Defining the Work
Read the transcript for episode one, "Defining the Work."
Guest: Dr. Enobong (Anna) Branch
Dr. Branch joined Holding Space to talk about her role as Senior Vice President for Equity at Rutgers University, outline the impact of diversity, inclusion, and equity work on university life, and define what being a ‘beloved community’ means.
Reflective Questions
During the conversation, Dr. Collier proposed questions that Dr. Branch's comments inspired about how listeners can think about themselves in relation to DEI and their work on campus.
- What did you do to be ready? (What can you do to build your capacity?)
- What do you give deliberate attention to? (What are you purposefully paying attention to?)
- What do you have an active pursuit of? (How are you engaging and offering yourself as a vessel for solutions?)
Terminology
Learn more about key words and phrases used in this episode.
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Compositional diversity refers to the numerical and proportional representation of different groups of people within the campus environment. (Milem, J. F., Chang, M. J., & Antonio, A. L. (2005) Making diversity work on campus: A research-based perspective. Washington, DC: Association American Colleges and Universities.)
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Beloved community is defined by a commitment to work together to embody, reflect, and respect the complexities of all our parts. The concept has been explored by thought leaders throughout history:
Our goal is to create a beloved community and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Beloved community is formed not by the eradication of difference but by its affirmation, by each of us claiming the identities and cultural legacies that shape who we are and how we live in the world.
from the book Killing Rage: Ending Racism by Bell Hooks
The larger your beloved community, the more you can accomplish in the world.
Thich Nhat Hanh
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Constructive discomfort is submitting to the feeling of being uncomfortable for the purpose of building capacity for empathy and understanding.
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Stereotype threat is a phenomenon that occurs when there is the opportunity or perceived opportunity for an individual to satisfy or confirm a negative stereotype of a group of which they are a member. The threat of possibly satisfying or confirming the stereotype can interfere with the subject’s performance in a variety of tasks, including but not limited to academic performance. (Rutgers University, Department of Philosophy)
'Office Hours' Resources
'Office Hours' is a segment of the show where guests are asked to share resources that listeners can use to learn more about the topic of discussion. Dr. Branch suggested:
What if I Say the Wrong Thing?: 25 Habits for Culturally Effective People by Verna A. Myers.
Dare to Lead by Brene Brown
Diversity's Promise for Higher Education: Making It Work by Daryl G. Smith