Diversity

Vikings CARE Bystander Intervention

The Vikings CARE Bystander Intervention Program called “Step Up” is our foundational training for community members. This program involves learning how to be an active bystander and speaking out/stepping up when you see or hear something that is problematic, such as a fight between a couple, helping a friend who has had too much to drink,  confronting someone who uses racist language, and much more. Prosocial bystander behaviors can be used for all types of scenarios, including gender-based violence, bias/discrimination, hazing and bullying, and more. It also means looking out for one another and being a good community member, which includes making decisions with others in mind.

Tier 2 trainings: Once members have attended our initial Viking Care training; you can develop further by requesting a training on gender-based violence or bias/discrimination specifically. If you have any questions, please contact Jessica Stevens and Junior Peña.

Let’s Talk About it: An Introduction to Race and Racism

This training is an entry point to a conversation around race and racism. If you are interested in learning more, wanting to improve your language on issues of race, and are interested in being more comfortable identifying discriminatory language, this is the training for you.

The Core Four: Identity, Power, Privilege, and Oppression

Similarly to how organizations tend to have core people essential to their functioning, one could make the argument that understanding identity, power, privilege, and oppression is equally important to social issues. This training will serve as a foundational opportunity for community members interested in learning about how they contribute to social issues, but more importantly, how they can begin to be a part of the solution.

Going Beyond Loving Black Culture: Anti-Blackness and Critical Whiteness

Black culture permeates through everything from fashion to sports. This session will delve into the issue with actively consuming the culture but not acknowledging the rights of Black and African American people. This training will delve into different forms of anti-blackness from colorism to white supremacy.

Leading from the Back: Supportive and Active Allyship

This training will allow for community members to learn more about ways to be active participants on social issues and experiences that we do not directly benefit from. By centering some of the barriers and difficulties in serving as an ally, this training will create opportunities to be more present for others.

Walk it Like I Talk it: Modeling and Developing Strong Leadership Behavior

Often students in student organizations, groups, and communities assume leadership positions without fully understanding how difficult it can be. This session will allow for students to think about their role in modeling behavior that creates a sense of belonging for others. Participants will be challenged through active learning opportunities to connect, contribute, and align their personal mission with their organizations vision.

“You Can’t Sit with Us:” Creating Inclusive Spaces for Students in Organizations

This training is a crash course on creating student organization spaces that are inclusive, considerate, and encourage more engagement from students interested. Using the movie “Mean Girls” as a point of reference, the training will center common mistakes students make when running organizations to avoid these pitfalls in the future.

Women’s Leadership Conference

The Women’s Leadership Conference is a place for students, professionals, faculty, and community members to come together to uplift one and another through finding areas of connection, skill-building, and supporting each other while also acknowledging areas of privilege and oppression. The conference typically hosts a networking brunch, keynote speaker, breakout sessions, and self-care activities that will holistically advance participants. The conference is inclusive of all genders.

Interested in being a part of the committee for the Women’s Leadership Conference this upcoming spring? Contact Junior Peña.

The Hip-Hop Summit

The Hip-Hop Summit is a dedicated space for the Salem State University community to critique, analyze, and utilize music as a means for education, advocacy, and social change. By harnessing the cultural significance of Hip-Hop, the summit will create a unique learning experience for all participants to become more informed consumers and creators of music. With sessions that will range from understanding the industry to making art that challenges social issues, the Hip-Hop summit will be a one of a kind spaces to unapologetically challenge and celebrate the significance of music in our society.

Interested in being a part of the committee for the summit this upcoming spring? Contact Junior Peña.

Conscious Kickbacks

Conscious Kickbacks is a bi-weekly series that explores popular conversations, national narratives, and equity issues through dialogue with and across difference. By blending and honoring the complexity of issues, students will be able to engage on relevant topics that also move the needle forward for solutions and conversations to continually develop on campus.  Every kickback starts with an entry video, which highlights all the opinions on the topics and sets the foundation for exciting conversations.

ALANA (African-American, Latin American, Asian, Native American) Graduation Ceremony

the ALANA (African American, Latin American, Asian, Native American) graduation began to recognize the experience, the journey, and hard work that students have put into their education to get this far. This annual celebration honors and congratulates graduating students of color, and students who value diversity and multiculturalism as a key to their success.  During the ceremony graduating students will be presented with commemorative stoles to wear at the institution’s commencement ceremony.   

Bold Educated Empowered Sisters

BEES is a women of color success initiative where we aim to support and nature students who self-identify as women of color and their allies to build a cohesive and consistent community space. A space in which we also focus on exploring and combat issues that impact Black Indigenous Women of Color locally, nationally, and globally.  Our program focuses on the empowerment of women of color on our campus through workshops and programs centered around leadership, community, academics, and social justice. Through discussions, workshops and events centered on community, mentorship, identity development, academic success, and social justice. 

The Brotherhood

The Brotherhood (Men of Color Success Initiative) seeks to find ways of supporting, nurturing, and bolstering persistence and academic performance among men of color at Salem State University. The Brotherhood provides a space for students to explore issues impacting them as they conceptualize positive futures for themselves. Focused on academic success and retention, The Brotherhood offers self-identified men of color resources and mentorship to reach academic, social, and professional goals. The Brotherhood aims to build community among students and connect staff/faculty.