DiversityNewsletter3-2018 (Autosaved)

CONNECTIONS

The Business of Relationships Diversity and Inclusion

Newsletter

[email protected] Issue 3, March 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 3, March 2018

Women’s History Month

In 1987, the National Women's History Project (NWHP) helped lead a
campaign to launch Women's History Month, a time designated for
recognizing accomplishments made by women throughout history. In
honor of the month-long celebration, seven inspiring facts about women
today.

Here are seven interesting facts about women in the 21st century:

 Women are winning mayoral elections more frequently: In 2016,
women secured more mayoral election wins in 18.9 percent of U.S.
cities with more than 30,000 residents, according to data from
Catalyst.org.

 Women are taking initiative within the business world: As of 2015,
women in the U.S. owned more than 9.4 million firms, generating $1.5
trillion in sales, according to the National Association of Women
Business Owners (NAWBO). Women of color, however, own 2.9
million firms.

 Women tend to live longer than men: Females longevity is seen across
every country worldwide. This can be partly attributed to estrogen, a
hormone that has protective capabilities.

 A transgender woman was elected to office for the first time ever: In
2017, Danica Roem became the first openly trans woman to be
elected when Virginia voted her into the House of Delegates. The 32-
year-old managed to beat Republican candidate Bob Marshall, who
established a firm stance against the LBGTQ community.

 More women are joining the military: Today, women make up 15
percent of active military personnel. While the field is still dominated
by males, this percentage is a small boost from the reported 11
percent enlisted in 1990.

 Women are increasingly enrolling in law school: As of now, women
make up 50.3 percent of current law school graduates, according to a
report from Law 360. However, these graduates are seeing fewer
employment opportunities—they represent just 35 percent of lawyers
at firms nationwide.

 Women in Hollywood are leading the charge against sexual
harassment: More than 300 women working in the entertainment
industry—from Natalie Portman to America Fererra—joined forces in
January 2018 to launch the Times Up initiative to help put an end to
sexual misconduct. "To women in every industry who are subjected to
indignities and offensive behavior that they are expected to tolerate
to make a living: We stand with you. We support you," read an open
letter. The movement has raised $20 million to date.

[email protected] Issue 3, March 2018

Women’s History Month Activities

 Open until March 17th: Female-Focused
Exhibits at The Galleries at the Moore
College of Art & Design
(https://moore.edu/the-galleries-at-
moore/exhibitions)

 Throughout March: Women’s History
Month at the National Constitution
Center

(https://constitutioncenter.org/learn/ci
vic-calendar/womens-history-month)
 From March 5 to 28: Women’s History

Month at the Free Library of
Philadelphia

(https://libwww.freelibrary.org/calenda
r/?q=&type=&series=&location_code=&

age=&terms=womens-history-
month&date_range=)

 From March 16 to 24: The Women’s
Film Festival at the Kimmel Center
(https://thewomensfilmfestival.org)

 March 17: Women in Science Day at the
Franklin Institute

(https://www.fi.edu/event/2018-03-
17/women-science-day)

[email protected] Issue 3, March 2018

The Diversity Committee Presents

Diversity Committee & The Diversity Committee Ted Talk Tuesdays Dates:
Student Life presents Ted Talk Tuesdays! March 13th, 2018
April 10th, 2018
Activities TED began in 1984 as a May 8th, 2018
February 8th, 2018: Movie conference - an acronym for June 12th, 2018
“Selma” Technology, Entertainment July 10th, 2018
February 28th, 2018: Tribal and Design. Ted Talks are August 14th, 2018
Bracelets short compelling videos
April 23rd, 2018: Earth Day covering global issues from Stay tuned for the fall 2018
Potted Plants 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 sponspored by the
could be an excellent way to Diversity Committee
openly and honestly spark a
conversation about domestic Issue 3, March 2018
and global issues at the same
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 3, March 2018

[email protected] Issue 3, March 2018

Calendar of Observances – March 2018 Vai Sikahema

1) March is Women’s History Month and GRIT: Why it Matters
National Nutrition Month! Wednesday, March 28
10-11 am Fine Arts
2) Zero Discrimination Day – 3/1/2018 Center
(https://www.wincalendar.com/Zero- Sponsored by Carole
Discrimination-Day) McNaughton
(Psychology Instructor),
3) Holi – 3/2/2018 the Liberal Arts Division
(https://www.wincalendar.com/Holi) & The RCGC Diversity
Committee
4) World Wildlife Day – 3/3/2018 For more information:
(https://www.wincalendar.com/World- Carole McNaughton
Wildlife-Day) [email protected]

5) International Women’s Day – 3/8/2018 Diversity Website is under college overview
(https://www.wincalendar.com/Interna https://www.rcgc.edu/Diversity
tional-Womens-Day)
Send us your thoughts, comments, publications,
6) World Kidney Day – 3/8/2018 planned events, announcements, and your
(https://www.wincalendar.com/World- campus wide Diversity initiatives.
Kidney-Day) CONNECTIONS will be circulated on the 2nd
Monday of every month. Please make all
7) Daylight Savings Time Begins on
3/11/2018! Don’t forget to spring submissions by the 1st Monday of the month to
forward one hour! [email protected]

8) St. Patrick’s Day – 3/17/2018 Issue 3, March 2018
(https://www.wincalendar.com/Saint-
Patricks-Day)

9) First Day of spring! – 3/20/2018
10) International Day of Happiness –

3/20/2018
(https://www.wincalendar.com/Interna
tional-Day-Happiness)
11) World Poetry Day – 3/21/2018
(https://www.wincalendar.com/World-
Poetry-Day)
12) Passover Starts – 3/31/2018
(https://www.wincalendar.com/Passov
er)

Diversity and Inclusion Resource Center

 Where to Celebrate Women in Phila.
https://www.uwishunu.com/2018/02/cel
ebrate-womens-history-month-
philadelphia-2/

 Women Trailblazing in STEM
https://www.salesforce.com/blog/2018/
03/women-trailblazers-stem.html

[email protected]

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 3, March 2018

THE SOCIAL JUSTICE CORNER

Pregnancy and Maternity
Discrimination

Pregnancy and maternity discrimination is when you’re treated unfairly
because you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or because you’ve recently given
birth. When you’ve given birth or are breastfeeding, you’re protected
against discrimination for 26 weeks following the day you gave birth. If
you’re treated unfavorably after this, you could still be protected against
discrimination. However, it would be sex discrimination rather than
pregnancy and maternity discrimination.

Additional information on pregnancy and maternity discrimination:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/discrimination/what-
are-the-different-types-of-discrimination/pregnancy-and-maternity-
discrimination/

[email protected] Issue 3, March 2018