DiversityNewsletter4-2018

CONNECTIONS

The Business of Relationships Diversity and Inclusion

Newsletter

[email protected] Issue 4, April 2018

A Note from the Chair Diversity Committee’s Mission

Happy New Year everyone! The Diversity Committee remains steadfast in RCGC wishes to express its
our goals to continually advocate for campus wide diversity and inclusion. strong commitment to the goal
The Diversity Committee and Student Life will maintain an on-going of diversity, respect, civility and
partnership to ensure that we observe and recognize the cultural inclusion on our campus. The
diversity on campus. Our hope is to increase mutual understanding and promotion and retention of a
respect among the various religious, ethnic and cultural groups on diverse faculty/staff and student
campus. RCGC’s Diversity Committee strives to build upon the diversity of body is essential to the success
our community to establish a more inclusive educational environment. of our institution as a collective
RCGC’s Diversity Committee remains steadfastly committed to upholding body as well as our respective
equality, 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 4, April 2018

National Autism Awareness Month Sexual Assault Awareness
Month
The first National Autism Awareness Month was declared by the
Autism Society in April 1970. The aim of this month is educate the Each year during the month
public about autism. Autism is a complex mental condition and of April, state, territory,
developmental disability, characterized by difficulties in the way a tribal and community-based
person communicates and interacts with other people. Autism can organizations, rape crisis
be be present from birth or form during early childhood (typically centers, government
within the first three years). Autism is a lifelong developmental agencies, businesses,
disability with no single known cause. campuses and individuals
plan events and activities to
Black Women’s History Month highlight sexual violence as a
public health, human rights
Black Women’s History Month is to embrace achievements, build and social justice issue and
understanding and awareness, and to celebrate the rich history of reinforce the need for
the past, present and future generations of not only Black Women prevention efforts.
but minority Women who are the Descendants of Africa. Black
Women’s History Month is about unifying the community by Stress Awareness Month
promoting visibility, education, empowerment, contribution and
achievement which positively impacts communities across the During this annual thirty day
globe. period, health care
professionals and health
National Poetry Month promotion experts across the
country will join forces to
National Poetry Month was inaugurated by the Academy of increase public awareness
American Poets in 1996. Over the years, it has become the largest about both the causes and
literary celebration in the world with schools, publishers, libraries, cures for our modern stress
booksellers, and poets celebrating poetry’s vital place in our epidemic.
culture.

National Volunteer Month

April became National Volunteer Month as part of President
George H. W. Bush’s 1000 Points of Light campaign in 1991. Thank
a volunteer. Volunteer! Many volunteers will tell you it is a
rewarding experience. You don’t have to have a ton of time. Do
you have a special talent or skill that may benefit a charity or
organization? Offer your services or ask how you can be of help.

[email protected] Issue 4, April 2018

The Diversity Committee Presents

Diversity Committee & The Diversity Committee Ted Talk Tuesdays Dates:
Student Life presents Ted Talks Tuesdays! March 13th, 2018
April 10th, 2018
Activities TED began in 1984 as a May 8th, 2018
April 23rd, 2018: Earth Day conference - an acronym for June 12th, 2018
Potted Plants Technology, Entertainment July 10th, 2018
Stay tuned for more Diversity and Design. Ted Talks are August 14th, 2018
Committee and Student Life short compelling videos
activities! covering global issues from Stay tuned for the fall 2018
science to social justice topics. line-up of Ted Talks, Lecture
[email protected]
We invite all faculty, staff and Series & other Activities
students to participate. This sponsored by the Diversity
could be an excellent way to
openly and honestly spark a Committee
conversation about domestic
and global issues at the same Issue 4, April 2018
time bring diverse voices and
questions relevant in higher
education and the world at
large.

There will also be an
opportunity for a short panel
discussion after each Ted Talk.

Every second Tuesday of the
month starting February 13th,
2018 to August 14th, 2018 at
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm in the IC,
room 430.

Stay tuned for upcoming
topic announcements!

[email protected] Issue 4, April 2018

[email protected] Issue 4, April 2018

Calendar of Observances – April 2018 National Sexual Assault Hotline

1) Easter – 4/1/2018 1-800-656-4673 (24/7 Hotline)
(https://www.wincalendar.com/
Easter) There is also an online hotline at:
https://hotline.rainn.org/online/terms-of-
2) World Health Day – 4/7/2018 service.jsp
(https://www.wincalendar.com/
World-Health-Day)

3) Holocaust Remembrance Day –
4/12/2018
(https://www.wincalendar.com/
Holocaust-Remembrance-Day)

4) Earth Day – 4/22/2018
(https://www.wincalendar.com/
Earth-Day)

5) Arbor Day – 4/27/2018
(https://www.wincalendar.com/
Arbor-Day)

Diversity and Inclusion Resource Center Diversity Website is under college overview
https://www.rcgc.edu/Diversity
 Autism Society Southwest New Jersey
www.solvingthepuzzle.com Send us your thoughts, comments, publications,
planned events, announcements, and your
 Jessica Ladd campus wide Diversity initiatives.
https://www.ted.com/talks/jessica_ladd CONNECTIONS will be circulated on the 2nd
_the_reporting_system_that_sexual_ass Monday of every month. Please make all
ault_survivors_want
submissions by the 1st Monday of the month to
[email protected] [email protected]

Issue 4, April 2018

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 4, April 2018

THE SOCIAL JUSTICE CORNER

Sexual Orientation Discrimination

The Equality Act 2010 says you must not be discriminated against
because you are heterosexual, gay, lesbian or bisexual. If someone
thinks you have a particular sexual orientation, this is known as
discrimination by perception. If you are connected to someone
who has a particular sexual orientation, this is known as
discrimination by association. In the Equality Act, sexual
orientation includes how you choose to express your sexual
orientation, such as through your appearance or the places you
visit.

Different types of sexual orientation discrimination

Circumstances when being treated differently due to sexual
orientation is lawful

[email protected] Issue 4, April 2018