Inclusion Now! 2021 Finds Social Justice Topics in All Fields of Study
The fifth annual Inclusion Now! social justice festival will bring together art, entertainment, and educational programming at Midwestern State University for the purpose of enhancing the community’s understanding of the shared humanity at the root of local, national and global issues.
Inclusion Now! started as a few days of inclusion-focused programming in the Lamar D. Fain College of Fine Arts during the spring of 2016. It has grown over five years into a university-wide celebration of social justice with participation from five different colleges and multiple student organizations.
This year’s festival, which is scheduled across multiple dates between March 22 and April 8, is a mix of broad education on societal issues and programs focusing on enhancing inclusivity within this diverse community. Students and faculty from every cultural and socio-economic background are developing programming reflecting their life experiences and education. The events culminate in an outdoor public screening of Black Panther on April 8.
These workshops and panels are open to the public and introduce a wide array of social justice issues through the lenses of film, personal experience, academic research, and communication into a variety of interactive experiences.
Events include:
Monday, March 22, noon-2 p.m. – First Generation Workshop. Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Cammie Dean will host a workshop diving into issues faced by first-generation students. As one of the largest student populations on campus, first-generation college students face a number of unique and intersectional issues that can be difficult to overcome. Online workshop. RSVP Here.
Thursday, March 25, noon-2 p.m. – American Institute of Graphic Arts’ Gender Equity Workshop. Join Assistant Professor of Art Morgan Page and Eduardo Moscoso for a workshop diving into gender equity in the professional world. Get inspired and learn best practices from someone who's working to create an equitable environment for all students. Ask questions, feel heard, and come learn how one profession is working from the inside out to eradicate inequity. Online workshop. RSVP Here.
Friday, March 26, noon-2 p.m. – Situational Judgement. Join Assistant Professor of Radiologic Sciences Jessyca Wagner and Assistant Professor of Respiratory Care Randy Case for a workshop that examines everyday judgements. Participants will be faced with scenarios where they must make decisions based on a perceived impression of others to explore how people can be judged based on a limited amount of information and the possible consequences it can have on their lives. Online workshop. RSVP Here.
Monday, March 29, noon-2 p.m. – Intersections of Race and Gender: The Black and Trans Experience. Join Sybastian Smith from Black Trans Men Inc. for a workshop examining issues born out of the intersectionality of race and gender. This deeper look into the issues faced by queer people of color will help to expand your understanding of social inequities in the world around us. Online workshop. RSVP Here.
Tuesday, March 30, noon-2 p.m. – Differences Do Not Mean Deficits. Join Assistant Professor of Education Kelly Medellin and Assistant Professor of Curriculum and Learning Dittika Gupta for an exploration of social justice in the education environment. This workshop will examine the intersectional issues that can often compound educational deficits. How can we avoid contributing to these deficits ourselves? Online workshop. RSVP Here.
Wednesday, March 31, noon-2 p.m. – Unlearning Racism in Academia and Beyond. Assistant Professor of Geosciences Anna Weiss and Margaret Brown Marsden, Dean of the McCoy College of Science, Mathematics & Engineering will guide workshop attendees through the struggles and successes of implementing an anti-racist toolkit in the geosciences. This workshop will help you develop your own toolkit for unlearning racism in the professional world. How do we find material to help in our growth? How do we hold ourselves and each other accountable? Online workshop. RSVP Here.
Thursday, April 8, noon-2 p.m. – Critical Conversations: Celebration of Cultures. Join Ruby Garrett, Assistant Director of the MOSAIC Cross Cultural Center, and representatives from a variety of multicultural organizations on campus as they introduce you to the background on a number of important cultural events celebrated at MSU Texas. A lack of knowledge and shyness can often prevent people from participating in or asking questions about events and holidays outside our cultural scope. This panel is an opportunity to listen, learn, and ask questions about these celebrations and important occasions. Online workshop. RSVP Here.
Thursday, April 8, 8 p.m. or sundown, – Black Panther Drive-In Screening on the Quad. Celebrate the final weeks of our spring semester with an outdoor screening of the biggest social justice blockbuster of all time, Black Panther. Come to the quad for free snacks and a socially-distanced good time. Online workshop. RSVP Here.
The official schedule of events is attached.
As MSU Texas continues to pursue diverse student populations it’s important to emphasize inclusion in all aspects of university life. Inclusion Now! provides the opportunity for every campus community to interact and learn from each other and a much-needed forum to discuss issues facing underrepresented communities.
For more information, contact Assistant Professor of Mass Communication Jonathon D. Quam at Jonathon.quam@msutexas.edu.