DiversityNewsletter2-2018

CONNECTIONS

The Business of Relationships Diversity and Inclusion

Newsletter

[email protected] Issue 2, February 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
“In the course of history, there comes a time when humanity is
called to shift to a new level of consciousness, to reach a higher promote diversity in all RCGC
moral ground. A time when we have to shed our fear and give hope
to each other. That time is now.” ~~Wangari Maathai 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 2, February 2018

Black History Month  In 1940, Hattie McDaniel was
the first African-American
Black History Month honors the contributions of African Americans to performer to win an Academy
U.S. history. Did you know that Madam C.J. Walker was America’s first Award—the film industry’s
woman to become a self-made millionaire, or that George Washington highest honor—for her
Carver was able to derive nearly 300 products from the peanut? Get portrayal of a loyal slave
the story of the creation of the NAACP, famous firsts in African governess in Gone With the
American history and other black history facts. Wind.

 The celebration of Black History Month began as “Negro History Week,”  In 1992, Dr. Mae Jemison
which was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African American became the first African
historian, scholar, educator, and publisher. It became a month-long American woman to go into
celebration in 1976. The month of February was chosen to coincide with the space aboard the space shuttle
birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Endeavor. During her eight-
day mission, she worked with
 On February 12, 2009, the NAACP marked its 100th anniversary. Spurred by U.S. and Japanese researchers,
growing racial violence in the early twentieth century, and particularly by and was a co-investigator on a
1908 race riots in Springfield, Illinois, a group of African-American leaders bone cell experiment.
joined together to form a new permanent civil rights organization, the
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).  In 2009, Barack Obama
February 12, 1909, was chosen because it was the centennial anniversary of became the first African-
the birth of Abraham Lincoln. American president in U.S.
history. He occupied the White
 Jack Johnson became the first African-American man to hold the World House for two consecutive
Heavyweight Champion boxing title in 1908. He held onto the belt until terms, serving from 2009 to
1915. 2017.

 John Mercer Langston was the first black man to become a lawyer when he
passed the bar in Ohio in 1854. When he was elected to the post of Town
Clerk for Brownhelm, Ohio, in 1855 Langston became one of the first African
Americans ever elected to public office in America. John Mercer Langston
was also the great-uncle of Langston Hughes, famed poet of the Harlem
Renaissance.

 Thurgood Marshall was the first African American ever appointed to the
U.S. Supreme Court. He was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, and
served on the court from 1967 to 1991.

 George Washington Carver developed 300 derivative products from peanuts
among them cheese, milk, coffee, flour, ink, dyes, plastics, wood stains,
soap, linoleum, medicinal oils and cosmetics.

 Hiram Rhodes Revels was the first African American ever elected to the U.S.
Senate. He represented the state of Mississippi from February 1870 to
March 1871.

 Shirley Chisholm was the first African American woman elected to the House
of Representatives. She was elected in 1968 and represented the state
of New York. She broke ground again four years later in 1972 when she was
the first major party African-American candidate and the first female
candidate for president of the United States.

 Madam C.J. Walker was born on a cotton plantation in Louisiana and became
wealthy after inventing a line of African-American hair care products. She
established Madame C.J. Walker Laboratories and was also known for her
philanthropy.

[email protected] Issue 2, February 2018

[email protected] Issue 2, February 2018

The Diversity Committee Presents

Diversity Committee & The Diversity Committee Dr. Ollievita Williams is an
Student Life Activities presents Ted Talks Tuesdays! instructor for the Adult
Education Program here at
February 8th, 2018: Movie TED began in 1984 as a Rowan College at
“Selma” conference - an acronym for Gloucester County. One of
Technology, Entertainment her hobbies is that she is a
February 28th, 2018: Tribal and Design. Ted Talks are Philatelist. She has enjoyed
Bracelets short compelling videos collecting stamps for more
covering global issues from than forty years. Dr.
April 23rd, 2018: Earth Day science to social justice topics. Williams will be displaying
Craft of Mini Potted Plant her Black Heritage
We invite all faculty, staff and stamps on February 26,
students to participate. This 2018. In addition to her
could be an excellent way to stamps, she will also display
openly and honestly spark a posters, record albums and
conversation about domestic art work associated with
and global issues at the same famous people
time bring diverse voices and commemorated on postage
questions relevant in higher stamps. This event will take
education and the world at place in the Lower Lobby
large. area between the hours
of 12:00pm-2:00pm.
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 2, February 2018

[email protected] Issue 2, February 2018

Calendar of Observances – February 2018 AT&T’s 28 Days of Black History

1) February is Black History Month! http://about.att.com/newsroom/28_days_campai
2) Super Bowl Sunday – 2/4/2018 gn_2018.html
Black Americans have persevered through
(https://www.wincalendar.com/Su oppression since their African ancestors were first
per-Bowl) brought to this country as slaves in 1619. Since
3) World Cancer Day – 2/4/2018 then, heroes big and small have fought to edge
(https://www.wincalendar.com/Wo the black community – and all people – closer to
rld-Cancer-Day)
4) Mardi Gras- 2/13/2018 Yethse ideals our nation aspires to. This February,
(https://www.wincalendar.com/Ma
rdi-Gras) AT&T honors lesser-known heroes by inviting up-
5) Ash Wednesday – 2/14/2018 and-coming black creatives to highlight their
(https://www.wincalendar.com/As stories during our 10th annual AT&T 28
h-Wednesday) Days campaign. This year’s theme, “History by
6) Valentine’s Day – 2/14/2018 Us,” invites social influencers and filmmakers to
(https://www.wincalendar.com/Val share personal videos about these unsung figures.
entines-Day) Social media personalities Denzel Dion, Khadi Don,
7) Chinese New Year – 2/16/2018 and Maya Washington will join Hello Labs
(https://www.wincalendar.com/Chi mentees and rising filmmakers Nefertite
nese-New-Year) Nguvu and Gabrielle Shepard to share the stories
8) International Mother Language Day of triumph, strength and unbridled courage that,
– 2/21/2018 unfortunately, many of us may never otherwise
(https://www.wincalendar.com/Int know.
ernational-Mother-Language-Day)
9) Dominican Republic Independence Diversity Website is under college overview
Day – 2/27/2018 https://www.rcgc.edu/Diversity
(https://www.donquijote.org/domi
nican-culture/holidays/dominican- Send us your thoughts, comments, publications,
independence-day/) planned events, announcements, and your
campus wide Diversity initiatives.
Diversity and Inclusion Resource Center CONNECTIONS will be circulated on the 2nd
Monday of every month. Please make all
 http://www.metrokids.com/MetroKids/B
lack-History-Month-Events-2015/ submissions by the 1st Monday of the month to
[email protected]
 https://www.njea.org/njea-joins-call-
black-lives-matter-school-week-feb-5-11/ Issue 2, February 2018

[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 2, February 2018

THE SOCIAL JUSTICE CORNER

Sex Discrimination

The Equality Act 2010 says you must not be discriminated against
because you are (or are not) a particular sex. Someone thinks you are the
opposite sex. This is known as discrimination by perception. You are
connected to someone of a particular sex. This is known as discrimination
by association. In the Equality Act sex can mean either male or female, or
a group of people like men or boys, or women or girls.

What is sex discrimination?

Different types of sex discrimination

Circumstances when being treated differently due to sex is lawful

[email protected] Issue 2, February 2018