[All-postdocs] Joint Program Town Hall on DE&I: Thursday August 6th 2pm EST

[Kalina C. Grabb]

Hi JP Studnets and WHOI Post docs!

JP Town Hall on DEI is TODAY at 2pm EST. Hope to see you there.

Kalina, Emman, and Lauren on behalf of the JP Reps

> On Aug 3, 2020, at 11:19 AM, Kalina C. Grabb <kgrabb at whoi.edu> wrote:
> 
> Hi JP Students and WHOI Postdocs,
> 
> Reminder, JP Town Hall on DEI this Thursday August 6th at 2pm EST. Zoom link here <https://mit.zoom.us/j/98948493774>.
> 
> This will be recorder and posted online for future reference, please let us know if you have any issues with it being recorded.
> 
> Looking forward to seeing you there.
> 
> Kalina, Emman, and Lauren on behalf of the JP Reps
> 
> --------
> 
> Topic: JP Town Hall on DE&I
> Time: Aug 6, 2020 02:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
> 
> Join Zoom Meeting
> https://mit.zoom.us/j/98948493774 <https://mit.zoom.us/j/98948493774>
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> 
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> 
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> 
>> On Jul 20, 2020, at 12:04 PM, Kalina C. Grabb <kgrabb at whoi.edu <mailto:kgrabb at whoi.edu>> wrote:
>> 
>> Dear JP students,
>> 
>> TL;DR 
>> Joint Program Town Hall on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion organized by JP Reps, Thursday August 6th at 2pm EST. Zoom link to follow.
>> At the bottom of this email, JP reps have compiled responses to the student suggestions <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sQ6yhHRiGFBkYHY-CMK-VABDkVTgOS7dwRAaHTL0AWw/edit> on DE&I initiatives that we solicited in an email “A Message from the JP Reps Promoting Anti-Racism”, sent on June 17, 2020.
>> 
>> On behalf of the JP Reps, we write to you regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion within the JP and our community. In the wake of the current events and anti-racism movement, it has been great to see so many efforts emerge to try and curb racism within our community and institution. Many of you filled out the Google Doc that we provided to offer ideas and suggestions for ways that the JP can increase diversity and inclusion. We recognize that this is an overwhelming and stressful time, and yet, there are so many students that continually dedicate their time and efforts to actively make our community a welcoming place for all. We thank you for this.
>> 
>> To follow up after our original email, the JP Reps have taken the following actions:
>> Listened to suggestions from the student body (provided on the Google Doc).
>> Researched the history and current status of each suggested action or campaign.
>> Identified groups that have taken a lead on each suggested action and listed points of contact at the bottom of this email.
>> Contacted committee chairs and campaign leaders to speak at the upcoming town hall.
>> 
>> Moving forward, the JP Reps have planned a Joint Program Town Hall on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. During this hour-long town hall we will summarize ongoing efforts, re-invigorate campaigns, and direct students toward groups that interest them (especially since we have a new incoming class). In the first half of the meeting (30min), various DE&I groups at WHOI will give short introductions. In the second half (20min), students will choose campaigns that particularly interest them and split into breakout rooms for deeper discussion. We will then re-convene for the final 10 minutes for wrap-up.
>> 
>> Please let the JP Reps know if you have any other suggestions to further the efforts to increase DE&I within the JP. We have plenty of funds available for such campaigns. You can reach out to us as a group (jp-student-reps at mit.edu <mailto:jp-student-reps at mit.edu>) or individually.
>> 
>> Best,
>> Emman, Lauren, and Kalina on behalf of the JP Reps
>> 
>> Rui Chen ruic at mit.edu <mailto:ruic at mit.edu>
>> Emmanuel Codillo ecodillo at mit.edu <mailto:ecodillo at mit.edu>
>> Henri Drake hdrake at mit.edu <mailto:hdrake at mit.edu>
>> Lauren Dykman ldykman at mit.edu <mailto:ldykman at mit.edu>
>> Adrian Garcia garciaap at mit.edu <mailto:garciaap at mit.edu>
>> Kalina Grabb kgrabb at mit.edu <mailto:kgrabb at mit.edu>
>> Marissa Kellogg mkell0gg at mit.edu <mailto:mkell0gg at mit.edu>
>> Victoria Preston vpreston at mit.edu <mailto:vpreston at mit.edu>
>> ————
>> 
>> Summary of suggestions
>> Formation of an underrepresented minority mentorship program 
>> APO volunteered to undertake additional JP mentoring and therefore we reached out to them to see if we could create an underrepresented minority mentorship program where both mentors and mentees can opt in. APO was very excited about this suggestion and indicated that they would follow up soon.
>> A push for improved accessibility to labs, meeting spaces, etc. at WHOI for people with disabilities
>> The Workplace Climate Committee (co-chaired by Mak Saito and Annette Frese Govindarajan) was contacted. They have not had anyone focus on these efforts but will bring it up in future meetings.
>> Formal request to hire faculty of color, especially women
>> In May of 2019, JP students sent a formal letter <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o8UMfMG5UEO_FXS4hQGKtttL0DeyqHq7/view> to Mark Abbott and the Board of Directors making several direct demands to increase DE&I, one of which was to hire diverse scientists. Contact Justin Suca or Eeshan Bhatt to learn more. 
>> Led to the establishment of the Committee for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) <https://web.whoi.edu/cdi/> later that year, which has many working groups, including an academic recruitment working group. 
>> Hiring laws prevent decisions being made based on the candidate's race, but lots can be done to encourage applications from a diversity of backgrounds, and for hiring committees to consider broader context. Cluster hiring is another method to help underrepresented employees feel more welcome.
>> Compilation of common microaggressions and barriers experienced by students of color in the JP, to be used for an educational campaign among WHOI at large
>> Diversity Advisory Committee (DAC) has done something similar for Woods Hole at large with the “Listen Up” <https://www.woodsholediversity.org/initiatives/listen-up/> events. 
>> Livingston Report <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E7BWmUxWpu8ytIUqSx8EYBRgro4rYnB0/view?usp=sharing>, a study on student and scientist experiences with racism in Woods Hole Institutes, we highly recommend reading this. 
>> Nominating diverse researchers in ocean science to honor through updated wall art across campus 
>> We reached out to Mallory Ringham who is a member of the newly-formed Room Naming Working Group (with members from the WCC, CDI, and Women’s Committee) to identify conference spaces throughout WHOI that could be used to honor underrepresented luminaries in ocean sciences. 
>> Tasks involve identifying spaces on WHOI campus to be updated with inclusive wall art (i.e., artwork, portraits, field work photos), and naming rooms to honor scientists of color. Contact Mallory Ringham to get involved.
>> Development of a community calendar of events related to Diversity and Inclusion
>> A few committees around WHOI currently have events calendars, check out the CDI Calendar <https://web.whoi.edu/cdi/event-calendar/> 
>> Eeshan Bhatt is updating the JP website
>> Recruitment at historically black colleges and universities as well as SACNAS, AISES, and other minority-facing conferences.
>> CDI has an academic recruitment working group <https://web.whoi.edu/cdi/working-groups/>. Contact Julie Huber, Julia Middleton, and Paris Smalls if you would like to be involved.
> 

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