Unity StarNewsletter Fall 2015

Distribution: All Without OPS and F

Diversity Week 2015

Thank You Students

Congratulations go to Senior, Shazia Yusufali, who took first place in this year’s Diversity

Week Student Poster Contest. Shazia’s interpretation of this year’s theme (image to the right), RESPECT UCF – Engaging, Exploring and Advancing an Inclusive Culture, won over our judg-es. Second place was won by Senior, Ebone Grayson, and third place by Senior, Krystal Moore. Great work! May your talents grow and glow as you leave a mark on the world.

Thank you to all of the students who participated this year. Your work, and varied interpretations of this year’s theme, definitely challenged our judges’ decision-making process. You all are welcome to participate again next year, and challenge them again.

Everyone is invited to visit the John C. Hitt Library during the month of October to see these students’ hard work on display on the second

floor wall. Accompanying the poster designs will be several hand-picked What Respect Means to Me stories submitted by several of our staff, faculty, and students.

In the last issue of the Unity Star Newsletter, we mentioned to please mark your calendars for the 2015

Diversity Week, October 12-16. Now, we invite you to be a part of Diversity Week! Visit our website and download a copy of the Program Information Form and submit a program, event, or special presentation to be included on the Diversity Week Calendar of Events.

Thank you to all who submitted nominations for the Diversity and Inclusion Impact Awards. We look forward to sharing the names of the faculty/staff member, student, and community partner who have shown exemplary service and commitment to enhancing diversity and inclusion at UCF. The winners will be announced during the Diversity Breakfast on October 12.

As always, more information about Diversity Week can be found under the Events tab on our website.

Be a Part of the Diversity Week CalendarMost of you know her as Maria from Ses-

ame Street, and for 44 years you grew up listening to her sing with Muppet®

favorites Elmo, Big Bird, even Bert and Ernie. But, did you know that New York City native, Sonia Manzano, was named among the “25 Greatest Latino Role Models Ever” by Latina Magazine? She was one of the first Hispanic characters on nation-al television, plus she has written several chil-dren’s books. On October 12, Ms. Manzano will be gracing the stage at the 2015 Diversity Breakfast as our Keynote Speaker.

Throughout her career, Ms. Manzano has contributed to enriching diversity on television, on the stage, and in the educational realm. The author of multiple books, she will release two new ones in fall 2015, her memoir, Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx (Scholastic), and Miracle of 133rd Street (Simon & Schuster). Her recognitions include 15 Emmy® Awards as part of the Sesame Street writing team, the 2013 Pura Belpré Award, the 2003 Congressional Hispanic Caucus Award, and the 2003 Hispanic Heritage Award for Education. We look forward to hearing her share some of her favorite talking points on Monday, October 12.

Image found on: www.sonia-manzano.com

Visit www.diversity.ucf.edu

@UCFODI

To find us online, and on your social outlets!

2

ODI Spotlight

The wonderful Ms. Carmen Afonso has committed 13 great years to the Office of Diversity

and Inclusion and the UCF family she helped to build. But come December 2015, she will be stepping down from her position as Executive Secretary and entering the world of retirement. It is with great honor that we take this moment to thank Carmen for all the work she has put into her position, her dedication to the Leadership Enhance-ment Program, and the countless hours she has spent helping organize Diversity Week events.

When you invest as long of a time as Carmen has in one place, you accumulate a few items. Co-workers become friends, and abundant UCF paraphernalia, random trinkets, and ducks become part of the at home and at work décor. Yes, ducks. If you ever have stopped by our office out in Research Park, you immediately would recognize Carmen’s desk by the countless (25 plus) rubber duckies she has gathered since her start at UCF. From Spirit Splash rubber ducks, to a Lady Liberty duck, the collection has kept growing.

December will soon be rolling in and the rubber duckies will be taking flight with Carmen. Of all the memorable moments she has enjoyed over the years, some of the things she’ll miss the most include working with the people she

has met, and the appreciation her peers and LEP scholars have shown. While she hasn’t made any official plans yet, Carmen hopes to fill her retirement time with a part-time job that will keep her active and on her toes, at least a couple of days a week. A fine person, with

a charming personality, a quick wit, and great sense of humor, Carmen always is ready to offer a helping hand. A few words cannot express the sentiment as to how much she will be missed.

If we have not said it enough, thank you, Carmen, for being a part of the ODI and UCF family. May your retirement days fill you with the same enthusiasm that filled your work days, and may you continue to find, and provide, smiles into every corner you turn.

An old school Knightro figure keeps a watchful eye over a portion of Carmen’s rubber duck collection.

We’re Going to Miss You - Carmen I. Afonso

Shainna Ali is a doctoral candidate in the Counselor Education program at the University of Central Florida. She is passionate about diversity research, mental health, and best practices in counseling. She is the president of the Florida Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development, immediate past president of the UCF Counselor Education Doctoral Student Organization, and chair of the Association for LGBT Issues in Counseling’s social justice committee. During her undergraduate career, she was involved in a number of research endeavors including Honors in the Major and the Research and Mentoring Program. During this time, she also served as Global Perspectives Program

Welcome Shainna AliOffice of Diversity and Inclusion Graduate Research Assistant

Fellow. Ali went on to pursue a degree in Mental Health Counseling. Today, Ali is focused on diversity research within the realms of diversity and counselor education. She is the 2015 Florida Statewide Graduate Research Symposium winner and the 2015 UCF Graduate Research Forum winner within the category of Education.

Shainna will focus on collecting and disseminating data about the UCF community members, faculty, staff and students, making comparisons to UCF peers and national higher education trends, faculty diversity, and various other research projects for the office.

ABCs OF DIVERSITY (DIV008) • MAIN CAMPUS

Friday, September 11, 1:30 - 4:30 PM Location: Research Pavilion, Suite 169 Facilitator: Barbara Thompson

• VALENCIA WEST Monday, September 21, 3:00 - 5:00 PM Location: UCF Valencia West, Bldg. 11, RM. 106 Facilitator: Barbara Thompson DIVERSITY CERTIFICATE SERIES (Attend all four modules to receive completion certificate):MODULES 1 & 2 (DIV210)

Monday, September 28, 1:00 - 5:00 PMMODULES 3 & 4 (DIV211)

Monday, October 5, 1:00 - 5:00 PM Location: Research Pavilion, Suite 169Facilitator: Barbara Thompson

EXAMINING THE REAL DISABILITY BARRIERS (DIV223)• Friday, October 16, 1:00 - 3:30 PM• Tuesday, November 17, 1:00 - 3:30 PMLocation: TBAFacilitator: Student Accessibility Services Staff

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN COMMUNICATION: THEORIES AND PERSPECTIVES(DIV071) • MAIN CAMPUS

Monday, November 2, 2:30 - 4:30 PM Location: Research Pavilion, Suite 169 Facilitator: Barbara Thompson

• VALENCIA WESTWednesday, October 21, 4:00 - 6:00 PM Location: UCF Valencia West Bldg. 11, RM. 107Facilitator: Barbara Thompson

INCLUSIVE COMMUNICATION (DIV053)Tuesday, December 8, 1:30 - 4:30 PM Location: Research Pavilion, Suite 169 Facilitator: Barbara Thompson

LATINO AMERICANS(Attend all three modules to receive completion certificate): • MAIN CAMPUS PART 1 (DIV236) Wednesday, September 16, 1:30 - 4:30 PM PART 2 (DIV237) Wednesday, September 23, 1:30 - 4:30 PM PART 3 (DIV238) Wednesday, September 30, 1:30 - 4:30 PM

Location: Research Pavilion, Suite 169 Facilitator: Barbara Thompson

• OSCEOLA CAMPUS PART 1 (DIV236)

Tuesday, September 15, 1:00 - 4:00 PM PART 2 (DIV237)

Tuesday, September 22, 1:00 - 4:00 PM PART 3 (DIV238)

Tuesday, September 29, 1:00 - 4:00 PM Location: UCF Valencia Osceola, Bldg. 4, RM. 105 Facilitator: Barbara Thompson

PEACE FILM SERIES - FOR LOVE OR COUNTRY: THE ARTURO SANDOVAL STORY (DIV119) - VALENCIA WEST

Tuesday, October 6, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PMLocation: UCF Valencia West, Bldg. 11, RM. 107 Facilitator: Barbara Thompson

PEACE FILM SERIES - UNBROKEN (DIV154) • OSCEOLA CAMPUS

Tuesday, November 3, 9:00 AM - 12:00 NoonLocation: UCF Valencia Osceola, Bldg. 4, RM. 308 Facilitator: Barbara Thompson

• VALENCIA WESTTuesday, November 10, 12:00 Noon - 3:00 PMLocation: UCF Valencia West, Bldg. 11, RM. 107 Facilitator: Barbara Thompson

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR UCF’S CULTURAL COMPETENCIES (DIV150) ONLINE

Visit: www.diversity.ucf.edu/online_workshops.asp,and follow the instructions. You must complete all three sections with a score of 75% or higher to receive credit.

Fall 2015 Workshop and Training ScheduleTO REGISTER:

• Faculty and Staff ONLY, register online via your My UCF account at https://my.ucf.edu.• Students or OPS, please e-mail your name, phone number, and PID/employee I.D. number to

diverse@ucf.edu. • For the Safe Zone LGBTQ+ 101 workshops, use http://safezone.sdes.ucf.edu/training.

For detailed descriptions of the diversity workshops offered, visit www.diversity.ucf.edu. Other opportunities for diversity workshops may be scheduled by calling the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at (407) 823-6479, or by e-mailing diverse@ucf.edu. All workshops are FREE unless otherwise noted. Please note that LOCATIONS VARY.

3CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Karen Morrison, J.D.Chief Diversity Officer

Katie Pomp Administrative Assistant

Dayanara HudsonProgram Assistant

Barbara Thompson Associate Director

Carmen I. Afonso Executive Secretary

Stefanie CampbellLEGACY Coordinator

Anaelle GelinStudent Assistant

Diversity Includes All of Us - - All the Time

4

12424 Research Parkway, Suite 169, Orlando, FL 32826Ph: (407) 823-6479 F: (407) 823-6480 E: diverse@ucf.edu W: www.diversity.ucf.edu

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter: @UCFODI

Diversity and Inclusion Staff

SAFE ZONE LGBTQ+ 101 (DIV033)• Wednesday, September 9, 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon• Tuesday, October 6, 10:00 AM - 12:00 NoonLocation: Student Health Services RM. 206Location subject to change. Please visit http://safezone.sdes.ucf.edu/training to register and confirm location.Facilitator: TBD

SECULAR AND RELIGIOUS MINORITY AWARENESS (DIV224)• SOUTH LAKE CAMPUS Friday, October 9, 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon Location: UCF South Lake, Bldg. 2, Auditorium• MAIN CAMPUS

• Tuesday, October 13, 2:30 - 4:30 PM UCF Student Union, Cape Florida 316CD

• Wednesday, November 4, 2:30 - 4:30 PM Location: Research Pavilion, Suite 169 Facilitator: Tee Rogers

The Diversity Activity Grants program is designed to help fund activities and/or speakers that will enhance the UCF goal “to become more inclusive and diverse.” Grants of up to $250* may be awarded.

This program is limited to UCF registered student organizations and faculty and staff organizations. Please note: we only are accepting applications from organizations who have not received this grant within the past two years.

You may download an application from our website, www.diversity.ucf.edu.*Your request may not be fully funded. DAG funds cannot be used for food or any other items restricted for purchase with E & G funds.

Have You Applied?Diversity Activity Grants

ODI ServicesThe Office of Diversity and Inclusion is available for

individual, group, or classroom meetings in the form of Consultations, Presentations, and Training. For more information visit www.diversity.ucf.edu.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

UCF Welcomes U.S. State Department Emerging Leader from Mexico

Four UCF departments – Diversity and Inclusion, Women’s Soccer, Global Perspectives, and the National Consortium for Academics and Sports - are collaborating to work with the U.S. State Department Global Sports Mentoring Program to host Cecilia Vales, Gonzo Soccer Executive Director for Mexico & Latin America. Ms. Vales will be in Washington D.C. and Orlando for several weeks this fall to learn about U.S. sports and law impacting girls and women and developing an action plan for her work in Mexico.

The U.S. Department of State and espnW Global Sports Mentoring Program, the flagship component of the Empowering Women and

Girls through Sports Initiative, pairs emerging women leaders from around the world with top American female executives in the sports industry. This program develops new lasting relationships and a global network of women and girls who strive to create positive change in their home communities through sports. The U.S. Department of State’s Global Sports Mentoring Program builds on America’s global commitment to advance the rights and participation of women and girls around the world.

Every year, emerging leaders from every corner of the world work side-by-side with top female executives in the American sports industry during their month in the United States.

Not only do these female emerging leaders gain valuable business and management skills through the program, but they construct strategic plans with their mentors. While their action plans specifically address different needs, they share the goal of creating sports opportunities for underserved women and girls back in their home communities. The result of the U.S. Department of State and espnW Global Sports Mentoring Program is a new global network of strong women leaders in sports devoted to spreading the messages of equality and opportunity to other women and girls around the globe.