Insight on DIVERSITY Rhonda Y
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Social Justice Institute Case Western Reserve University Social Justic Think Tank Four plenary sessions, one on Friday evening and three others which will run consecutively on Sat- Office of Inclusion, Diversity & Equal Opportunity Insight on DIVERSITY Rhonda Y. Williams urday, will examine the countless ways that injus- issue no. 4 Director of the Social Justice Institute tice is manifested through the historic and ongo- The Official Newsletter of the Office of ing profiling of racial and ethnic communities, and 10900 Euclid Avenue provide a forum for discussing lessons learned, as Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity fall/winter well as methods for challenging such injustices – Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7048 Charles J. Ogletree with whether through research, policy, advocacy and the Social Justice Institute social protest, or art. 2010 Case Western Reserve University’s new Social Justice Institute is • History Makers: Ms. Xernona Clayton formerly of From The VP about “understanding and addressing the root causes of social in- the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, au- justice and developing innovative solutions,” according to Rhonda Y. thor of I’ve Been Marching All the Time, and found- Progress on The Diversity Front Williams, the Institute’s founding director and also associate profes- er and president of Trumpet Awards Foundation; sor of history at CWRU. and CWRU alumnus Donald Freeman, founding To develop new insights on critical social justice issues that have member of the Revolutionary Action Movement, The beginning of the new academic year has been a commanded the past and continue to shape the present, the univer- education activist, and former director of League time of progress on the diversity front at Case West- sity Institute will host the two-day “Social Justice, Race and Profil- Park Community Center. ern Reserve University. Given that our commitment to inclusive excellence pertains both to local—that ing: An Intergenerational Think Tank” on November 19 and 20 on the • Immigration: Chandra Bhatnagar with the AC- Case Western Reserve University campus. is, domestic—and global diversity, our University LU’s Human Rights Program; Veronica Dahlberg made two obvious forms of progress. We became a The Social Justice Institute and its alliance-based initiatives are an who is the executive director of HOLA; and John more diverse campus in terms of underrepresented integral part of the university’s five-year strategic plan called For- Flores, assistant professor of Chicano/social jus- minorities and we had our first international orien- ward Thinking. It has support with seed funding from the Provost’s tice history at CWRU. tation to welcome students from around the world. Interdisciplinary Alliance Investment Grant to advance education, re- As we continue to tell the story of this University, Charles J. Ogletree J.D. speaking to a • Criminal Justice: Heather A. Thompson, author standing room only audience. search and community engagement, as well as to inspire the investi- of the forthcoming Attica: Race, Rebellion and the these two developments must be included. gation of and develop solutions to societal problems. Under Williams’ Rise of Law and Order in America and associate In this issue of Insight on Diversity, we have in- • Our first guest lecturer for our directorship, a leadership team of 12 members, including faculty and professor of history at Temple University; Ed Lit- respected spiritual leaders from cluded more information about these two devel- Power of Diversity Series Charles a variety Minh-Triof religious Nguyen greetstraditions. staff who represent schools and centers from across campus, are tle, Cuyahoga County criminal justice and re-entry working together to advance the Institute’s work. opments and we have other news as well, such as J. Ogletree J.D. spoke to a standing Tom Matthews, PhD. consultant; and Lewis Katz, professor of law at the new Social Justice Institute, led by Social Justice room only audience about “Why Di- • The number of underrepresented Case Western Reserve. versity Matters in the Obama Era”. minority entering freshmen is up Campus leaders will work on and off campus to support innovative Alliance leader, Dr. Rhonda Y. Williams. The work The lecture was followed by a book from 6.6% in 2009 to currently 10%. and synergistic research, scholarship and pedagogy; build support of this alliance, the partnership with East Cleveland signing. Check out our webpage for a • Redlining to Housing Foreclosure: Gregory D. video of the lecture when it becomes • International graduate and under- for social justice; and forge productive relationships across boundar- Squires professor of sociology and public admin- on projects begun through MSASS, and the upcom- ies within the university and with the broader community. available at www.case.edu/diversity. graduate students at CWRU have istration, George Washington University; Claudia ing Charles S. Johnson Race Relations Think Tank increased from 1,188 in 2008 to cur- are all examples of progress on the diversity front. The think tank, which is sponsored in the spirit of Fisk University’s Coulton, Lillian Harris Professor of Urban Social • Award winning surgeon and di- rently 1,486, which is a 3 % increase. Research and co-director of the Center of Urban Moreover, building on the words of CWRU alum, Ja- versity professional Dr. Edward M. Charles S. Johnson Race Relations Institute, is one way to bring peo- son Balkman, whose Diversity Achievement award Barksdale kicked-off our Power of • The first International Student ple together to start the conversation, Williams said. Poverty and Community Development at the Man- Diversity Faculty Lectures series, Orientation Program began in Au- del School of Applied Social Sciences, CWRU; An- speech reminded us of the impact diversity work with a lecture about his experi- gust. The program was developed Some highlights of the Social Justice Institute’s think tank include: thony Houston, program manager for economic can have over time, the Office of Inclusion Diver- ences with diversity and inequi- to assist first year international development, City of East Cleveland, Ohio. sity and Equal Opportunity established the Power ties within the health care system. students with their acclimation •“An Intergenerational Evening of Art & Justice,” featuring a special of Diversity Lecture Series. The series includes four to the campus and to provide re- of our own dynamic scholars and faculty members, • The play “Sit In at the Five & Dime” sources to help their transition. presentation by Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, singer, composer, cul- The conference is free and open to the public, but Contact Us! was presented in partnership with tural historian, and freedom and justice activist for nearly half a cen- space is limited and registration is required. Tick- Visitors and Deliveries: a concert reading that is a tribute to the Case-Fisk the President’s Advisory Council on • CWRU’s first “Train the Champion” tury. Dr. Reagon will present on Saturday evening, “1960s freedom ets for Dr. Reagon and Kitwana are $25 for indi- Phone: 216.368.8877 Adelbert Hall, Suite 315 partnership and two nationally known thought Minorities (PACM) in celebration of program will be launched soon. The songs with commentary,” at the Church of the Covenant. Doors open viduals and $50 for patrons. Call 216-368-2904 or leaders—Professor Charles J. Ogletree, Jr, from the CWRU’s partnership with Fisk Uni- eight month program will provide at 6:30 p.m. Following her special presentation, Dr. Reagon and Hip- visit the program website for more information, Harvard University School of Law and Dr. Julianne versity. The musical is based on the educational opportunities for CWRU’s Fax: 216.368.8878 Nashville sit-ins of 1959, which in- faculty and staff to dialogue on is- Hop cultural critic Bakari Kitwana will engage in a dialogue. tickets, and to register: Malveaux, President of Bennett College for Women. cluded students from Fisk University. sues of diversity and inclusion. The We expect all of these events to inspire dialogue on program will include the opportunity • Prof. John A. Powell, Director of Ohio State University’s Kirwan In- http://case.edu/socialjustice/events/think-tank. www.case.edu.diversity the subject of inclusion, diversity, and community. • CWRU’S LGBT Center had its for participants to develop diversi- stitute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, will give the keynote lunch html grand opening on October 1st dur- ty and inclusion related initiatives address. The coming months of this academic year will be ing Alumni Weekend. The Center, that serve the campus community. busy. We encourage you to continue to check our made possible through a generous donation from a private foundation, • Share the Vision & OIDE hosted website, look for our email blasts and posters, and is located in the southwest corner the first World Café: A Dialogue continue to spread the word about our programs. on the first floor of Thwing Center. about Inclusion on October 8, 2010. The impact of a campus community committed to A World Café is an interactive com- inclusive excellence is powerful beyond measure! • The LGBT Center held a vigil for munication process that addresses OUR MISSION the six lives lost as a result of anti- big questions. Faculty, students, Promoting Diversity LGBT bullying on National Coming and staff sketched words, drawing The mission of the Office of Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity is to provide support and guidance and to promote Warmest regards, Out Day (October 13). Speakers in- and idea as they discussed the top- equitable and fair treatment in employment, education and other aspects of campus life. The Office serves as a resource cluded administrators, undergradu- ic “how can we continue to create a Through Inclusive Thinking, Marilyn Sanders Mobley, PhD ate leaders and straight allies, as more inclusion campus at CWRU?” to the University in the interpretation, understanding and application of federal and state equal opportunity and affirma- well as local poets, musicians, and Café’s will continue this discussion.