What is belonging? How do we find belonging at York while studying, teaching, working and engaging in a virtual world? Join the Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion on March 15 to 17 for Inclusion Days, a series of free talks and interactive, skills-based workshops to explore and engage with belonging as a concept and nexus between equity, diversity and inclusion.
Marian MacGregor
“Belonging is an emerging and increasingly important lens for inclusion, equity and diversity,” says Marian McGregor, executive director, Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion. “We challenge all students, staff and faculty to learn more about how you can support belonging at York University by participating in Inclusion Days 2021.”
Register for one or all of the sessions in the series at https://rights.info.yorku.ca/inclusion-days-2021/. Due to COVID-19, all events will take place online.
Curated talks in the series
Creating & Fostering Intentional Spaces of Belonging in a Virtual World
Tuesday, March 16
1 to 2:30 p.m.
In this keynote, Andrew B. Campbell, “Dr. ABC,” will examine critical questions related to belonging and engage with additional tools to create a deeper sense of inclusion and belonging in our schools so that our students, staff and colleagues can truly see themselves reflected in how we offer education and schooling.
Belonging in a Digital World
Wednesday, March 17
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
This keynote will explore examples of ways people are working to create belonging in a digital world. Bex Hong Hurwitz (they) will share perspectives on co-design; design justice and encoding a more inclusive internet one emoji at a time; on digital security and surveillance; and our right to private communication on and offline in our public socializing, organizing for social justice, and our most intimate exchanges.
Interactive workshops
Allyship and Inclusion
Monday, March 15
1 to 2:30 p.m.
Through a series of engaging activities and reflection exercises led by Student Community & Leadership Development and the Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion, participants who take part in this workshop will be able to:
• Contextualize their social location based on their identity.
• Deepen their understanding of allyship in a personal and institutional setting.
• Practice active allyship and develop strategies to have brave conversations.
Emojis as Digital Language
Wednesday, March 17
1:30 to 3 p.m.
In this workshop, led by Bex Hong Hurwitz (they) and Arlene Ducao (they/zey), participants will discuss the roles emojis play in our lives and communication, how we make meaning with and from emojis. Participants will imagine emojis that represent our personal experiences, cultures, and lives. They will learn about the Unicode Consortium and internet standards and ask questions about who proposes emojis, judges proposals, and determines what becomes an emoji. Participants will leave with practical information about how to propose emojis and deeper understanding of internet standards and how a more inclusive internet can be encoded.
Respectful Dialogue Across Differences
Wednesday, March 17
3 to 4:30 p.m.
Through a series of engaging activities and reflection exercises participants who take part in this workshop, led by Student Community Leadership & Development (SCLD), will be able to:
• Identify personal limitations to engagement in dialogue across differences.
• Identify what they need to engage in meaningful conversation though respectful dialogue without the intention of persuasion.
• Develop personal strategies to manage emotions in order to look past individual differences and hear the humanity of someone’s lived experiences.
This is the Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion flagship annual event. It explores critical issues that are central to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the context of a pandemic that has forced York community members to seek belonging in virtual spaces.
All of the talks and workshops are free and open to the University community, registration is required and can be completed at: https://rights.info.yorku.ca/inclusion-days-2021/.