Civic and Community Engagement Commons^™

“Everyone Is Welcome Here”: Exploring Inclusion And Belonging In Little Five Points, Atlanta, Georgia, Through Murals As A Form Of Placemaking, Cora Rydingsword

Senior Theses and Projects

This senior thesis explores the potential of murals to promote community inclusion and a sense of belonging. It proposes a typology for understanding murals as a form of placemaking used to examine murals in Little Five Points, Atlanta, Georgia. This case study examines the relationship between murals and their effects on inclusion and belonging in the urban environment. By looking closely at three categories of murals (unsanctioned murals, commissioned murals, and advertisements disguised as murals), this study determines that effective placemaking through murals requires prioritizing community involvement.

Fostering Belonging In The Workplace: What Does Commitment Look Like At Interpersonal, Team, And Organizational Levels?, Jody Condit Fagan

Libraries

Researchers describe belonging as “an essential human need” that supports people’s abilities to share, create meaning, participate, and learn with others at work (Filstad et al., 2019, p117). Sense of belonging varies by culture (Cortina et al., 2017) and belonging-related stressors have been shown to be more intense for those who identify with outgroups (Walton & Brady, 2017). Given this context and the impossibility of directly creating belonging, how can people at all levels support an inclusive commitment to fostering belonging as an organizational value? This presentation will define belonging, outline relevant actions and behaviors, and illuminate potential pitfalls.

Promising Practices For Creating More Diverse, Equitable, Inclusive, And Racially Just Summertime Programs And Camps, Meagan Ricks, Jim Sibthorp

Journal of Youth Development

LGBTQ+, racial/ethnic minorities, youth from low-income contexts, and youth with cognitive and/or physical disabilities often face constraints to access and participation based on social and structural inequality. Understanding access and inclusion in summertime recreation program and camp settings for LGBTQ+, racial/ethnic minorities, individuals from low-income contexts, and individuals with disabilities begins with examining promising practices and policies already applied in some of these settings. The purpose of this study is to compile current promising practices implemented by youth-serving summertime recreation programs and camps recognized for their work in diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial justice (DEIRJ). Representatives from both national organizations …

Division Of Inclusion And Community Engagement Newsletter, Vol. 2 No. 2, November 2023, Dice Staff

Division of Inclusion and Community Engagement Newsletters

Up to date: Cafe Nia; Latin Night; Dia de Los Muertos; Kwanzaa Celebration • On the Same Page (OSP) Book Club • A Long Talk About the Uncomfortable Truth • Welcome Home Project • Gratitude, peace and holiday joy • MLK Week 2024 • Spring things

Division Of Inclusion And Community Engagement Newsletter, Vol. 2 No. 1, October 2023, Dice Staff

Division of Inclusion and Community Engagement Newsletters

Religious and Spiritual Life blooms this Fall • 35th cohort of Crigler Scholars • Welcome Home Symposium • DICE retreat • Welcome new and returning DICE students • Focus on access • DICE team updates • DICE will be hiring a student fellow!

Calling All Students? Enrollment In Community-Engaged Learning Courses At A Marianist University, Molly Malany Sayre, Castel V. Sweet, Kelly Bohrer

Research and Reflection on Learning and Teaching in Higher Education

‘Community’ is a pervasive concept at the University of Dayton, a Catholic, Marianist institution in Dayton, Ohio. As such, it was unknown how students who enrolled in community engaged learning (CEL) courses were different from their peers in demographic characteristics, previous experiential learning, and views of community engagement. Findings can inform CEL recruitment as well as evaluation of CEL outcomes, especially at institutions with a similar values orientation. This mixed-methods study indicates that among four semesters of students in three selected CEL courses, few differences were found with students in non-CEL control groups. One significant difference found was in racial …

Division Of Inclusion And Community Engagement Newsletter, Vol. 1 No. 3, April 2023, Dice Staff

Division of Inclusion and Community Engagement Newsletters

Pride Week recap • Interfaith Iftaar • Reverend Charles Rice Memorial Scholars • More than skin deep: A special "Conversations About and Across Difference" • Brothers of Excellence luncheon • Latin Night • Cloake House: Community of Diverse Excellence • UCARE • Office of Disability and Access • DICE at CoSA • An opportunity: DICE Fellow • Student spotlights: Olivia Negro and Isabella Villegas • Outstanding DICE seniors: Where are they headed? • Kente ceremony

Division Of Inclusion And Community Engagement Newsletter, Vol. 1 No. 2, March 2023, Dice Staff

Division of Inclusion and Community Engagement Newsletters

Student mixer • DICE Awards • Black History Month recap • In our offices • DICE in the community • Read across America • Student spotlight: Blanca Andrade • Also of note • Our offices • Get involved

Division Of Inclusion And Community Engagement Newsletter, Vol. 1 No. 1, February 2023, Heather Lobban-Viravong, Dice Staff

Division of Inclusion and Community Engagement Newsletters

A word from our Vice-President • MLK Week • MLK Week in pictures • What's new? • In our offices • DICE in the community • Student spotlight: Maia Peele '23 • Who are we? • How can I get involved?

Camp Is For Everyone: Intentional Inclusion Of Gender-Expansive Teens At Camp, Ashley M. Hernandez-Hall, Kimberly H. Zemel

Journal of Youth Development

Camp remains a powerful experience for youth of any age, but special care must be taken to ensure camps are supportive of diverse audiences. This article describes the process by which 4-H camp organizers created a welcoming and affirming camp for teen dependents of active duty, retired, or veteran military personnel, especially those campers who identified as non-binary or LGBTQ+. This included careful consideration of language used in recruitment documents, evaluation documents, volunteer and staff training, as well as communication with campers and families. Through careful planning and implementation, the 4-H adventure camps engaged over 90 teens, and survey results …

Book Review: Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race, Laura M. Stanton, Leo M. Taylor, Jenny M. Lobb, Pat Holmes, Steve Brady, Imani Scruggs

Journal of Youth Development

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? and Other Conversations About Race is a 2017 revised and updated edition to Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum’s original book written in 1997. The book explores decades of research on the psychology of racism, with an emphasis on the psychology of racial identity in Black, White, and other ethnic and cultural identities. The author helps readers gain a better understanding of historic and modern racism and the implications it has on individuals today. The book also contains important messages for people who work with diverse groups of adults and particularly …

Equity + Catalyst Framework Guide, Naomi M. Silas

Culminating Experience Projects

There has been a shift in society, in light of Covid-19 and the global pandemic, more people have begun to recognize the structural and institutional injustices that exist in this country. Social innovation allows collaboration between people from different sectors, disciplines, industries, and backgrounds; in order to create sustainable change to complex social issues. Design thinking is an iterative process used in business to create innovation and products; it’s also used for social impact.

The goal of the Equity + Catalyst Framework is to bridge concepts that include design thinking, and embodiment, as well as lived experiences and community care …

Modernization, Inclusion, And Intersectionality: Affordable Housing Policy And Discriminatory Characteristics Of The Fair Housing Act Of 1968, Heath Pitt

Community Engagement Student Work

Housing discrimination and affordability are ongoing issues in the United States; especially for marginalized populations like cisgender women, low-income families and individuals, and the transgender community. These three groups lack adequate protection and acknowledgment under the 1968 Fair Housing Act (FHA). In order to provide them with sufficient protection, the FHA must improve its level of inclusion and be updated and modernized to adapt to today’s society. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of enhancing the FHA, while discovering discriminatory practices under the FHA and the causes and solutions of affordable housing issues. With the use …

"Not In My Town": A Community's Response To Water And Soil Pollution, Karolina Staros

Dissertations

At the core of this dissertation is the acknowledgment that social movements are complex networks of people who face many obstacles in their efforts to achieve social change. One critique of social movements is that their goals and mission are limited to short term ideas and not long-term, systemic transformation. The lack of long term, systemic change can be observed when social movement groups mobilize for the same cause over and over again with what appears to be little progress over a period of time. The exact blueprint for a social movement’s success does not exist, but it is posited …

Womxn: An Evolution Of Identity, Ash D. Kunz

Summit to Salish Sea: Inquiries and Essays

Environmental Education is situated firmly in the hegemony of White, settler-colonial, capitalistic, able-bodied and –minded, heteronormative, patriarchal society. Individuals whose identity does not conform to this dominant metanarrative are excluded from and marginalized by “othering”. Trauma and violence are commonplace in society against Indigenous peoples, Black and Latinx folx and People of Color, womxn, people with disabilities, people in the LGBTQIA+ community, and all minoritized identities. That history of trauma, coupled with social and physical isolation can lead to mental and emotional struggles that negatively impact personal wellbeing. A lack of wellbeing, in turn can lead to or further depression. …

Equity & Inclusion Matters - Issue 7, September 2019, Otterbein Office Of Social Justice & Activism

Equity and Inclusion Newsletter

Included in this Issue:

• Otterbein Welcomes Students to Campus
• Otterbein celebrates PRIDE
• Active Listening with Cultural Sensitivity
• Impact in Honduras

Equity And Inclusion Matters - Issue 6, April 2019, Otterbein Office Of Social Justice & Activism

Equity and Inclusion Newsletter

Included in this issue:

• Rev. Dr. Gayle Fisher-Stewart addresses the MLK Convocation
• Bob Gatti recognized for advocacy at 2019 Central Ohio Social Justice Awards
• Otterbein seeks inclusive community
• Winona LaDuke visits campus

Value Is Subjective And Other Fallacies In Economics, Anonymous

SURGE

“Before I hand back your exams, let’s review the overall performance of the class. Listed here are the median and mean scores. You can also see the grades of five highest scores on exam…”

I sat anxiously in my chair as my economics professor shared class statistics before finally handing back our tests.

After he distributed them to a number of students, they mingled at the front the room, speculating who earned the top scores.

“Dude, who do you think got the 101?”

“I bet it was *David?”

“Or maybe Mike? He’s always answering questions correctly.”

“Could be. But I …

More Than Birds And Bees, Katie O. Estell

SURGE

Conversations about sex start as early as middle school, with preteens learning about “the birds and the bees,” sexually transmitted infections, and (hopefully) contraception and safe sex. These conversations continue into high school sex education, which has proven to be crucial in decreasing rates of unwanted pregnancies and STI’s. But something important is missing. These programs never mention, and certainly don’t include, LGBT/Q people. LGBT/Q teens are not taught how to have sex, and how to have safe sex. This leaves us to explore our sexuality on our own terms, which is both awkward and dangerous. If you’re a heterosexually …

Speaking Out, Mariam J. Martinez

SURGE

Why can we not take action now? I asked myself this question when, as a program coordinator for the Women’s Center I decided to take part in the Vagina Monologues because I wanted to change them- monologues that are centered on the experiences of white, upper-class cis-gender women. [excerpt]

Equity & Inclusion Matters - Issue 5, November 2018, Otterbein Office Of Social Justice & Activism

Equity and Inclusion Newsletter

Included in This Issue:

• Otterbein reaches most diverse class in history for fifth consecutive year
• Otterbein proudly celebrates gender-neutral initiatives
• HR Department, Academic Affairs, Building new bridges
• Knight '96 instills values she learned while at Otterbein, in students

The Rush To Fit In, Kate M. Delaney

SURGE

A week ago, I had been dead set on not rushing. I had heard the rumors and beliefs of my peers, that Greek life encouraged excessive drinking and partying, that hazing was still incredibly prevalent and demeaning, that Greek life worked only to discriminate and exclude members of the campus who refused to take part, promoted unfair gender roles, and encouraged pageantry and forced conversations between strangers. Still, the call of philanthropy, having a group of sisters, and finding a home on campus appealed to me. In the end, it felt like I was choosing between rushing with my friends …

Equity & Inclusion Matters - Issue 4, Feburary 2018, Otterbein Office Of Social Justice & Activism

Equity and Inclusion Newsletter

In This Issue:

• Otterbein Celebrates 125th Anniversary of First African-American Graduate
• Diversity Alumni Awards Bestowed Upon Recent, History-Making Graduates
• NBC Universal Chief Diversity Officer: Diverse Organizations Can Be More Successful
• MLK Peace and Justice Award Winners Honored

Equity& Inclusion Matters - Issue 3, November 2017, Otterbein Office Of Social Justice & Activism

Equity and Inclusion Newsletter

In This Issue:

• Otterbein Conference Highlights Power of Women, Middle, High School Girls
• Columbus City Schools Sending Best, Brightest to Otterbein
• The Most Diverse First-Year Class in Otterbein's History Began in August
• Otterbein's Campus Reacts to Charlottesville Events

Equity & Inclusion Matters - Issue 2, Janurary 2017, Otterbein Office Of Social Justice & Activism

Equity and Inclusion Newsletter

In This Issue:

• Otterbein Launches New Equity & Inclusion Website
• African American Alumni Network Renews Commitment to Otterbein Students, Alumni
• Otterbein Well Represented at Women's March
• New Race and Ethnic Studies Minor Aims to Increase Campus Conversations

Equity & Inclusion Matters - Issue 1, October 2016, Otterbein Office Of Social Justice & Activism

Equity and Inclusion Newsletter

In this issue:

• Otterbein Responds with Zero Tolerance
• Otterbein Faculty, Students, Staff Learn Best Practices at NCORE
• Students Keep Promise to Each Other
• New Muslim Prayer Space on Campus

Expanding Community Identity: Opportunities For Interdisciplinary Collaboration In Government Practices To Engage Local-Born And Foreign-Born Residents In Building A Stronger Community, Lara Tobin

21st Century Social Justice

Neighborhood building is essential to a diverse and strong New York. We are currently in a progressive political climate where legislation is being crafted so that the laws of New York reflect its residents. This includes foreign-born residents, who have successfully advocated for, and been a part of, this changing legislation. There is work to be done now by local-born residents to increase their ability to change their definition of community to be inclusive, facilitated by social workers and local government offices to ensure that the legislative changes are implemented in the spirit fought for by the coalition of advocates.

Fearless Friday: Jennifer Mccary, Christina L. Bassler

SURGE

As we conclude Diversity Peer Educators Week, we honor Jennifer McCary, the fearless advisor. In addition to her roles with DPE, she is the Assistant Dean of College Life and Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities as well as the Director of the Women’s Center. The Diversity Peer Educators, or DPEs, are a group of students dedicated to facilitating conversations among the student body about various issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. [excerpt]

Fearless Friday: Justina Molokwu, Christina L. Bassler

SURGE

Justina Molokwu ’17 has been fearlessly involved on campus in her first two years at Gettysburg contributing to the College’s goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion. A Psychology and Organization and Management Studies double major and a writing minor, the list of Molokwu’s extracurricular involvement is impressive: Diaspora House house leader, Diversity Peer Educator, Vice President of GASA, and Career Development Liaison for BSU. In addition, she works at the Den, with Residence Life, for the Psychology Department, with the Women’s Center, and is a member of the Gettysburg Cheerleading squad. [excerpt]

School For Global Inclusion And Social Development: Expanding The Umass Boston Community On A Regional, National, And International Level, David Temelini, Institute For Community Inclusion, University Of Massachusetts Boston

Office of Community Partnerships Posters

The School for Global Inclusion and Social Development (SGISD) is the newest graduate school at UMass Boston. We are the first graduate program in the world to focus on wellness, disability, and economic development from an international perspective. The first students in our master's program will start classes in January 2014, with our PhD program to launch in September 2014. SGISD's emphasis is on groups of people who are excluded from communities here in the U.S. and abroad, due to disability or other conditions. Instruction will be delivered on campus, online, and through international exchange programs.