Digital Commons Network^™

Montgomery 1960: Using Technology To Teach Empathy And Perspective Taking, Brooks M. Leftwich, Gregory T. Croisdale, Khoa T. Dang

EURēCA: Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement

A primary purpose of higher education in the U.S. is to promote personally and socially responsible graduates that can lead at work and in society (AAC&U, 2005). To successfully do so, students need coaching that intentionally develops empathy, perspective taking, intercultural agility, and the capacity to make ethical decisions (Narveaz, 2006). The holistic approaches historically used to teach these skills died with classical curriculum as the research university emerged and the risk-management culture replaced our in loco parentis relationships with students (Colby & Eichman. 2005). The current legal and political climate limits genuine discussion between college students and faculty/staff mentors …

Embodying Healing And Joy Through Relationships And Sexual Wellness, Bilqis Amatus-Salaam

Black Issues Conference

With the ways in which Black bodies are policed and carry racial trauma, experiencing joy in a Black body is an act of resistance and liberation. This session will guide attendees in exploring ways to cultivate positive and affirming relationships with oneself and others to experience healing and joy. Foundational information about healthy relationships and healthy sexually will be shared to provide a framework for discussing barriers to experiencing joy and how to navigate these in a way that aligns with an individual’s values. All identities are welcome.

Racism And Mental Health: When It Hurts To Be Black, Desiree Tallent

Black Issues Conference

This presentation provides information on types of racism, including personal, institutional and cultural aspects. The prevalence of racism among Black people is also highlighted. Additional attention is given to the negative emotional outcomes of experiencing racism as well as the resulting behavioral impact of experiences with racism among Black individuals. Special attention is given to how these issues may manifest in one’s personal life and student life. In addition to understanding how racism impacts mental and behavioral health, information is provided on positive coping methods which can lessen the dire effect of racism. These positive coping methods include the role …

Where Are The Resources?: Discussing Mental Health In Students Of Color On Utk’S Campus And The Call For Action, Zhannae S. Cummings, Diandra Walker

Black Issues Conference

Racial minority groups experience disparities in mental health and are prone to having more detrimental outcomes than their white counterparts. Current events have heightened the exposure of racial injustices experienced by communities of Black, Indigenous and people of Color (BIPOC). Given this context, the elimination of mental health disparities in people of Color requires critical attention and diligent work more so now than ever before. Culture, climate, and intrinsic bias leave some institute of higher education more challenged in promoting and supporting education for students of Color. Therefore, the purpose of this presentation is to educate participants about mental health …

Respectability Politics: A Mirror Into The Black Community, Max Ray A. Davenport Jr, Elisha M. Brewer

Black Issues Conference

Program Abstract

This presentation seeks to provoke deep and meaningful discussion related to issues of respectability within the African American community. More specifically, this presentation seeks to prompt audience members to critically evaluate the social practices of African American people that are deeply-seated in elitism and promote a culture of exclusion. By gaining a deeper knowledge of how racialized policing behaviors negatively affect our community, we aim to provide audience members with strategies for enduring and overcoming this issue.

Program Summary

The primary purpose of this presentation is aimed at facilitating a thought-provoking discussion centered around respectability politics. In achieving …

Code Switching: The Unfortunate But Necessary Key To Opening Doors For Yourself And Others To Follow, Harold A. Wallace Iii

Black Issues Conference

"Code Switching: The unfortunate yet necessary key to opening doors for yourself and others to follow" this presentation touches on what "Code Switching" is, it's origin, and why it is simply a defense mechanism to make sure you are always able to feed yourself and your family. The more we become comfortable with the "Why" the more we can move forward on "How" it will help get others in the door. Ultimately finding the balance between being unapologetically and authentically you/black, and being the person you need to be to infiltrate the higher rankings of any industry, hopefully leave a …

Don’T Count Me Out! There’S Power In Participation: Voter Suppression & Destabilizing Its Reasonableness, Mustafa Ali-Smith

Black Issues Conference

One person, no vote, seems to have become the reality of modern-day America. Across the country, citizens are stripped of their fundamental right to vote, and today, it should be more evident that our democracy has become under assault. This presentation and discussion will provide a historical context of voter suppression while leaving participants informed and motivated about the importance of voting and how they can exercise their fundamental rights.

Bridging The Divide Between Gen. X And Millennials, Floyd Miley

Black Issues Conference

The problems that plague the Black community are a multi-dimensional phenomenon deeply rooted in systemic racism. For 400 years, the Black experience in America has been one of subjugation, segregation, lynching, discrimination and racism. The historic Civil Rights Movement changed legislation, but it didn’t change racist attitudes or institutions.

During Donald Trump’s presidency, America has witnessed a resurgence of White supremacists’ attitudes, beliefs, values and practices towards people of color, especially Blacks. His administration supports the social, political, criminal justice and economic institutions that negatively affect the Black community. As a result, Blacks have the highest incarceration rate, poverty violence …

Identity Complexities Of African American First-Generation Students, Chandria L. Harris

Black Issues Conference

Identity Complexities of African American First-Generation Students

African American first generational students struggle with identifying who they are and how they are supposed to show up in their college communities socially and academically.

This session will guide attendees through the thought process of an African American First-Generational Students and solutions to assist them with persisting to graduation.

Greencap In The House: Resilience Tools To Unify The Black Community, Rick Held, Treasure Hightower, Stan Johnson, Ida Miles, John Floersh, Kaleeisha Huffine

Black Issues Conference

GreenCAP in the House: Resilience Tools to Unify the Black Community

This presentation describes how a small, scruffy youth development organization is leveraging its community outreach and engagement efforts around environmental literacy in the 'hood to build a coalition of inner city organizations aligned to identify and address a broad swath of community resilience issues.

Destined For Dissonance: Unpacking The Duality Of Being Black And Christian, Christie D. Banks, Matthew K. Best, Marcus Jones

Black Issues Conference

Abstract: We know that the Trans- Atlantic Slave Trade is how our African ancestors became involved with Christianity, and for many this involvement was a forced tactic of bondage. Does the disconnectedness from the horrors and hypocrisy of the slave trade make you question your faith? Or has the Black Church and its role in your community been a pillar in walking out your faith? Is the injustice that brought our people to America a part of our complex Christian history? Or is being Black and Christian an oxymoron? Du Bois’ The Souls of Black Folk is as relevant a …

Stand Up And Be Counted, Kimberly Smith

Black Issues Conference

“Stand Up and Be Counted”- The presentation spotlights the US Census over 200 years, the American minority by the numbers, and wielding the 2020 census as a tool for the next decade of minority political and social empowerment.

Presenter: Kimberly Smith, MBA

Company: US Census Bureau

This workshop is designed to improve the awareness of civic responsibilities and participation in the decennial 2020 census. The information discussed will educate the audience on the history and process of the census, as well as, the impact of census data on minority communities.

Format:

The presentation will begin with census introductory information and …

Impression Management From The Department Of Environmental Quality In The Flint Water Crisis, Haley E Boles

EURēCA: Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement

The citizens of Flint, Michigan have been at a disadvantage for decades, even before the water crisis. After Flint switched their water source from the Detroit Water and Sewage Department to the Flint Water Treatment Plant in April 2014, its citizens began to complain about foul-smelling, discolored, and contaminated water. However, government officials in Flint ignored complaints until Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha revealed an increase in Flint children’s blood-lead levels in September of 2015. After the crisis became public, Governor Rick Snyder released ninety-nine PDF files containing emails from the various government agencies involved, and Flint switched back to the DWSD …

Gendered Patterns Of Economic Marginalization And Its Implications On Women's Political Participation In Latin America, Alina Kathryn Clay

EURēCA: Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement

Although women in Latin America have recently made impressive advancements in political representation by achieving high-ranking political positions, embedded economic inequalities persist and significantly hinder their political participation in activities such as voting and actively supporting political parties. Furthermore, widespread policy mechanisms are not set up and effective in fully engaging women in politics. Political and economic oppression of women in this region have historical roots and thus are deeply entrenched within society. Our research question explores how gendered patterns of economic marginalization affect the political participation and attitudes of women in Latin America. To answer this question, we have …

Factors Associated With Successful Completion Of A Comorbid Substance Abuse And Mental Health Intensive Outpatient Group, Matthew Stephen Crescenzi

EURēCA: Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement

An East Tennessee community mental health center, specializing in co-occurring substance abuse and mental health services, has an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) that utilizes a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and relapse prevention. Currently, 50% of individuals who enter the IOP program fail to graduate. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors associated with successful program completion. Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted on data from 116 participants in the IOP group. A logistic regression model was used to determine which factors were related to successful program completion. Results: The overall regression model was found …

How To Change A Man, Egypt Robinson X

Black Issues Conference

Based on true stories, this workshop will reshape what was previously believed to be impossible. The key of this workshop is to prove women have always owned the power to alter how they’ve been treated. “Women set the standards on how they want to be treated. She’s the gate and he pays a fee. Sometimes it’s free, discounted or full price. No matter what, it’s her choice”-Egypt.

Most women don’t want to change a bad boy into a good man, nor is this workshop aimed at doing so. We’re giving women tools to teach men how to handle a good …

Getting In Our Own Way: The Degradation Of Student Organizations, Johnny Brownlee

Black Issues Conference

Getting in our own Way: The Degradation of Student Organizations:

Across the nation our student organizations are struggling and student governments are struggling. Many seem to be on their last leg, past their prime, etc. Organizations don’t have the activism and sacrifice of students form the 60’s and 70’s, drive of the 80’s, survival skills of the 90’s or money and participation of orgs form the early 2000’s. We seek to see if it’s a generational problem or are other factor the problem

Community Restoration: A Snapshot On How It Is Obtained And What Are The Effects?, Robert A. Bright, Wayne P. Carlton, Jordan L. Carrethers

Black Issues Conference

Community Restoration: A snapshot on how it is obtained and what are the effects?

The presentation examines some of the factors to a successful community restoration and what are the end results of a restored community especially when we participate in the process.

Leadershape: Creating A Vision, Living In Possibility, Courtney Michelle Holder, Amber Moore, Ryan Wade, Torrey Armstrong

Black Issues Conference

Leadership involves living in possibility, committing to a vision, forming relationships that will help visions take action, and upholding a high level of integrity. Leadership takes place in a community and allows positive changes to occur. The LeaderShape Institute is a six day experience which explores and develops such leadership skills. In the program, students address questions such as, “Who am I?” and “What kind of leader am I?” LeaderShape is a program with the mission of transforming the world with individuals who lead with integrity and have a healthy disregard for the impossible. Participants in this session will learn …

Vote Or Die: The Power Of The Black Vote, Stephen J. Smith, Harlin Miller

Black Issues Conference

The progress of Blacks in America can, in many ways, be attributed to the advancements made by gaining the right to participate in the political process. From establishing equal opportunities in housing to leveling the playing field in the workplace, the quality of life we as African-Americans enjoy today would not be possible if those before us did not fight for the right to vote. However, today’s Black America exhibits great apathy when it comes to voting on all levels. Most, when asked about their political views and/or affiliation, cannot clearly articulate the differences between Conservative and Liberal, Democrat or …