Diversity and Inclusion

Upstander Training prepares participants to intervene safely and effectively when witnessing incidents of discrimination, harassment, or harm. You’ll engage with real-life scenarios to learn how to effectively identify and challenge negative narratives and behaviors.

Facilitators from Common Talks will provide an interactive training via Zoom on Friday January 15, 2021 from 1-5 p.m.

There is no charge to participate and training is open to the public. Space is limited, though, so please RSVP: cindy.j.pickart@lawrence.edu

Please join us for a community book read of Kiese Laymon’s book Heavy: An American Memoir on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan 18th, 2021 from 10-11 AM. Students, staff, and faculty volunteers will lead a discussion on this compelling work. Kiese Laymon will join us virtually for the winter convocation on January 28th entitled: “The Radical Possibility and Democratic Necessity of Navel Gazing,” Kiese Laymon, author and Hubert H. McAlexander Professor of English and Creative Writing, University of Mississippi”.  

To register and request your free eBook of Heavy: An American Memoir, please fill out the information at the following link by Nov 25th: https://forms.gle/Diqc1cS2nsoFhfbLA 

Thank you,  

Public Events Committee and the Diversity and Intercultural Center 

The President’s Committee on Diversity Affairs (PCDA) has designated November Loving Large at Lawrence Month. They have developed a calendar of activities to help us use the positive emotions associated with love to cope with and work through the trauma of this unprecedented period in which we live. These activities can also help us celebrate our common humanity and connect with others during these divisive times.  

Barbara Fredrickson, the Kenan Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has conducted award winning research that indicates that self-generated positive emotions have an “undoing effect” on stress. Although negative emotions, like anger and outrage are essential to creativity and flourishing, no emotion is meant to last forever. 

A key to well-being is to keep positive and negative emotions in a healthy balance, whether you consider yourself an activist trying to avoid burnout or simply someone trying to live a fulfilling life. Loving Large at Lawrence month provides opportunities for us to practice generating positive emotions to help us find that balance in these challenging times by showing love to ourselves and others.  

Earn a free t-shirt

Let us know how you are Loving Large at Lawrence and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion will give you a free blue and white tie dye Loving Large at Lawrence t-shirt. Here is how: Tag the Diversity and Inclusion Facebook page with the hashtag #LovingLargeAtLawrence. 

Check out the Loving Large at Lawrence Month Calendar of Events and Practices .

Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which is Oct 12, has become a vital part of the Lawrence Community. Currently 11 states, 3 territories, 7 counties, 135 cities,, and 14 college campuses officially recognize and celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day. So too has Lawrence benefited from the diligence and hard work of LUNA (Lawrence University Native Americans) students to produce a wonderful celebration of for Indigenous Peoples’ Day every year, creating a space not only of education, but also of community. This year due to COVID-19 we will be moving our celebration online in the form of a video about Indigenous Peoples’ Day and it’s importance. Please celebrate with us by watching our Indigenous Peoples’ Day video which can be found on the Diversity and Intercultural Center’s Upcoming Virtual Events page at this link: https://www.lawrence.edu/students/diversity/events- on Monday. We ask that when viewing the video please dedicate the few minutes to fully enjoying the video and celebrating with us.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Diversity and Intercultural Center invite members of the Lawrence University community to join Appleton City Officials in a conversation about safety in the City. The goal of the event is to help Lawrentians learn about resources in the City that are available to support their safety and wellbeing. In addition, they will hear about local diversity, inclusion, and antiracism initiatives. This panel discussion will take place on October 29 from 7:00pm-8:30pm via Zoom. 

Panelists include:
Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford
Appleton Police Chief Todd Thomas
Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Karen Nelson

Moderator: Dr. Brittany Bell
Assistant Dean of Students and the Director of the Diversity and Intercultural Center

To receive information about how to join and submit questions, contact Cindy Pickart cindy.j.pickart@lawrence.edu.

Understanding Polarization

Please, join us for the upcoming webinar, Understanding Polarization, on September 29. Ideological polarization is a central feature of politics today. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, those who support Donald Trump and those who plan to vote for Joe Biden for President of the United States are more divided today than they were in 2016 particularly on issues related to race and gender. Our webinar panel will discuss the causes of polarization in a society and what we can do to diminish this divisiveness in the Lawrence community.

The panelists for this lecture are:
Ameya S. Balsekar, Associate Professor of Government
Peter Glick, Henry Merritt Wriston Professor of the Social Sciences, Psychology
Arnold Shober, Professor of Government
Terra Winston, Associate Dean of Spiritual & Religious Life

This live webinar will take place on Tuesday, September 29 at 6:00 pm. Although we will take questions during the event, please feel free to submit them ahead of time. To receive information about how to join and submit questions, contact
Cindy Pickart cindy.j.pickart@lawrence.edu.

We hope to see you there.

Kimberly Barrett, Ph.D.
Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
and Associate Dean of the Faculty
Lawrence University

The Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Kimberly Barrett, will continue to provide opportunities for students to meet with her via Zoom. Dates and times are listed below:

4:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Please, contact Cindy Pickart, cindy.j.pickart@lawrence.edu for an appointment and zoom link information. Individual meetings will occur on a first come, first served basis.

Upstander Training prepares participants to intervene safely and appropriately when witnessing incidents of discrimination, harassment, or harm. You’ll engage with real-life scenarios to learn how to effectively identify and challenge negative narratives and behaviors.

Facilitators from Common Talks will provide an interactive training via Zoom on Friday August 7, 2020 from 1-4 p.m.

This free training is open to the public. Space is limited, though, so please RSVP:
cindy.j.pickart@lawrence.edu