Connective Issues: A UMass Chan diversity and inclusion blog
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Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Gratitude and commitment: Reflecting on our shared mission
Marlina Duncan, EdD, vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion, reminds the UMass Chan community that our diversity is central to our mission.
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, Marlina Duncan
Friday, September 20, 2024
My diversity perspective: salsa music
he Diversity and Inclusion Office, in collaboration with the Latino Medical Student Association, the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science and Happy Feet, is planning a vibrant celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month on Thursday, Oct. 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Albert Sherman Center multipurpose room. The event will honor the rich traditions and contributions of the Latinx community through an exciting evening of salsa and bachata lessons, cultural games and activities that showcase the lively spirit of Latinx culture and reflect the resilience, resistance and strength of the Latinx community. In advance of the event, read one community member’s reflection on salsa music, below.
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, Candice Brown
Tuesday, September 03, 2024
Centering the Margins speaker series to focus on disability inclusion
This academic year, the Diversity and Inclusion Office will address the ways diversity, equity and inclusion and disability can positively intersect by focusing its speaker series, Centering the Margins, on the theme, “Advancing Accessibility and Inclusion in Health Care for People with Disabilities.” The series will kick off on Sept. 25 at noon online, with the topic “Going beyond the basics: Successful communication between health care professionals and patients who are deaf, late deafened or hard of hearing.” Members of the UMass Chan community are encouraged to attend.
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, Janjay Innis
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Why events that center underrepresented students matter
Tailored orientations like UMass Chan’s Inclusive Excellence Orientation, held for students historically underrepresented in medicine, are necessary because they remind students that they belong and gives them an opportunity to meet people who will be part of their network and sphere of influence.
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, Janjay Innis
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
The work of Pride continues
Pride is a vibrant and empowering celebration of diversity, inclusion and acceptance. However, we gather today at a time of both celebration and deep concern. While Pride serves as a powerful reminder of the LGBTQ+ community’s achievements and resilience, it also highlights the ongoing struggles they face
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, Jorge Sanchez
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Why environmental justice is the business of the health care community
The environmental justice movement began alongside the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Led by people of color, particularly Black people, the movement sought to bring attention to the lack of environmental protections in communities of color.
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, Janjay Innis
Wednesday, March 06, 2024
Pronouns: Honoring identity and fostering inclusion
Misgendering, the act of using incorrect pronouns, can have profound negative consequences. When someone is consistently referred to by pronouns that align with their gender identity, it conveys a sense of acceptance and belonging, fostering a safe and inclusive environment.
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, Jorge Sanchez
Tuesday, January 09, 2024
Martin Luther King Jr. Day call for acts of service as means of celebration
UMass Chan offers multiple opportunities to engage in service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.
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, Janjay Innis
Tuesday, December 05, 2023
Pipeline programs essential to results for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts
Pipeline Programs aid in diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracism
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, Janjay Innis
Friday, December 01, 2023
UMass Chan community reflects on the war in the Middle East
This newsletter was created by our Diversity and Inclusion Office to serve as a platform for the often-unheard voices of individuals living in the margins whose stories are integral to our shared human experience and align with the values and mission of our institution. In this special issue, we seek to do just that by focusing on a story of great breadth and timeliness: the crisis in Israel and Palestine. Through the powerful voices of our community, we aim to shed light on the diverse and nuanced ways individuals within our community have been shaped and transformed because of this long and ongoing crisis.