Diversity and Inclusion

On February 1^st, Dr. Kimberly Barrett will send an email with the subject line, “Members of the Lawrence community: Share your perspective on the campus climate for diversity and equity,” inviting you to participate in the HEDS Diversity and Equity Campus Climate Survey.

In this survey, we will ask about your perceptions of Lawrence’s climate and support of diversity and equity, as well as your experiences with discrimination and harassment. We hope that every member of our community will participate in this important survey, regardless of whether or not you have experienced discrimination or harassment at Lawrence. The survey will remain open until March 1st.

The survey is being administered by HEDS, an independent organization, and your responses will be anonymous to Lawrence. We will only receive data in which any survey information that might identify you has been removed. Participation in the HEDS Survey will enable comparison of results across universities, which will be a new opportunity for us to better understand the data.

Your input is essential!

To that end, if at least 300 students and employees complete the survey, 25¢ for each completed survey will be donated to the campus food pantry. If at least 600 students and employees complete the survey, 50¢ for each completed survey will be donated to the campus food pantry, which IF WE ALL PARTICIPATE could result in a total donation over $1000!

The Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Kimberly Barrett, will continue to provide opportunities for students to meet with her via Zoom. The next date is Friday, January 22 at 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.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the History Museum at the Castle invite members of the Lawrence University community to join us for the next Cultural Competency Lecture.  It takes place on January 19, 2021, 4:00pm-5:30pm via ZOOM. This lecture will use the Living Room Conversations format. The topic will be:

Bridging the GAP

This community conversation is based on the History Museum at the Castle’s “Bridging the GAP Years, 1969-2019” exhibit on display at the Warch Center January 11 to January 31, 2021. The following is a link to the Museum’s virtual exhibit offerings: http://www.myhistorymuseum.org/virtual-exhibits.html.

Moderator: Dustin Mack, PhD
Chief Curator
History Museum at the Castle

To receive information about how to join the discussion, contact Cindy Pickart
cindy.j.pickart@lawrence.edu.

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.