Dear Community,

I am pleased to celebrate the first anniversary of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Newsletter, an idea conceived at the School’s Social Justice Praxis Committee. The newsletter is a reflective resource for self and community growth at Silver. Above all, the newsletter challenges us to move beyond color-blind ideology, policies, and practices to build capacity to embed transparency, accountability, trust, and community into our social justice-focused mission. The newsletter is an extension of our values, pillars, and professional ethics that guide us in the service of the community. I extend my gratitude and appreciation to Liz Galimore, Lily Vidal, Jayson Vivas, and the Communications Team (Chris, Laura, and Kate) for their tireless efforts to curate and share DEI resources with Silver. We hope future newsletters will create space to learn and grow in our anti-oppressive practices. 

I encourage you to learn about and celebrate the year of the Tiger and Black History Month’s 2022 national theme of Black Health and Wellness. Also attend "Giving Space: Spotlighting Black Males Who Operate In and Beyond the Academy". Above all, let us acknowledge the tragic deaths of Amir Locke and Michelle Go as we recommit to ending racism, oppression, poverty, and the stigma of mental illness at the heart of our anti-violence movement.

May this newsletter inspire the acquisition of knowledge and the wisdom of creating new practices that will transform the self, community, and society as we advance social justice.

Sincerely,

Richeleen Dashield
Director, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

How, when, and to whom are we communicating important information? Are we only communicating when it is easy or also when it is not?

White Accountability Group Mission
The goal of WAG is to provide a space for white students at the Silver School of Social Work to dismantle patterns of racism and injustice within themselves with the intention of transforming their broader school, workplaces, and personal communities. Using Layla Saad’s “Me and White Supremacy” book and journal as a guide, students identify, examine, and challenge the ways in which they both perpetuate and experience privilege from white supremacy.

Members of this group are committed to the process of unlearning racism at its root and will take an active role in undoing, resisting, and transgressing against whiteness. We strive to create a space that engenders openness AND accountability, while working towards a shared goal of collective liberation.

What is the commitment?
Every member is responsible for buying, renting, or downloading the book and accompanying journal: “Me and White Supremacy” by Layla Saad. During the first meeting, you will meet with a member of a previously formed WAG, so that any related questions can be answered. You will individually read and reflect on a chapter of the book (about an hour every two weeks). Then, every other week, we will meet for 90 minutes via zoom to discuss one “Day” or chapter of the book, using the journal questions as a guide for group discussions. 

What do we discuss in the group?
We discuss personal experiences related to upholding white supremacy, guided by the journal questions in the book. We will create a space that invites vulnerability, shared accountability, and sitting with the discomfort intrinsic to dismantling white supremacy. 

How are the group discussions structured?
Everyone participates in both setting and adhering to ground rules, such as confidentiality. WAG uses a horizontal and collaborative group model—there is no identified leader or moderator. 

If you are a White-identifying student and interested in joining WAG, please fill out our survey with your availability to attend meetings and contact information.

How are we following through on our responsibility to antiracism? What actions are we taking to ensure all members of the Silver community are protected against bias?

February 16, 6:00 PM EST
NYU Steinhart is hosting a virtual community conversation on the inequitable schooling experiences of Black girls. Community members, youth, educators, and families are invited to share their stories about how being a Black girl has impacted their experiences in school.

The Offices of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Inclusive Engagement and Student Life; and Undergraduate Programs are pleased to invite Silver undergraduate and master level students to be a part of the inaugural student cohort of restorative justice (RJ) practitioners. 

The RJ training program will focus on: restorative self-mindset, restorative community approach, and restorative change agents. The RJ training program includes 4-virtual sessions from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM on March 11, March 25, April 1, and May 6.  The series will be facilitated by the University of San Diego Center for Restorative Justice. 

All eligible students are encouraged to apply. If you have any questions, contact silver.dei@nyu.edu.

How are we creating an environment for healing and working together? Are we resisting isolation and allowing ourselves to be seen?

February 16, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM EST
Professor of history, Dr. Kealani Cook of University of Hawai’i West O’ahu will be moderating the conversation, New Books in Native & Indigenous Studies, hosted by the Asian/Pacific/American Institute at NYU and NYU Native Studies Forum. This discussion panel will engage scholarly authors, Julian Aguon, Maile Arvin, and Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio, on their latest writings that reflect on the real-life issues affecting indegenous Polynesians.

Mindfulness and Self Care for Social Workers is a workshop co-hosted by the Graduate Indian Student Organization and Repose, a holistic psychotherapy practice in NYC. A licensed clinician from Repose will be facilitating a session on the practice of mindfulness and its importance for social workers.

How are we holding each other accountable for antiracism?

The Washington University of St. Louis Brown School kicked off Black History Month with an examination of “professionalism”. The term has often been used to marginalize Black and Brown people due to their appearance, cadence, language, and interaction styles–all of which are not indicators of their skills, intelligence, and ability to form meaningful industrial and collegiate networks. Watch the discussion featuring Assistant Deans, Jewel D. Stanford and Cynthia D. Williams.

February 15, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST
NYU Law is hosting an event with University of Pennsylvania Professor Katy Milkman, who will be discussing her research on DEI in the workplace with Professor Kenji Yoshino, Director of DEI at NYU Law.

Due to the recent increase in anti-Asian hate crimes, The University of Michigan’s National Center for Institutional Diversity and The Steve Fund partnered to brainstorm ways to better support the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in higher education settings. The following article proposes inclusive recommendations as well as key facts that relate to this particular demographic.

On January 18, The W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) campaign hosted their annual National Day of Racial Healing event. TRHT is a national and community-based process with the goal of bringing about transformational systemic change and addressing the present-day consequences of historical racism. The foundation provided an action kit and conversation guide to assist individuals and groups interested in continuing this conversation.

If you have antiracism resources you would like to share for the next edition of the newsletter we have limited spots available. Please email silver.DEI@nyu.edu with the subject "DEI Newsletter Submission."