August 2022 Heritage Celebrations

July 29, 2022

To the UConn Community:

The Office for Diversity and Inclusion and the Provost’s Office would like to take this opportunity to remind you of several celebrations, commemorations, and moments of raising awareness for members of our community during the month of August:

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (August 9^th): The United Nations sets aside every August 9^th to commemorate the world’s Indigenous Peoples and to raise awareness about the need to recognize their identities, ways of life, territories, and natural resources, all of which have been violated throughout history. This year’s celebration inaugurates the “International Decade of Indigenous Languages,” to raise awareness and mobilize support for preserving Native and Indigenous languages. According to the UN, most of the world’s languages in danger of disappearing belong to Native and Indigenous peoples. The disappearance of these languages puts at risk the knowledge systems and cultures they belong to while further isolating Indigenous peoples politically and socially.

In an effort to support local Indigenous languages, UConn’s Native American Cultural Programs (NACP), Dodd Impact, the Literatures, Cultures, and Languages department, and local language leaders have partnered on the Minoritized Languages Project to run several events highlighting the effects of colonization on language. The team hopes that these events will serve to educate UConn’s community further on Connecticut’s Indigenous peoples, cultures, and language revitalization efforts.

Muharram (July 29^th – August 28^th): Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar, second only to Ramadan in importance and holiness. Many Muslims celebrate the first day of Muharram as the Islamic New Year (July 29^th) marking the start of the lunar year. Muslims celebrate the new year by visiting the mosque, praying for well-being, and spending time with loved ones. They also traditionally cook something sweet to share when breaking their fast. Muharram also includes Ashura (August 7^th – 8^th), which mourns the martyrdom of Ḥusayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad for Shia Muslims while commemorating for Sunni Muslims the day Moses fasted to show gratitude for the freedom of the Israelites. Traditions and celebrations vary across locations and between Shia and Sunni peoples; Sunnis consider this a day of respect but do not take part in mourning traditions.

National Senior Citizens Day (August 21^st): Created by Presidential Proclamation in 1988, National Senior Citizens Day honors and shows appreciation to the elders in our communities. It also raises awareness of the need to continue supporting our elders as they face new struggles from aging; senior citizens often face increased health issues and may be economically vulnerable. The best ways to celebrate this day are to visit the elders in your family and community or to volunteer at senior care centers, meal delivery services, and other senior-based programs. The University of Connecticut supports senior citizens through free educational initiatives, including Senior Citizen Audits for learners over 62, UConn Extension’s Center for Learning in Retirement (CLIR) for retirees and other adults from all walks of life, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLII) where learners over 50 can expand their minds and connect with other learners.

Purple Heart Day (August 7^th): This day honors American soldiers who were wounded or killed while serving their country on or after April 5, 1917. The veteran community is important to UConn. The Office of Veterans Affairs and Military Programs (VAMP) provides student support services specifically for veterans, active service members, and their families attending UConn. Their services include certifying VA educational benefits, assisting students in their transition to life at UConn, and providing supplemental programs and activities to student veterans. VAMP works closely with the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD), which has a wealth of resources for veterans regardless of ability status. VAMP also works closely with state-based Veterans Centers that provide fully confidential mental and behavioral health assistance.

Women’s Equality Day (August 26^th): Women’s Equality Day commemorates the certification of the 19^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920, guaranteeing that every American is able to vote, regardless of gender. Made into a national holiday in 1971, this day celebrates activists’ achievements in promoting equity and equality for women. It also serves as a reminder of the need to continually advocate for gender-based equity and equality, as well as the need to dedicate resources to promoting and empowering women, including by combatting sexual- and gender-based violence. At UConn, these imperatives are carried out by the Women’s Center, the Rainbow Center, the Title IX office, the UConn Foundation, the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program, the Center for Career Development, and the UConn Health Women’s Center resources for expecting, pregnant, and parenting students, among other unit- and department-level resources.

Religious Holidays: August 2022 is also a significant month for many religious members of our community (listed chronologically):

Tisha B’Av (August 6^th – August 7^th): This annual fast day mourns the destruction of the First Temple and Second Temple in Jerusalem on the same calendar day 655 years apart. Tish B’av is remembered by Jews all over the world to recall the sufferings of the Jewish people. This day of mourning is typically held on the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av – unless, as with this year, the ninth falls on Shabbat, in which case Tish B’av is celebrated on the tenth day of Av.

Ashura (August 7^th – August 8^th): This holy day for Muslims is celebrated on the tenth day of Muharram; this year, that falls on August 7^th. Traditions and celebrations vary across locations and between Shia and Sunni peoples. Shia Muslims typically see it as the most important day of Muharram, which mourns the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. For Sunni Muslims, Ashura commemorates the day Moses and his followers were saved from Pharaoh by God by creating a path in the Red Sea.

Feast of the Assumption / Dormition of the Mother of God (August 15^th): August 15^th is widely celebrated among Roman Catholics, Eastern Catholics, and Eastern Orthodox Christians as the day Jesus’s mother, Mary, ascended to heaven in both body and soul. This is a holy day of obligation for Catholics. Celebrations might include festivals, processions, and planting a Mary Garden.

Krishna Janmashtami (August 18^th – August 19^th): Also known as Gokulashtami, this two-day festival marks the birth of Krishna, one of the most popular Hindu deities. Hindus celebrate Janmashtami by fasting, singing devotional songs, praying together, preparing special foods, holding night vigils, and visiting temples. Major Krishna temples organize a recitation of “Bhagavata Purana” and “Bhagavad Gita” or drama events “Rasa Lila” and “Krishna Lila.”

We welcome the celebration of each of these holidays on our campuses and encourage support for those requiring accommodations. You can find information about guidance on academic accommodations for religious observations on a Provost Office’s Religious Observation Calendar.

To see more information about resources and events happening this month and throughout the remainder of the semester, please visit our events page at www.diversity.uconn.edu/events.

Sincerely,

Frank Tuitt
Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer

Anne D’Alleva
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Jeffrey F. Hines, MD
Associate Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, UConn Health

This post has been edited for clarity.

July 2022 Heritage Celebrations

July 8, 2022

To the UConn Community:

Disability Pride Day and Month (July 26^th): In the United States Disability Pride month is celebrated in July to commemorate the anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), which provides civil rights protections to ensure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. In 2008, the ADA became the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), which expanded the definition of “disability” in order to simplify the process for establishing a disability when seeking ADA protections. July 26^th is celebrated as Disability Pride Day in honor of the ADA while Disability Pride Month provides an annual observance to promote visibility for the 160 million Americans with a disability and to raise awareness about the pride felt by people with disabilities. Disability Pride Month explores the lives of people with disabilities in positive ways while also endeavoring to create spaces for people with disabilities to explore their own lives in positive and public ways.

UConn seeks to ensure that students with disabilities have the same access to programs, opportunities, and activities as all others at UConn. The primary pathway for providing that access comes from the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD), which offers a variety of programs and services for students with disabilities, including at UConn Health. They’re also excited to roll out a new platform for MyAccess, which allows students to more easily request accommodations and facilitates faculty and staff efforts to meet those accommodations. UConn also seeks to ensure that staff and faculty with disabilities are afforded reasonable accommodations, through OIE, the Human Resources department, and UConn Health’s Human Resources. Faculty and staff can also request OIE’s training to increase awareness and understanding of disability access and responsibilities at UConn. UConn also offers a Certificate of Interdisciplinary Disability Studies in Public Health

Eid al-Adha (July 9^th – 13^th): Eid al-Adha is the second and holiest Islamic Eid festival of the year. Known as the “Festival of the Sacrifice” – or colloquially as “Big Eid” – Eid al-Adha honors the willingness of Ibrahim (known as Abraham in the Christian and Jewish traditions) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah; before Ibrahim carried out the command, however, Allah produced a lamb for him to sacrifice instead. Traditions vary from place to place, but celebrations typically include congregational prayers at a mosque, the sharing of meat, gift-giving, and inviting members of other faiths to opportunities that better acquaint them with Islam and Muslim culture. UConn does not have any specific Eid celebrations in place, but has several opportunities for building community through the Ahlul Bayt Student Association, the Black Muslim Association, the Muslim Student Association (Storrs, Hartford, and Stamford), the Islamic Center at UConn, Middle Eastern Cultural Programs, and Salaam, the Asian American Cultural Center’s program to raise awareness about islamophobia.

French American Heritage Month: In the United States, July is designated as the month to celebrate the significant contributions made to the United States by people of French descent. Approximately 12.5 million Americans are of French or French Canadian decent, including 750,000 Creole peoples. This month also celebrates historical events that cemented the important relationship between the United States and France.

Independence Day (July 4^th): The 4^th of July is a national holiday commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Though organized around celebrating American independence from England, July 4^th also provides an opportunity to celebrate the diverse peoples and cultures who make up our nation.

Muharram (July 29^th – August 28^th): Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar, second only to Ramadan in importance and holiness. Many Muslims celebrate the first day of Muharram as the Islamic New Year (July 29^th) marking the start of the lunar year. Muslims celebrate the new year by visiting the mosque, praying for well-being, and spending time with loved ones. They also traditionally cook something sweet to share when breaking their fast. Muharram also includes Ashura (August 7^th – 8^th), which mourns the martyrdom of Ḥusayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad. Traditions and celebrations vary across locations and between Shia and Sunni peoples – Sunnis consider this a day of respect but do not take part in mourning traditions.

We welcome the celebration of each of these observances on our campuses. To see more information about resources and events happening this month and throughout the remainder of the semester, please visit our events page at www.diversity.uconn.edu/events.

Sincerely,

Frank Tuitt
Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer

Anne D’Alleva
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Jeffrey F. Hines, MD
Associate Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer, UConn Health

Happy Juneteenth National Independence Day 2022!

June 16, 2022

To the UConn Community:

On June 19, 1865, two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on New Year’ Day 1863, the Union army reached Galveston, Texas, and enforced the executive order to free all people enslaved in Confederate territories. All people held as slaves in the United States were finally free.

Juneteenth has been celebrated by African American communities since the late 1800s. Momentum for declaring Juneteenth a federal holiday has grown since then, thanks in part to the work of activists like Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” who at age 89 started a walking campaign from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness about the importance of this holiday. The nation reached a threshold moment during the protests following the unjust deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021. Here in Connecticut, it will become a state holiday on June 19^th, 2023.

Juneteenth provides a moment to celebrate and to reflect. Today, we celebrate freedom. We also celebrate the African American community that has contributed so much to our nation. However, Juneteenth also provides a moment to reflect on the terrible toll of slavery and its legacies of systemic racism and inequality that continue today. Rather than rewriting our history to ignore our worst moments, Juneteenth provides us a day to recommit ourselves to the freedom we hold so sacred, especially by committing ourselves to equity, equality, and justice.

According to Dr. Matt Delmont, professor of African American History and the History of Civil Rights at Dartmouth College, Juneteenth is about addressing the issues that continue to face the Black community. Issues such as healthcare disparities, racialized violence, systemic racism and bans on teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT) in classrooms. Dr. Carolyn Calloway, chair of African American and African Diaspora Studies at Indiana University states that “Juneteenth is a way of calling attention to some of America’s sins, while acknowledging the beautiful possibilities for redemption.” The national holiday is also, “a reminder of our collective struggle for freedom and a commitment to protect all that it entails, including voting rights and equity in justice,” says Dr. Jeffrey Ogbar, professor of history at UConn.

As a community, we must pledge to continue raising our voices in support of freedom and in support of abolishing the barriers that limit people’s freedoms. In particular, we must demand the abolition of hate and racism, of sexism and sexually based harassment and violence, of homophobia and transphobia, of antisemitism and islamophobia, of xenophobia, and of all forms of identity-based oppression. Let us commit to being the light!

As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. reminds us, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Let us commit to being the change we want to see to make our campuses, community, and country more equitable, equal, and just.

Happy Juneteenth National Independence Day! To learn more about the holiday, as well as to find local celebrations, please visit this wonderful resource put together by the UConn Library.

Dr. Willena Kimpson Price
Director – H. Fred Simons African American Cultural Center
Affiliate Faculty, Africana Studies Institute

Dr. Frank Tuitt
Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer
Office for Diversity and Inclusion

Dr. Jeffrey Hines
Associate Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer
UConn Health

Dr. Anne D’Alleva
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Office of the Provost

Dealing with Gun Violence

June 8, 2022

Recent mass shootings in Buffalo, NY, Laguna Woods, CA, Uvalde, TX, and elsewhere across the country have again centered concerns about gun violence within public discourse. Our hearts are broken over this violence — gun violence disproportionately impacts communities of color, the LGBTQIA+ community, women, teenagers, and veterans. Guns have also been used in the increasing violence targeting Jewish and Muslim people in the United States.

We have gathered a few resources about the trauma from gun violence. This is not an exhaustive list.

UConn provides some research-based resources.:

President Maric’s letter to the community about standing up to despair (5/27/22)
UConn Faculty speak about using research to combat gun violence (3/31/22)
UConn’s Advancing Research, Methods, and Scholarship (ARMS) for Gun Injury Prevention
- ARMS faculty speak about combatting misinformation in gun policy debates (6/1/22)
- ARMS twitter
- ARMS faculty articles:
  - What Would it Mean to Treat Guns the Way We Treat Cars? (6/6/22)
  - House Democrats’ Sweeping Gun Control Package Could be Even Bigger (6/2/22)

We also recommend these resources:

National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families resources on how to talk to children about gun violence (in English and en Español)
American School Counselor’s Association resources for helping students after a school shooting.
American Psychological Association’s resource on “Managing Your Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting.
American Counseling Association’s Resources for Dealing with Gun Trauma
American Counseling Association’s Resources for Counselors and Clients in Dealing with Gun Violence

For more resources, including mental health resources for the AAPI, Black, Latinx, and LGBTQIA+ communities, please visit our “Anti-Racism Resources” page.

For UConn’s mental health services, please visit Student Health and Wellness (SHaW)’s resources for mental health at Storrs and at the regional campuses; student wellness resources at UConn Health; Human Resources mental health resources; resources for suicide prevention; the Student Care Team, which responds to concerns about individual student health and wellness; Holistic Huskies, a podcast on student mental health experiences; and UConn’s Wellness Coalition, a space for students to come together and develop innovative solutions to health and wellness issues on campus.

Veterans and active service members can find resources through the Veterans Affairs and Military Programs (VAMP), which provides student support services specifically for veterans, active service members, and their families attending UConn. VAMP works closely with the Center for Students for Disabilities, which has a wealth of resources for veterans regardless of ability status. VAMP also works closely with state-based Veterans Centers that provide fully confidential mental and behavioral health assistance.

June 2022 Heritage Celebrations

June 1, 2022

To the UConn Community:

National Caribbean American Heritage Month: This heritage month was established in 2006 to create and disseminate knowledge about the contributions of Caribbean people to the United States. At UConn, we create and disseminate knowledge of Caribbean contributions, customs, and cultures through El Instituto: Institute of Latina/o, Caribbean, and Latin American Studies and Homer Babbidge Library’s collection on Latin American and Caribbean Studies. UConn students, staff, and faculty can find more programming, resources, and spaces of belonging at the Puerto Rican / Latin American Cultural Center.

Father’s Day (June 19^th): In the United States, Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June. While other countries have similar days of commemoration, dates and traditions may vary. In the US, Father’s Day was created in 1910 to complement Mother’s Day; its founder, Sonora Smart Dodd, wanted to honor her father, who raised six children as a widower. It was made into a federal holiday in 1972. This June, we honor all paternal figures, caregivers, and mentors whose contributions enrich our lives.

Flag Day (June 14^th): Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the American Flag in June of 1777 and coincides with the birthdate of the American military in 1775. Though not a federal holiday, June 14^th provides an opportunity to reflect on the ideals the flag stands for. In particular, it provides an opportunity to reflect on diversity, one of America’s founding ideals and greatest strengths.

It also provides an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made to preserve those ideals. The Office of Veterans Affairs and Military Programs (VAMP) provides student support services specifically for veterans, active service members, and their families attending UConn. Their services include certifying VA educational benefits, assisting students in their transition to life at UConn, and providing supplemental programs and activities to student veterans. VAMP works closely with the Center for Students for Disabilities, which has a wealth of resources for veterans regardless of ability status. VAMP also works closely with state-based Veterans Centers that provide fully confidential mental and behavioral health assistance.

Juneteenth (June 19^th): Juneteenth, also known as America’s Second Independence Day, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. It is observed on June 19^th, the day in 1865 that Union troops arrived in the last slave-owning community in the country to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation issued more than two years earlier. Though Juneteenth has been celebrated by African American communities since the late 1800s, it only became an official federal holiday in 2021, when President Biden made it the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983. This year, the Connecticut legislature designated Juneteenth as an official state holiday, starting in 2023.

Juneteenth celebrates African American achievement while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures. Celebrations typically involve guest speakers or lectures to promote education and self-improvement; community elders who recount events in the past; prayer services; barbecues; and parades. More than anything, Juneteenth is about being in a supportive community. The Office for Diversity and Inclusion prefers not to limit celebrations of Black and African American communities to June; rather, we believe in celebrating the community year-round, including through the African American Cultural Center and the Africana Studies Institute, our leading spaces of community building and education about the history, culture, contributions, and experiences of people of African descent in the United States. This year, the UConn Library has put together excellent resources for education and community building in honor of Juneteenth. Make sure to check out their list of Juneteenth and Black cultural events near you!

Most of all, Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom. It serves as a reminder of the moral stain of slavery on our country and raises awareness of the continued legacy of systemic racism and inequality. It also provides an opportunity to recommit ourselves to the work of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice; as a community, we must pledge to continue to lift every voice in support of the abolition of hate and racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, and other forms of oppression.

LGBTQIA+ Pride Month: June is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in the United States. Pride affirms the many identities within the LGBTQIA+ community while creating spaces for individuals to show up as their most authentic selves. This month celebrates LGBTQIA+ cultures, achievements, and activism while also remembering violence committed against this community and raising awareness about persistent inequalities facing every community. Pride was first celebrated in 1970 on the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, a watershed moment in modern activism in which LGBTQIA+ individuals – many of them Black and Brown – protested police brutality and shifted conversations about human rights in the United States. Instrumental to the Stonewall Uprising were Marsha P Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, the first Trans Women of Color to lead an organization in the United States. Johnson and Rivera worked dedicated their lives to social justice, amplifying the voices of People of Color and low-income Trans communities in the struggle for equality.

While the LGBTQIA+ movement is often portrayed as a movement of white gay males, Johnson and Rivera remind us that the movement’s social justice work was driven by Black and Brown activists. Black and Brown LGBTQIA+ activists like Johnson and Rivera have been instrumental in police reform, mental health awareness, advocating for sexual health and healthy attitudes about sexuality, and raising awareness about bodily rights and gendered and sexualized violence. Pride provides an opportunity for greater unity, visibility, and equality for the LGBTQIA+ community and for continuing to advocate for human rights. This month, we celebrate all that has been achieved in advocating for human rights but recognize that much remains to be done.

There is no singular way to celebrate Pride; dates, traditions, and length of celebrations change by location. Typically, celebrations involve marches, speeches, outdoor festivals, concerts, performances, and workshops. The Office for Diversity and Inclusion prefers not to limit celebrations of the LGBTQIA+ community to June; rather, we believe in celebrating the community year-round. The Rainbow Center has a number of events, programs, and initiatives to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community, including the Rainbow Center Symposium in October; Platonic Stargazing (an event to introduce different identities on the asexual and aromantic spectrum) in October; the Drag Show in April; the Rainbow Center Talent Show in April; Sapphic Speed Dating; and free Hep C and HIV testing. We join in celebrating the LGBTQIA+ members of our community, and in working alongside them to continue advocating for human rights!

PRLACC’s 50^th Anniversary (June 11^th): Though not a federal holiday, June 11^th commemorates the 50^th anniversary of UConn’s Puerto Rican and Latin American Cultural Center, which improves the status of Latinx students and promotes awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the richness and diversity of Latinx individuals and Latin American cultures. Come join PRLACC for the Latin Dance Cabaret! See the Jorgensen’s website for the most up-to-date ticket and COVID policy information.

Shavuot (June 4^th – 6^th): The Festival of Shavuot is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the grain harvest for summer and commemorates the day G-d gave the Torah to the entire Israelite nation assembled at Mount Sinai seven weeks into the Exodus from Egypt. Shavuot occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan (usually late May or early July), 50 days after the first seder meal of Passover. Celebrations include going to the synagogue to hear the 10 Commandments, having a festive meal with dairy foods, and staying up all night to learn the Torah. Readings from the Book of Ruth are emphasized for Shavuot.

World Refugee Day (June 20^th): World Refugee Day honors the strength and courage of refugees. It encourages public awareness and support for people forced to flee their homelands because of war, terror, natural disaster, or other crises. Created by the United Nations in 2001 to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the UN’s 1951 Convention Related to the Status of Refugees, World Refugee Day is an opportunity to build empathy and understanding for refugees’ plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives. This year’s focus is on the right to seek safety – every person on this planet has the right to seek safety, whoever they are, wherever they come from, and whenever they are forced to flee. People forced from their homes should be treated with dignity.

The last few years have made the refugee crisis more urgent in the United States. In addition to violence that has caused Afghanis, Syrians, Ukrainians, and other peoples to seek safety in the United States, the hardships in coming to the US have increased, whether because of federal policies reducing the number of resettlement agencies or increased public resistance to accepting refugees due to fears about COVID. Seeking safety is only the first step in an arduous journey for most refugees, who have little say in where they are relocated to and have to wait long periods of time as they navigate complicated bureaucracies – often in settlement camps that are dangerous and ill-suited for long-term habitation. The last few years have made refugees especially vulnerable.

The University of Connecticut is deeply concerned about the refugee crisis. The University has several resources available to help those whose quest for safety led them to Connecticut, including UConn Law’s Asylum and Human Rights Clinic and the Human Rights Institute’s partnership with nonprofit services like Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services and the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants. The Human Rights Institute leads UConn’s educational resources, including through the Human Rights Major for undergraduates. UConn Health also provides educational resources about providing care for refugee and immigrant patients. Students can also get involved through the Huskies for Refugees club.

Sincerely,

Anne and Frank

Anne D’Alleva
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Frank Tuitt
Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer

UConn4A Mentorship Program: Interviewing 101 Workshop (6/14)

UConn Asian American Alumni Association (UConn4A) Mentorship Program Presents: Interviewing 101 Workshop

Come and sharpen your interviewing skills in this interactive workshop! You'll have the opportunity to learn from our speakers, mock interviews with experienced professionals, and be able to answer any question with confidence!

**This event is open to all UConn undergraduate students and recent grads!**

Date: Tuesday, June 14th

Time: 6:30 - 8pm EST

Location: Zoom

Register here to receive the Zoom link: https://forms.gle/86ijsb7PnAM9oT3H6

Standing Against Despair: Message from University Leadership

May 26, 2022

Dear Students and Colleagues,

In the last two weeks alone, the United States has seen three horrific mass shootings in which dozens of innocent people – including 19 children – were slaughtered by gunfire. From a church in Laguna Woods, California, to a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, to an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas; so many precious lives have been erased by unspeakable violence and twisted hatred.

In California, the victims were targeted because they were Taiwanese. In Buffalo, because they were Black. We do not know why a gunman chose to enter Robb Elementary School in Uvalde to murder children and educators, but answering the question will bring no comfort to their loved ones, their community, or the entire nation that is grieving for them and all the victims of the senseless shootings that afflict this nation. For those of us in Connecticut, we are once again reminded of the painful memory of the killing of children and educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown a decade ago. Our wish was that it would never happen again.

In our grief, we can feel helpless and hopeless. We know that ours is the only country in the world where mass shootings happen on a regular basis. Hopelessness, though, improves nothing and benefits no one. As individuals, we can contribute acts of kindness, of sympathy, and of charity. But as a public university, we have a responsibility to provide citizens and policymakers with the research and data they need to implement real solutions that will reduce the likelihood of such horrific violence.

At UConn, faculty members ranging in disciplines from public policy, law, psychiatry, and social work have applied themselves to gathering data and working within communities to uncover the sources of violence, and to craft tools for reducing that violence. They are at the forefront of a national movement of interdisciplinary scholarship that sees gun violence not as a problem without a solution, but as a challenge that will yield to the application of informed policies by an engaged citizenry. A discussion of some of the research being done, and the insights of the faculty members behind it can be found here.

Nothing will ease the grief and outrage we feel in the wake of every mass shooting. But in order to address the problem we first need to understand it. We rely on our faculty to help us do that, and we are fortunate to have dedicated scholars at UConn willing to take up the challenge.

Our hearts will always be with the victims and their loved ones.

Sincerely,

Radenka Maric, President

Anne D’Alleva, Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. Bruce Liang, Chief Executive Officer & Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, UConn Health

ODI Statement on Buffalo Shooting

May 16, 2022

Over the weekend, mass shootings targeting racially minoritized groups resulted in the unnecessary loss of lives in three American communities: Buffalo, NY; Laguna Woods, CA; and Dallas, TX. The Office for Diversity and Inclusion mourns alongside members of these communities. We believe that everyone should be able to live without the fear of violence. We believe that anti-racism is anti-violence.

For members of the UConn community impacted by violence, know that the University has resources dedicated to supporting you. Find access to mental health resources at Student Health and Wellness (SHaW). ODI has also compiled a list of mental health resources both on-campus and off-campus. Visit the Cultural Centers and Programs, as well as UConn’s Faculty, Staff, Student and Alumni Resources.

We are saddened by this violence. We stand with you and are dedicated to building safe and inclusive communities alongside you.

Student Parent Support Symposium 2022 (May 18-19)

May 12, 2022

The Women's Center and the Office for Diversity and Inclusion are excited to promote the 2022 Virtual National Student Parent Support Symposium! This nationally-acclaimed symposium put on by The Ohio State University brings together students, community and higher education professionals to discuss best practices, policies, research, program models, and community collaboration when supporting post-secondary parenting students and their families. The focus is on how to empower this unique college population while assisting them with overcoming barriers that may keep them from graduating.

This year's theme will be "Bridging the Intersections: Connecting the Needs and Experiences of Parenting Students."

This virtual event will be held on May 18th and May 19th and will be free-of-charge to support the success and accessibility of parenting students and advocates. Go to the Ohio State Office of Diversity and Inclusion website for more information and to register. You can also sign up for the SPSS listserv.

Latin Cabaret: Celebrating PRLACC’s 50th Anniversary (June 11)

The Puerto Rican / Latin American Cultural Center (PRLACC) and Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts invite you to "Latin Cabaret: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of PRLACC!"

Break out your dancing shoes and join us for a special evening of live music and dance in honor of the 50th anniversary of UConn's Puerto Rican/Latin American Cultural Center. Get here when doors open at 7:00 PM because DJ Nervioso will be mixing live before Orlando Ortiz & Karibe Mambo Orchestra take the stage.

Orlando Ortiz & Karibe Mambo Orchestra are a ten-piece Latin band that has been setting the tri-state area (NY, CT, NJ) on fire with their unique sound for almost 20 years. The band is an ensemble of seasoned musicians who have played in some of the best musical groups throughout the U.S. and abroad. First and foremost a dance band, they project a powerful and energetic sound, specializing in Caribbean music - Salsa, Cha-Cha-Cha and Son Montuno.

Get ready to dance the night away! This in-person event will be held on Saturday, June 11th. You can purchase tickets and find the most up-to-date COVID policy at the Jorgensen website.