Spring 2021 Cohort

The fourth cohort of Inclusion, Equity, and Community Building will be fully virtual and will kick off in March 2021. This series will provide faculty, staff, and administrators an opportunity to comprehensively explore cultural humility, bias awareness and identity development, microaggressions and inclusive language, privilege and allyship, and change leadership and apply these concepts to their policies, programs, practices, and people in their respective departments. The series ends with action planning and guidance from Diversity & Inclusion to sustain inclusive excellence. Participants who complete all five modules of the series receive a certificate.

Module Descriptions:

• Module 1: Cultural Humility, Data, and Definitions: This introductory workshop explores cultural humility, self-reflection and identity, and their application to participants’ professional roles. The session also provides an overview of relevant social justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion terms.
• Module 2: Bias Awareness, Socialization, and Identity Development: Participants explore their own biases via the Harvard Implicit Association Test and how they are influenced by socialization. Identity development, with a focus on internal and external authoring, is introduced to demonstrate the importance of intentionally inclusive environments on positive student development and employee engagement. Pre-work is required for this session (+/-10 minutes)
• Module 3: Inclusive Language, Communication, and Triggers: This session explores microaggressions and the role of language, communication, and socialization in inclusion and exclusion. Participants also explore how these contribute to identity authoring and lived experience.
• Module 4: Privilege, Equity, and Coalition Building: Participants will examine various types of privilege and how they manifest in theirs and others’ lives, and engage specifically in an examination of privilege and positional power at UNT. The session also explores how individuals and groups can use their relative privilege to be an ally or accomplice. Pre-work is required for this session (+/- 30 minutes).
• Module 5: Change Leadership and Action Planning: This workshop explores what organizational change looks and feels like, and examines how we can use our spheres of influence to enact change. Participants will consider applying change strategies to an aspect of their work environment. Pre-work is required for this session (+/- 30 minutes).

Minimum/Maximum of Participants: 30 maximum participants with a waitlist.

To preserve the integrity of the curriculum, participants will agree to the following:

• Participants must attend each module in proposed order.
• Due to limited staff, session make-ups cannot be provided. Participants must attend all scheduled modules to achieve completion and will be removed from the roster if a session is missed.
• Participants must attend each module’s entire four-hour session. Those arriving later than 15 minutes after start time will be removed from the roster. You may not leave any of your sessions early. 
• Adhere to the “Principles of Engagement” of the series:

• Each participant will receive a reflection journal in which they can complete their pre-work, take notes, and answer reflection questions.
• All assigned pre-work must be completed before each session (including assigned activities, reflections, and other assignments). Participants will receive an email from the instructor with additional pre-work instructions.
• Participants will receive slide decks for each module via email after each session they complete.

Registration Information

• In order to register, you must be able to attend ALL modules virtually.
• The registration deadline is Friday, February 26, 2021.
• Please use a computer/tablet with camera and microphone.
• Please contact Teresita@unt.edu for any accommodations.
• Due to the time commitment of this series, manager approval is required.

Previous Cohorts

2019 Open Cohort Graduates

Standing left-right: Jenny Roach, Teresita Hurtado Ramos (facilitator), Angelica Burgess, Megan Cunningham, Kaitlyn Poe, Kathryn Conrad, Ashley Yzaguirre, Jessica Maidlow, Shaureece Park, Jacob Durrance, Dylan Martinez, Chad Flenar, Lisa Gorietti, Brandon Kitchin. Shani Barrax Moore (facilitator). Seated left to right: Patrick Holt, Keli Flynn, Kristina Plaster, Ella Pipes Jade Lu.

Inaugural Inclusion, Equity, and Community Building Class

Congratulations to the inaugural cohort of the Inclusion, Equity and Community Building open enrollment series, which graduated its first class of completers October 5th. Representative of employees across the university, these participants attended all five modules and were tasked with identifying a practice, program, or perspective within their respective units that could be improved by intentional inclusion. The cohort will continue to meet throughout the year to provide support and feedback for their change strategies.

Back row (L-R): Anjelita Cadena, Bethany Blackstone, Vicki Campbell, Felita Cook, Saria Outhier, Elizabeth Hinkle Turner.
Front Row: Lilly Ramin, Kathy Neira Gonzalez, Meghan Fitzgerald, Mariah Hope.

Testimonials

Inclusion, Equity, and Community Building Series