Dear Members of the Darden Community,

 

This October provides an opportunity for several commemorations and celebrations of culture and identity. Hispanic Heritage Month continues until October 15th.  Hispanic Heritage month began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week, and 20 years later expanded to the 30 day period between September and October that we see today. According to US Census Bureau September 15th is on or close to the anniversaries of independence for several Latin American countries.

 

As is always the case when thinking deeply about a culture, or group with a rich linguistic, cultural and ethnic variations, it is worth taking the time to explore the individual nuances, histories and traditions that come together to encompass the phrase “Hispanic”. This article from the Washington Post provides a quick overview of the terms that have arisen over time to describe this pan ethnic community.

 

October also brings with it Indigenous Peoples Day, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and International Pronouns Day. Each of these special days and months, like Hispanic Heritage Month,  exist to increase awareness of these communities, celebrate key milestones, and most importantly engage allies across lines of difference.

 

Sincerely,

 

The Darden Diversity Team

 

 

Upcoming Commemorations and Observances

 

 

National Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15 – October 15

Columbus Day – October 10
Disability Employment Awareness Month Indigenous Peoples Day – October 10
LGBT History Month National Coming Out Day – October 11

 

Nigerian Independence Day  – October

 

Dia de la Raza – October 12
Yom Kippur

October 4 – 5

International Pronouns Day – October 19

 

Sukkot

October 9 – 16

Diwali – October 24

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

That’s the Way of the World, Intro to DEI

Tuesday, 10.11, 12:30pm  – 1:45pm EST

Diversity, equity, and inclusion. These are words that affect many of our lives but what do they really mean? How are they defined? What can they mean to you? Join us as we provide an introductory overview of these definitions and their potential value to you. Should you have any questions, please contact Sly Mata at mata@virginia.edu. Offered by UVA’s Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

 

 

The Idea of a University in Our Time With Dr. Cornel West

Thursday, 10.13, 6:00pm -8:00pm EST, Old Cabell Hall

Join us for an evening with Dr. Cornel West. This event is free and open to the public and will include time for a Q&A moderated by Robert Trent Vinson, Director, and Chair of the Carter G. Woodson Institute for African American & African Studies. Dr. Cornel West, affectionately known to many as Brother West, is the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Chair at Union Theological Seminary. Dr. West teaches on the works of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, as well as courses in Philosophy of Religion, African American Critical Thought, and a wide range of subjects — including but by no means limited to, the classics, philosophy, politics, cultural theory, literature, and music.

 

 

From Ghana to Gullah-Geechie Marley Experience

Friday, 10.15. , 6:00pm -8:00pm

Serving as a platform to amplify the Gullah peoples, the curated selection of images featured in this exhibition highlight the roots of Ghanaian and Gullah culture ranging from the foods they eat, the music they embrace, the standards and morals they live by, the traditions, the connections in their trauma back to slavery, and the resilience and liberation where they continue to fight and thrive to this present day.

 

 

Unveiling the Origin of Charlottesville’s Monuments

Saturday, 10.15, 7:15pm -8:30pm

Tightly focused on the construction of Confederate monuments between 1909 and 1924, the film explores why the statues were commissioned, built, and erected during this era; who was behind them; their explicit and implied meanings; and how they reflect the culture and politics of their era.

 

 

Fixer-Upper: How to Repair America’s Broken Housing Systems

Monday, 10.17, 5:00pm

Fixer Upper: How to Repair America’s Broken Housing Systems by Jenny Schuetz, is the first book assessing how the broad set of local, state, and national housing policies affect people and communities. It does more than describe how yesterday’s policies led to today’s problems. It proposes practical policy changes than can make stable, decent-quality housing more available and affordable for all Americans in all communities. This event is in-person only; it will be recorded and made available on UVA School of Architecture’s YouTube Channel.

 

 

Introduction to Implicit Bias

Tuesday, 10.18,  12:30pm – 1:45pm EST

Join us for an introduction to implicit bias. In this session we will seek to understand a particular type of bias commonly referred to as implicit bias. We will engage and consider ways we can become more aware of our own biases (where they come from and how to notice them) and learn specific approaches we can take as individuals to mitigate negative implicit biases we may notice. Offered by UVA’s Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion  

 

 

I Felt That; Microaggression and Its Impact

Wednesday,  10.20,  12:30pm – 1:45pm EST

This presentation will provide an overview and definition of the concept of microaggressions. Additionally, this presentation will provide examples of three distinct types of microaggressions and the impact it has on individuals. This workshop will also provide participants with an approach on how to defend themselves from microaggressions using the R.A.V.E.N. method. This method is useful in confronting microaggressions in different scenarios and situations. If you have any questions, please contact Sly Mata at gdh2ny@virginia.edu. Offered by UVA’s Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

 

 

Women in General Management

Wednesday, 10.26 4:00pm -6:00pm EST

Join GWIB and the GMO club in-person for panel discussion with women from Liberty Mutual Insurance, Teamshares, Danaher, DaVita Envista, Evergreen Services Group to hear about their experience in a general management and leadership development program role. Snacks will be provided.

 

 

Resources

LatinX History is Black History

Smithsonian National Museum of American History: the Disability Rights Movement

GLSEN Pronoun Guide

LGBT History Month Icons

Get the Most Out of Your Cold Calls

 

 

What We’re Reading/Watching/Listening To

Black Owned Credit Union Pledges 1 Billion to Amplify Underserved Deep South Communities

Redressing the Praise Deficit: Women in Leadership and Leveraging Your Best Self

Yom Kippur- What Does Judaism Actually Say About Forgiveness

Who Belongs in Cherokee Nation?

 

What We Missed Last Month

Brazilian Independence Day  – September 7