Being in education my whole career, August, the start of a new school year, makes me feel alive like a bee buzzing through a meadow of flowers. It is the excitement of opening my mind to new learning and new ways of thinking and doing. A time of possibilities and reflections.
This month's blog will encompass a short reflection from Pia Marie Wright, LGBTQ+ ERG Co-Chair, on her experience at an ERG Summit at UCOP, an invitation to a workshop on navigating and coping with stress, an opportunity to participate in a UCOP pilot e-course, and the upcoming events our Latinx & Friends Affinity Group is preparing for the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Dare to Lead: Brave Influence and Impact
By Pia Marie Wright, Co-chair, LGBTQ+ ERG
Quite a title for an ERG summit. Quite an idea, too. As a co-chair for the LGBTQ+ ERG, I qualify as a "leader," but do I have Brave Influence and Impact? Am I daring in my service to the LGBTQ+ employees at UC ANR? I had an eye-opening experience attending the 3rd Annual UCOP ERG Summit with Elizabeth Moon, Director of Workplace Inclusion and Belonging, on August 21, 2024.
The Summit itself was a remarkable mix of people from such different backgrounds and places and cultures, all coming together to learn how we, all of us, can better lead our communities to better Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We heard about ERG successes and challenges, practical advice and thought-provoking concepts. Despite the accessibility issues I experienced at the event, I was amazed to find out through the talk and panels that we are all leaders, and we all have a responsibility to promote DEI. How to do so daringly, though?
As a person in the LGBTQ+ community, I must be brave. Every time I say, "My wife and I…." I feel that fear, and that bravery that fights it. It makes me incredibly strong to be myself. Brave. Daring. I hope that, if I can be a daring leader and serve my communities with bravery, maybe someone else can be brave, too. Maybe someone else can lead someday. That would be quite an impact.
September 9, 12:15 - 1:30 pm
Register to receive the Zoom link here!
We are living in unsettling and uncertain times. This 75-minute presentation is open to all employees at UC ANR. It will provide participants with the knowledge and skills to better regulate emotions, identify stress/vicarious trauma reactions and reduce feelings of isolation. Strategies on an organizational level will also be discussed and a toolkit for supervisors will be provided.
Presented via Zoom by: Alison Ward, Psy.D., Psychologist at the Academic and Staff Assistance Program at UC Davis
Participate in a UC Pilot Asynchronous Course on Anti-Racism
UC has launched a Pilot e-course, “UC Introduction to Anti-Racism” (45 minutes). We have the opportunity for 100 UC ANR colleagues to participate in this important pilot initiative.
How to Participate: To join the pilot course, please complete this interest survey with your name and UC ANR email. Further instructions and access to the course materials will be provided by the Workplace Inclusion and Belonging Unit before but no later than October 1. Please direct any questions to emoon@ucanr.edu. Completion of the course is due December 1.
Your feedback will be invaluable in shaping the future of this course. UCOP will provide their preferred method of gathering participant feedback within the e-course and there will be a voluntary virtual conversation in early December with the Workplace Inclusion & Belonging Unit. We encourage open and honest feedback to ensure the course meets the needs and expectations of all participants.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to engage in this critical work. Together, we can make meaningful strides toward creating a more inclusive and equitable workplace.
Please click here to register to attend any or all of the webinars.
We created a page with Latin-American recipes- Click Recipes to access the page.
Check out the UC ANR Latino professional honored during the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month – Click Successful Latinos.
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month 2024, UC ANR Latinx & Friends ERG and News & Information Outreach in Spanish are organizing a series of events to honor and elevate the contributions of the Latino community. Like in previous years, we need your collaboration to disseminate information about the events planned this year.
We are excited to invite you to a series of webinars in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month 2024. These events will offer a unique opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the invaluable contributions of the Latino community to agriculture, education, and the broader society.
Date: Friday, September 13, 2024.
Time: 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Join us as Glenda Humiston, Vice President of UC ANR, opens our first session with remarks about the contributions of Latino professionals to UC ANR.
Keynote Speaker: Carlos Suarez, USDA's State Conservationist, will provide an in-depth look at the "State of Latinos in Agriculture," highlighting the significant presence of Latino producers and farmworkers in California and across the nation.
Date: Wednesday, September 25,2024
Time: 1:00 – 2:30 pm
In our second session, Brent Hales, Associate Vice President for Research and Cooperative Extension, will lead a conversation celebrating the contributions of UC ANR Latino professionals.
Keynote Speaker: Javier Diego Jacinto, scholar-activist whose activism and scholarly work intersect language, race, religion, and immigration, rooted in his Mazateco heritage from Oaxaca, México, He will deliver a keynote on the "State of the Latino Community," discussing the Latino community's significant economic contributions and ongoing challenges.
Date: Wednesday, October 9,2024
Time: 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Tu Tran, Associate Vice President - Business Operations for UC ANR, will introduce our final session.
Keynote Speaker: Erica Alfaro, an inspiring author and educator, will share her journey of overcoming adversity through education and discuss the future of education for Latino students. This webinar will focus on "Education and Latinos—The Future."
Each webinar is an opportunity to learn, share, and connect with the Latino community's rich heritage and ongoing contributions.