- Author: Elizabeth Ann Moon
Belonging and Inclusion. The meaning embedded in these words are symbols of how we connect as a community. Each of us find we are part of a variety of communities with varying levels of connection. During my recent vacation, I spent time coming into connection and community with my self. Thinking of how I can live a life that is nourished through connection with my mind and body, and understanding the life scripts that have guided my belief in certain values.
The title for my blog post comes from a book I read called Lived Nourished: Make Peace with Food, Banish Body Shame, and Reclaim Joy By Shana Minei Spence, MS, RDN, CDN. The book delved into the history of the $72.6 billion dollar diet culture industry and it's foundation built on a system of patriarchy and anti-blackness. Throughout the first half of the book Shana Spence speaks to her journey and the need to base conversations around health on what foods are accessible to a person. She states, "...before speaking about illness and medical conditions, ...discuss[ing] foods someone should be eating..[you must know] if they can even access the foods." (p.97) Access to food that nourishes the body is steeped in the intersectionality of a myriad of factors from trauma, non-biased health care, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and socio-economic class. Through this book, I was able to more fully acknowledge the privilege of my community and gain a new perspective on the shaping of language in how it plays into the equitable access and high level support of individuals, especially within marginalized communities in regards to health and wellness equity.
During this season of acknowledging gratitude and giving, I am indebted to each of you within UC ANR who have been a space of reflective conversations and a commitment to building stronger relationships that support a culture of belonging and inclusion.
- Author: Elizabeth Ann Moon
A recent NYT article joins a handful of other popular news outlets to highlight what they see as the failure of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion efforts. In this particular NYT Magazine article, The University of Michigan Doubled Down on D.E.I. and What Went Wrong?, the first three pages highlight reports from anti-DEI faculty and the conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation, to pinpoint how efforts to meet goals are a failure, with the language being utilized in these paragraphs coming across as applauding a demise and less of a journalistic examination of the work to question how the systems and organizations that people operate in allow or do not allow equitable access.
With all learning and growth, there are valleys and opportunities to reflect, review, recommit, and refocus. Growing and committing to doing better is not binary - it either works or does not - especially when the work is focused on each of us as Humans. Every human has the right to exist, and our current global environment has allowed the development of the authoritarian playbook where each of us as individuals, communities and governments are being bombarded, based on our on-line algorithms, on who we should deny the dignity of humanity. Conflict, disagreement, and anger are not our enemy. This is part of our human condition. What is our enemy is the consistent dehumanizing of other humans and the inability to commit to deep learning, listening to understand and the desire to embrace nuance and know that there is always a yes and to every conversation. Our goal in these conversations should always be to uphold the dignity of every person in their full authenticity. Each of us needs to commit that every person has the right to exist and live a life with inclusive access to a life of opportunity - this is what anti-racism pedagogy holds as a foundation.
Our systems and frameworks within institutions and organizations were developed without the rights of all humans to exist and deserve dignity - genocide of Indigenous people, global slave trades, stealing of land and knowledge, and many more instances, both big and small, where humans have been dehumanized for the power of other humans. So to understand whether the University of Michigan or any community of higher education has failed in delivering success based on "unrealistic, misguided expectations" (NADOHE Newsletter, President Paulette Granberry Russell, October 21,2024), we must understand that the issues we are all navigating have been with us for centuries and are not solved overnight. This work is on-going and will never end. It is a work that requires incremental steps forward and at times backwards to better align for a future that is inclusive and equitable for each one of us. Nikola Tesla said, "... [Our] duty is to lay the foundation for those who are to come, and point the way" and in the case of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion that is towards a world where the humanity of every person is centered in the work we do.
Citations
- Confessore, Nicholas. The University of Michigan Doubled Down on D.E.I. What Went Wrong?. NY Times Magazine. Retrieved October 22, 2024, from https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/16/magazine/dei-university-michigan.html
- Granberry Russell, Paulette. Message to Members: We Know Our Value. NADOHE (National Association of Diversity Officers of Higher Education) Statement. Retrieved October 22, 2024, from https://www.nadohe.org/statements/we-know-your-value
Further Resources
- What Now? With Trevor Noah https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGLDEODaMX-uh8ZqttiSoV1d30dm9C5Y_&si=LzkIcKwBl1iGKtnX
A podcast where each episode does a deep dive conversation with special guests to have an authentic conversation around a variety of issues from entertainment, business, thought leaders, and athletes.
- Othering and Belonging Institute Podcasts https://belonging.berkeley.edu/resource/podcast
- Author: Elizabeth Ann Moon
Devii Rao, San Benito County Director and Area Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor, requests your help.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Do you identify as being mixed-race and/or having mixed-ethnicity? If so, would you consider being interviewed for a couple short videos I'm making related to issues around inclusion and belonging of mixed-race/mixed-ethnicity UC ANR employees?
This project will help inform ANR's goals and activities around inclusion and belonging. My hope is that the project will benefit ANR by improving recruitment and retention of ANR employees, which will then allow us to better serve the people of California.
My goal is to conduct recorded zoom interviews with 6-10 people. I will use clips from the interviews to create 2-3 short videos on different topics. This subject is of particular interest to me, being mixed myself. I will ask 7 questions that will help inform ANR's goals and activities around inclusion and belonging. Questions will include personal questions, questions related to increasing awareness of and belonging for people who identify as being mixed-race and/or mixed-ethnicity, a question about safety in the workplace, and how ANR can support career advancement of mixed-race/ethnicity employees.
Although I will only have time to interview between 6 and 10 people, if more people are interested, I will ask those who I don't interview if they would consider answering the same list of questions in writing so I can incorporate their responses in the project analysis.
Because this is such a short timeline, please reach out to me right away if you are interested or if you have any questions (drorao@ucanr.edu / 831-205-3125). I really appreciate your consideration and hope to hear from some of you soon!
Here's a link to to sign up if you're interested: https://forms.gle/F9P1kQaDiiBEfjJz6.
Timeline
October 22 – 6-10 interviewees recruited
October 31 – all interviews scheduled
December 15 – all interviews completed
Thanks!
- Author: Elizabeth Ann Moon
Call for Nominations: UC ANR DEI Advisory Council
The UC ANR Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Advisory Council is accepting nominations to fill open positions and invites passionate colleagues to join us in advancing DEI efforts across UC ANR.
As a council member, you will collaborate with a diverse network of colleagues and Employee Resource Groups, contributing recommendations that support equity and inclusivity within our organization. The Council's impactful work has shaped policies that improve hiring practices, address pay equity and drive meaningful change for all of UC ANR.
Nominate yourself or a colleague today!
Membership Criteria:
- Experience or interest in DEI and organizational change within UC ANR.
- Commitment to representing the diversity of UC ANR and California, with a focus on underrepresented communities.
- Open to staff and academics from diverse geographical locations and UC ANR programs.
To Nominate:
1. Ensure the nominee is interested in serving.
2. Send nominations to deiadvcouncil@ucanr.edu with the subject line "Nomination for DEI Advisory Council."
Join us in building a more inclusive UC ANR—submit your nominations today!
For more information, contact:
Jairo Diaz, Chair
Ricardo Vela, Chair-elect
Elizabeth Moon, Director of Workplace Inclusion & Belonging
- Author: Elizabeth Ann Moon
As we navigate the last few months of 2024 the following opportunity to build deeper connections is available to our UC ANR community through the support of President Drake's system-wide funding for addressing bias and bigotry.
- Healing Circles: Healing circles bring people together to share, listen and reflect, guided by a reliable framework and consistent set of values that include respect, curiosity, non-judgment, and compassionate listening.
- Our Employee Resource Groups have customized circles for their community and received that information directly through their leadership.
Goal: Cultivating meaning and connection through shared experiences. Circles hold space for connection and belonging. They're universal, simple, impactful, and they've demonstrated statistically significant outcomes.
Privacy: Events are facilitated by members of the Healing Circles Global community, and confidentiality is one of the agreements on which healing circles are based. No information related to your registration or participation is tracked by the University of California.
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