Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Newsletter

Friday, March 14, 2025

Dear Golden Eagles,

We have moved our clocks forward by 60 minutes, signaling the start of spring, with more day light and hopefully warmer weather. Before we depart for spring break, I’d like to provide some updates from the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Diversity Conference: Registration is Open!

Registration for the 23 ^rd Annual Diversity Conference: Uniting Communities for an Inclusive Brockport is now open. The conference is Wednesday, April 2, 2025, from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm in the Seymour Union. Please go to the OEDI conference website to view the schedule and to register. All students, faculty and staff are welcomed to attend all or part of the conference, as a participant and/or as a volunteer.

In addition to preparing for the diversity conference, I am continuing to work on the Interfaith Prayer/Meditation Space as well and convening the new Interfaith Council. Composed of 10 members (students, faculty, and staff), the council will aid in developing the interfaith prayer/meditation space as well as determine best practices in supporting those to observe their faith tradition at a public university.

I will also be convening the Campus Climate Survey committee in the next few weeks. In alignment with our commitment to assess our campus climate every three years, the Viewfinder survey will be administered in the fall of 2025. I look forward to working with my colleagues and students on this initiative.

For this month’s newsletter, I’m incorporating a new element, A note from Charlotte Wade, Assistant Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. My goal is to include a note from Ms. Wade in the newsletter, each month, moving forward.

Charlotte’s Tips for Allyship

An ally is someone who has committed to supporting the rights and freedoms of individuals with less power and privilege. As an EDI educator and facilitator, people often ask me how they can become better allies. Here are some tips to help strengthen your allyship:

• Assess your resources: Whether it’s money, time, support, or advocacy, take stock of what you have to offer. Look for areas in your community that need assistance, and commit to donating, volunteering, or offering your support in other ways.
• Spot barriers to equity: Identify and draw attention to barriers that hinder equity and inclusion in the spaces you occupy—whether that’s at a family dinner, within your religious community, or in a club.
• Engage in conversations: Often, those closest to us—family members or close friends—are the ones best able to listen. Talk to the people in your life about your allyship and why it matters to you.

Above all, keep recommitting to your allyship. This work is ongoing, and there’s always room to grow and make a difference.

Upcoming Events

March 27, 2024
Between Fiction and Reality: Manufacturing Tools in Islamic Paintings 1420s-1540s
Presented by: Dr. Nader Sayadi, Visiting Professor of Art History, University of Rochester
7:00 pm
McCue Auditorium, Fannie Barrier Williams Liberal Arts Building
Co-sponsored by the Art and History Departments

March 28, 2025
Restorative Practices: Self Care for Faculty and Staff
12:20 -1:10 pm
Seymour Union, Room 119

March 31, 2025
Safe Zone Training
1:00-3:00 pm
Seymour Union, Room 220

April 11, 2025
Brown Bag Lunch & Learn
12:20 -1:10 pm
Seymour Union, Room 220

March 28, 2025
Restorative Practices: Self Care for Faculty and Staff
12:20 -1:10 pm
Seymour Union, Room 119

Enjoy the upcoming break!

Dr Damita Davis