DiversityNewsletter11-2017

CONNECTIONS

The Business of Relationships Diversity and Inclusion

Newsletter

[email protected] Issue 11, November 2017

A Note from the Chair Diversity Committee’s Mission

Welcome back to another exciting school year filled with promise and RCGC wishes to express its
opportunities to promote campus wide diversity and inclusion. The strong commitment to the goal
Diversity Committee and Student Life will be working together to of diversity, respect, civility and
celebrate and highlight multicultural activities throughout the school inclusion on our campus. The
year. Our hope is to increase mutual understanding and respect among promotion and retention of a
the various religious, ethnic and cultural groups on campus. RCGC’s diverse faculty/staff and student
Diversity Committee strives to build upon the diversity of our community body is essential to the success
to establish a more inclusive educational environment. RCGC’s Diversity of our institution as a collective
Committee remains steadfastly committed to upholding equality, body as well as our respective
diversity and inclusion. professional pursuits. Diversity
brings to our campus a broader
The heinous acts of violence against U.S. citizens of various colors, and richer environment, which
cultures, religions, and political groups have reached new levels. Instead produces creative thinking and
of giving in to the powerlessness we may feel to stop racism and solutions. As such, RCGC
opposing political views, every institution must examine its own role in embraces and encourages
perpetuating (inadvertently and advertently) racist thinking and policies. diversity in all aspects of its
We cannot truthfully construct equal opportunities for all until our activities. RCGC is committed to
institutions take specific actions to end that thinking and those policies. creating and maintaining a
Despite the most recent horrific events taking place across our nation, we culture that supports and
must continue to be diligent in our pursuit of true democracy for all. promotes diversity and
inclusion.
Colleges, Universities and other organizations have found that achieving
real and sustained diversity and inclusion programs, initiatives, and Purpose & Intent
committees has been a multifaceted task– one that requires a more
concentrated approach. We will continue to publish “CONNECTIONS” as Diversity Committee: serves as a
an instrument to augment awareness and sensitivity about religious
obligations as well as ethnic and cultural festivities that may affect review advisory and
students, colleagues and neighbors. RCGC strives to build a culture that
values meritocracy, openness, fairness and transparency for its staff and recommending body to the
students.
appropriate Vice President to
If Not Us, Who? If Not Now, When? Everyday acts of love and Courage
point to remarkable promise that every human life is of substantial promote diversity in all RCGC
value.
activities- academic, co-
Best regards,
curricular and administrative.
Ya Vanca Brooks, Chair of Diversity
The Diversity Committee also

provides strategies for infusing

multiculturalism into all aspects

of the campus community and

encourages a respectful

workplace.

[email protected] Issue 11, November 2017

What is Diabetes? Gestational diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called Gestational diabetes develops in
blood sugar, is too high. Blood glucose is your main source of energy and some women when they are
comes from the food you eat. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, pregnant. Most of the time, this
helps glucose from food get into your cells to be used for energy. type of diabetes goes away after
Sometimes your body doesn’t make enough—or any—insulin or doesn’t the baby is born. However, if
use insulin well. Glucose then stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your you’ve had gestational diabetes,
cells. you have a greater chance of
developing type 2 diabetes later
What are the different types of diabetes? in life. Sometimes diabetes
diagnosed during pregnancy is
The most common types of diabetes are type 1, type 2, and gestational actually type 2 diabetes.
diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes

If you have type 1 diabetes, your body does not make insulin. Your immune
system attacks and destroys the cells in your pancreas that make insulin.
Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, although
it can appear at any age. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin
every day to stay alive.

Type 2 diabetes

If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not make or use insulin well.
You can develop type 2 diabetes at any age, even during childhood.
However, this type of diabetes occurs most often in middle-aged and older
people. Type 2 is the most common type of diabetes.

[email protected] Issue 11, November 2017

What started at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of In 1990 President George H. W.
recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to Bush approved a joint resolution
the establishment and growth of the U.S., has resulted in a whole month designating November 1990
being designated for that purpose. “National American Indian
Heritage Month.” Similar
One of the very proponents of an American Indian Day was Dr. Arthur C. proclamations, under variants
Parker, a Seneca Indian, who was the director of the Museum of Arts and on the name (including “Native
Science in Rochester, N.Y. He persuaded the Boy Scouts of America to set American Heritage Month” and
aside a day for the “First Americans” and for three years they adopted “National American Indian and
such a day. In 1915, the annual Congress of the American Indian Alaska Native Heritage Month”)
Association meeting in Lawrence, Kans., formally approved a plan have been issued each year since
concerning American Indian Day. It directed its president, Rev. Sherman 1994.
Coolidge, an Arapahoe, to call upon the country to observe such a day.
Coolidge issued a proclamation on Sept. 28, 1915, which declared the
second Saturday of each May as an American Indian Day and contained
the first formal appeal for recognition of Indians as citizens.

The year before this proclamation was issued, Red Fox James, a Blackfoot
Indian, rode horseback from state to state seeking approval for a day to
honor Indians. On December 14, 1915, he presented the endorsements
of 24 state governments at the White House. There is no record,
however, of such a national day being proclaimed.

The first American Indian Day in a state was declared on the second
Saturday in May 1916 by the governor of New York. Several states
celebrate the fourth Friday in September. In Illinois, for example,
legislators enacted such a day in 1919. Presently, several states have
designated Columbus Day as Native American Day, but it continues to be
a day we observe without any recognition as a national legal holiday.

[email protected] Issue 11, November 2017

[email protected] Issue 11, November 2017

Dates for your Diary – November 2017 The Diversity Committee will be
collaborating with Student Life
1) World Science Day for Peace and throughout the Fall and Spring
Development – 11/10/17 semesters to promote diverse and
(https://www.wincalendar.com/Sci inclusive activities. Below is a list of
ence-Day-Peace-Development) dates for the fall line-up. Please stop
by or join in the activities and tell
2) Veterans’ Day – 11/11/17
(https://www.wincalendar.com/Vet your students. Mondays are
erans-Day) dedicated to craft activities.
Thursdays will be movie days.
3) World Kindness Day – 11/13/17
(https://www.timeanddate.com/ho September 28, 2017: “Book of Life”
lidays/fun/world-kindness-day)
October 5, 2017: “Rent”
4) World Diabetes Day – 11/14/17
(https://www.wincalendar.com/Wo October 9, 2017: Pride Bracelets
rld-Diabetes-Day)
October 23, 2017: Letters to the
5) International Day for Tolerance – Troops
11/16/17
(https://www.wincalendar.com/Int November 13, 2017: Dream
ernational-Day-for-Tolerance) Catchers

6) Thanksgiving – 11/23/17 November 22, 2017 (Wednesday):
(https://www.wincalendar.com/Th Service Dog Demo
anksgiving-day)
December 14, 2017: “RACE”
7) Giving Tuesday – 11/28/17
(https://www.wincalendar.com/Giv
ing-Tuesday)

Diversity and Inclusion Resource Center Diversity Website is under college overview
 https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ https://www.rcgc.edu/Diversity

ocr/frontpage/faq/disability.html Send us your thoughts, comments, publications,
 Keith Nolan: Deaf in the Military. planned events, announcements, and your
campus wide Diversity initiatives.
https://www.ted.com/talks/keith_nolan CONNECTIONS will be circulated on the 2nd
_deaf_in_the_military Monday of every month. Please make all

[email protected] submissions by the 1st Monday of the month to
[email protected]

Issue 11, November 2017

THE SOCIAL JUSTICE CORNER “Social Justice is the virtue
which guides us in creating
The Definition of Social Justice those organized human
interactions we institutions.
What is the true definition of Social Justice? The Urban Dictionary In turn, social institution
suggests that ‘Social Justice’ advocates promoting tolerance, when justly organized
freedom, and equality for all people regardless of race, sex, provide us with access to
orientation, national origin, handicap, etc..., but here are some of what is good for the person,
the common definitions: both individually and in our
associations with others.
“A state or doctrine of egalitarianism (Egalitarianism defined as 1: Social justice also imposes on
a belief in human equality especially with respect to social, each of us a personal
political, and economic affairs; 2: a social philosophy advocating responsibility to work with
the removal of inequalities among people)” – Merriam-Webster others to design and
Dictionary continually perfect our
institutions as tools for
“The fair and proper administration of laws conforming to the personal and social
natural law that all persons, irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, development “- Center for
possessions, race, religion, etc., are to be treated equally and Economic and Social Justice
without prejudice. See also civil rights.” – Business Dictionary
Despite the varying
” The distribution of advantages and disadvantages within a definitions of the term ‘Social
society” – Dictionary.Com Justice’ the common thread
that exist among them all are
“…justice exercised within a society, particularly as it is exercised the ideas of: human rights;
by and among the various social glasses of that society. A socially dignity; political, economic,
just society is defined by its advocates and practioners as being social, and other equality;
based on the principles of equality and solidarity; this pedagogy equal distribution personal
also maintains that the socially just society both understands and responsibility; and creating
values human rights, as well as recognizing the dignity of every access to opportunity and
human being.” – Wikipedia chance through action.
Keeping that in mind, it
“Social justice is the view that everyone deserves equal economic, becomes apparent why
political and social rights and opportunities.” – National incorporating Social Justice
Association of Social Workers into pedagogical methods
should be a key component
of Education.

[email protected] Issue 11, November 2017

THE SOCIAL JUSTICE CORNER

Disability Discrimination

In the Equality Act, a disability means a physical or a mental
condition which has a substantial and long-term impact on your
ability to do normal day to day activities.

You are also covered by the Act if you have a progressive condition
like HIV, cancer or multiple sclerosis, even if you are currently able
to carry out normal day to day activities. You are protected as
soon as you are diagnosed with a progressive condition.

You are also covered by the Act if you had a disability in the past.

What is disability discrimination?

Different types of disability discrimination

Circumstances when being treated differently due to disability is
lawful

[email protected] Issue 11, November 2017