribes and approximately 250 languages, and celebrates the history, tradition, and values of American Indians.
- National American Indian Heritage Month serves as a reminder of the positive effect native people have had on the cultural development and growth of the United States, as well as the struggles and challenges they have faced.
Information from National Archives and Partnership with Native Americans
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What is Diwali?
- Diwali (also called Divali or Deepavali) is a “festival of lights” that celebrates the triumph of light over dark, good over evil, and the blessings of victory, freedom, and enlightenment. The name comes from Sanksrit dipavali, meaning “row of lights.” On the night of Diwali, celebrants light dozens of candles and clay lamps (called diyas), placing them throughout their homes and in the streets to light up the dark night.
- In most of India, Diwali consists of a five-day celebration that peaks on the third day with the main celebration of Diwali. In other places where Diwali occurs, only the main day is usually celebrated.
- Diwali’s significance is recognized not only across the globe but also across religious traditions. For Jains, Diwali is the day Mahavira, the 24th and last Tirthankara (the spiritual teachers of the Jain religion), attained moksha, or liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth. Sikhs acknowledge Diwali as the day Mughal Emperor Jehangir released Guru Hargobind, the sixth guru of the Sikh tradition, from prison. And Buddhists honor Diwali as Ashok Vijayadashami, the day the Indian Emperor Ashoka accepted Buddhism as his faith.
Information from Farmers Almanac and hinduamerican.org
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December 2023
National & Religious Holidays
and Cultural Celebrations
Universal Human Rights Month
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19-26 Hanukkah
21 Yule / Winter Solstice (Northern Hemisphere)
25 Christmas
26-Jan.1 Kwanzaa
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December is
Universal Human Rights Month
"In December, we celebrate Universal Human Rights Month, which honors the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), an international document adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 10, 1948. The Universal Declaration states basic rights and fundamental freedoms to which all human beings are entitled. Many of these rights are ones we, as Americans, may take for granted, including freedom from discrimination, the right to equality, and the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty. But some have raised questions among my students, including freedom from torture and degrading treatment and the right to recognition as a person before the law. These are tough conversations, but they are also important conversations. And spending time with the content over the course of a month can allow for richer conversations and deeper understandings among your students."
- Matthew Winner
Information from Matthew Winner at Demco
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Accepting Nominations for Inclusive Excellence Champions!
Do you know someone who has led creative and innovation programming in diversity and inclusion on campus? The Office of Diversity & Inclusion is accepting nominations for diversity related efforts and programs. Please complete the nomination form here.
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W&M Athletics Participates in 6th Annual D&I Social Media Campaign
The NCAA Office of inclusion, Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee and the national Student-Athlete Advisory Committees (SAAC) held the sixth annual Diversity and Inclusion Social Media Campaign. The three-day campaign was an opportunity for student-athletes, administrators, coaches, and fans across the country to create a dialogue surrounding diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through social media platforms.
This year's themes were:
- Day 1 – “Understanding the Why”
- Day 2 – “I Belong Because…”
- Day 3 – “A Shared Responsibility”
Please feel free to check out the attached campaign videos!
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World Hunger Day Food Drive
The School of Education hosted its annual Food Drive in honor of World Hunger Day (10/16). The School of Education collected 332 food items plus another $130 all donated to food pantries helping to fight food insecurities within the local community.
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Submitted by: Leandra Parris, School of Education | |
Coco in the Courtyard
To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, the School of Education Office of Diversity & Inclusion hosted a viewing of Coco in the SOE courtyard, which included refreshments and resources for increasing awareness of Hispanic Heritage Month. Based on this year’s success, we plan to host more outdoor movie viewing opportunities to relax and enjoy entertainment together, so keep an eye out!
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On November 8 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm, the School of Education will host a virtual training given by Dr. Brittany Hunt to help increase awareness and skill in supporting Indigenous youth and communities. Please register here.
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The School of Education Office of Diversity and Inclusion is hosting a Book Read Group of The Black Flamingo during the first half of the month of December. There will be asynchronous and synchronous virtual options for participating. Those interested in participating can register here | | |
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Community Education Panel
On October 16th, the School of Education partnered with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, Lambda Lambda Omega Chapter and Williamsburg Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., to host a panel discussion of Critical Race Theory. Panelists included Dr. Jamel Donnor, Dr. Janise Parker, and Dr. Leandra Parris, who discussed the basic tenants of CRT and answer community members’ questions regarding its role in understanding educational experiences. This hybrid event was attended by over 100 diverse community members and will hopefully lead to further collaborations to increase awareness of educational issues within the community.
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Lemon Project Genealogy Roundtable
The roundtable is a collaboration of genealogists and family historians at all levels of expertise. The session will focus on slavery and post-emancipation eras. Of course, genealogical research leads us down many paths and places, but ties to Virginia are the focus of this group. The Lemon Project Genealogy Initiative focuses on finding descendants of people enslaved by William & Mary. During this session, we hope to connect with people who have ties to W&M pre- and post-Emancipation. Register here to participate.
Thursday, November 16 and
Thursday, December 14
6:00 - 7:00 pm
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Center for Student Diversity | |
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Join Us! Annual Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration
The Center for Student Diversity will be hosting the annual Pre-Kwanzaa celebration on December 1 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm in Sadler Center, Chesapeake BC. Pre-Kwanzaa commemorates the African-American holiday of Kwanzaa with student performances, food and a recitation of the seven principles. Faculty and staff are welcome to attend. We ask that all attendees RSVP using the link.
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Brown Table Talk:
Wellness for Minority Women
Brown Table Talk is a space for women of color to speak their truth and share their experiences. An exchange of dialogue within a JUDGEMENT FREE ZONE. Our next Brown Table Talk meeting will be led by local fitness instructor Tasha Turnbell, the CEO of T2 Fitness. She'll be discussing how she got into the fitness field, unpacking why wellness practices may feel difficult for minority women, and leading us in a 20 minute exercise session. Please wear athletic clothing and as always, dinner will be served. The event will occur on Tuesday, November 14 at 6:00 pm in room 162 Phi Beta Kappa Hall.
We hope to see you there!
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Mental Health Mondays
at the CSD
The Center for Student Diversity hosts monthly conversations concerning mental health in partnership with The Counseling Center. The last Mental Health Monday of the semester will be held on Monday, November 13 in the Center for Student Diversity conference room (Sadler Center, 268-P) from 12-1pm. In preparation for finals and the holiday season, this month’s topic will be Time-Limited and Cost-Efficient Self-Care.
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The Barbershop
The Barbershop, in partnership with the Black Male Collective (formerly known as the African-American Male Coalition) will host its final two meetings of the semester on Nov. 10 from 4-5pm in Tidewater and Dec. 1 from 3:30-4:30, location TBA. The Barbershop is a space for men of color to commune and discuss issues relevant to the community.
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Social Justice by Faith: NYC
The Center for Student Diversity will be traveling with a group of students to New York City on Nov. 4-5 to visit historical sites pivotal in honoring the civil rights of the LGBTQ+ community. The sites will include a visit to the historical Stonewall Monument and Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art and the Lips NYC Drag Show.
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Rosh Hashanah Celebration
On September 18, the School of Business held an event in recognition of Jewish students, employees, and community members that participate in Rosh Hashanah and invited others to learn more about the holiday and its meaning. Rosh Hashanah is the celebration of the Jewish New Year. The event consisted of apple and honey dipping; sliced apples served with a dish of honey are used to represent a sweet New Year.
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Papel Picado in Recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month
As part of the Mason School of Business' Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, we hung papel picado, a traditional Mexican decorative craft, in the atrium of Miller Hall in recognition of those in the Hispanic community who use the decorations in their customs.
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School of Business Offers Green Zone Training
In November, the Mason School of Business is offering Green Zone training to faculty and staff to provide ideas on how to best support our Military students and employees, both veteran and current. Jonathan "JD" Due and Charlie Foster will be leading the training.
Register here
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Student Unions & Engagement | |
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Refractions - Student Reflections on
LGBTQ+ Life
We hope you got a chance to stop by The Hart Gallery (main floor of Sadler) to view the current exhibition! The show is called “Refractions: Student Reflections on LGBTQ+ Life” and was curated and installed by our current intern – Faith Ronquest (’24). The exhibit made its home in the Gallery through the month of October.
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Do you have news or an event that you would like us to share?
Send your information to wmdiversity@wm.edu .
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