Schedule

March 1, 2023

6:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. | Jack Morton Auditorium

Opening Keynote: With Negin Farsad

7:30pm - 8:00pm | SMPA 2nd Floor Gallery

Diversity Summit Reception and Keynote Speaker Meet & Greet: 7:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. | SMPA 2nd Floor Gallery
Moderated by Jesse J. Holland

March 2, 2023

9 a.m. - 10 a.m. | University Student Center

I've Been Untitled!

9 a.m. - 10 a.m. | University Student Center Room 405
Presented by: Shelly Heller

A wise man once said that no one should call himself “Dr.” unless he has delivered a child. Beside the fact that the quote offers hyperbole in 'wise', it is from a male, and it is entirely gendered, the concept of being 'untitled' is an occupational hazard in academia. How we approach the use of titles impacts how we are viewed by colleagues, leadership, students - well just about everyone. This session will address "Where have you seen people untitled/unnamed women and underrepresented groups in your field? How do people respond when this happens?

Being “untitled” is a form of bias or stereotyping and can often be like a death by a 1000 cuts, each single lack of mention seems like a mole hill but eventually it becomes a mountain.. Whether the titles are earned academic one, honorific ones of just how you would like to be referred to by others, how you are addressed has the potential to diminish your accomplishments. Being “Untitled” diminishes your achievements, indicates a stereotypical outlook about a specific field and undermine the pathways to that career for others. All of these undermine our GW community.

Tackling Implicit Bias with Theatre

9 a.m. - 10 a.m. | University Student Center Room 311
Presented by: Sidney Williams

Unlike traditional implicit bias workshops this workshop engages participants in interactive games guided by facilitation and dialogue. This format invites participants to create more inclusive spaces through reflection and discussion on topics such as social identity, agency, diversity, and inclusion.

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | University Student Center

Processing & Silent Space: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | University Student Center Room 301
Break Room & Eating Space: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | University Student Center Room 310

9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | University Student Center

ID-ing Me: An Exploration of Identity, Bias, and Belonging

9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | University Student Center Room 404
Presented by: Tenisha “Ava” Williams and Gabrielle Roffe

This is an experiential workshop for participants to explore identity, bias, and belonging. The interactive format offers a space in which individuals can reflect, share stories, and learn from one another—all while developing strategies for dismantling the systems of oppression that negatively impact historically marginalized communities. There will be space to dialogue and document reflections on a series of thought provoking questions to better understand how different identities intersect, interact, and impact our daily lives.

We will be facilitating the workshop with a variety of tools including guided journaling activities, small group discussions, storytelling circles, and visual arts exercises. After the initial reflection period, we will encourage participants to explore how their own experiences can inform collective action for social change. Participants are invited to stop by for 5-10 mins throughout the day, as many times as they'd like.

Our goal is to provide an inclusive, courageous space for all participants to connect, learn, and grow together. We hope that this experience will encourage open dialogue around difficult conversations, inspire creative problem solving, and create a sense of understanding and shared responsibility as we work towards creating more equitable communities together.

10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. | University Student Center

Strategies to Promote Retention and Diversity in Nursing

10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. | University Student Center Room 302
Presented by: Julianna González-McLean and Mindy N. Galvan

Nursing education programs are historically known as academically challenging and contain numerous barriers to a diverse nursing workforce. According to the 2020 National Nursing Workforce Survey, 9.4% of nurses reported identifying as male and 81% of nurses reported being White/Caucasian. In addition, the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing found racism was a substantial problem within the nursing profession and nursing education.

The GW School of Nursing implemented three initiatives during the spring 2023 semester to first-semester students in the accelerated bachelor of science in nursing (ABSN) degree program. The ABSN program is a rigorous 4-semester long program where students are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become a registered nurse (RN) after an intensive 15-month program.

The initiatives are: Group Mentoring Program, the “What’s Your Story?” series, and Pathophysiology Study Halls. All of these initiatives leverage the peer to peer relationships to provide academic, social, and emotional support. The pilot programs for the spring 2023 semester are intended to create a greater sense of belonging for all of the first-semester nursing students. We hope that these initiatives will have a positive impact on the mental well-being of our students and will also impact their academics and progression throughout the program.

Is “For All” Possible?: Strategies for Addressing Competing Access Needs

10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. | University Student Center Room 405
Presented by: Daphna Atias and Caitlin Savoldelli

Inclusive teaching initiatives often use the phrase “for all” to promote their efforts. They highlight welcoming classrooms where every student participates and center Universal Design for Learning, where accessibility measures that are essential for some students’ participation are beneficial for everyone. Designing courses and environments “for all” is an important attempt to counter the long history of systemic exclusion in higher education in general and at GW in particular.

This session will start with strategies for responding to competing access needs; the bulk of our time together will be spent in small groups working through scenarios about common access conflicts.

Combating Antisemitism on Campus Through Restorative Accountability

10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. | University Student Center Room 307
Presented by: Sabrina Soffer

According to a 2021 Brandeis Center survey of members of Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) and Alpha Epsilon Phi (AEPhi), 65% of openly Jewish college students felt unsafe on campus, and 50% actively feel the need to hide their Jewish identities. Antisemitism has resurged globally; Jews in America—more specifically Jewish students—feel targeted in their learning institutions. Tackling Antisemitism Through Responsible & Restorative Accountability will examine antisemitism holistically—through a historical and critical lens—to understand its modern forms and consequences.

The preliminary discussion will evolve into a conversation about antisemitism’s manifestations and impacts specifically on GW’s campus. The session will propose a model for responsible and restorative accountability centered on the inclusion and protection of all stakeholders, establishing definitions, and adherence to bylaws. Audience members are encouraged to participate and engage in creating a framework for our campus to adopt. While antisemitism has persisted for millennia, and its end seems elusive, this session can serve as a step toward creating a more hospitable environment for Jewish members of GW’s community and restoring trust with civility, justice, and liberty for all.

Exploring the Gap Between Research and Practice in DEI Training, Professional and Faculty Development

10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. | University Student Center Room 308
Presented by: Sarah M. Ray, Crystal D. Drayton, and Jonathan M. Walker

Training and social justice efforts in higher education institutions continue to be a prevalent force, yet within the system of higher education structural inequities persist. College campuses and professional associations are working to address gaps in moving the needle towards diversity, equity and inclusion for faculty, staff and students. This session presents introductory findings from a systematic literature review seeking to understand how trainings and professional/faculty development programs in higher education have addressed diversity, equity and inclusion at the individual (awareness, empathy, action, competency) institutional (employee satisfaction, retention, productivity) and broader community (reputation, social responsibility, leadership) levels. Upon attending this session, participants will continue to build on their current understanding and experiences in diversity training and faculty professional development as well as consider the ways that systemic racism in higher education continues to protect Whiteness (Leonardo, 2009). Additionally, we will discuss practitioner and researcher partnerships within higher education as a strategy to consider the effectiveness of current DEI training efforts.

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | University Student Center

A Dialogue Circle: What is hate speech? What should GW do about it? Who decides?

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | University Student Center Room 302
Presented by: Christy Anthony and Dwayne Kwaysee Wright

In the last year, GW has witnessed multiple incidents of what has been described as “hate speech,” a phrase the university does not define. This facilitated discussion will explore these three questions: What is hate speech? What should GW do about it? Who decides?

Punitive, Restorative, Transformative: Considering Justice in Cases of Intimate Violence

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | University Student Center Room 405
Presented by: Elisa Davoodi, Joshua Segalewitz, Asha Reynolds, Kiera Bloore, and Elizabeth Wynkoop Riley

What does justice look like in cases of sexual and intimate partner violence? The default is usually punitive: we know justice has been achieved when a perpetrator is convicted in the criminal legal system and appropriately punished. Given low reporting rates, low conviction rates, and sentences many consider “soft,” it is easy to become frustrated with our retributive criminal legal system as it currently stands. In these cases, should there be alternatives to justice systems based primarily on punishment? How do we know when justice is achieved? Whose opinions matter in these discussions? What actions can communities take to hold perpetrators accountable and heal after an incident? Participants will consider these questions and more in this interactive and dynamic workshop exploring justice in cases of sexual and intimate partner violence.

Utilizing Emotional Intelligence and the Filipinx concept of Pakikipagkapwa in your Leadership Practice

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | University Student Center Room 311
Presented by: Mitchell R. Foster

Centering the concept of Pakikipagkapwa (self-in-other) as a framework to connect with people, this presentation will cover the work done by Dr. Marc Brackett on Emotional Intelligence and explore practical steps to be emotionally self-aware and to identify emotions in others. Kim Scott’s Radical Candor will also be discussed as a guide on how to prioritize relationship to lead others humanistically at work.

The Generations Dialogue Project: Supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in International Affairs

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | University Student Center Room 307
Presented by: Leonard B Cisneros

Join us for a Generations Dialogue based on the content and lessons learned from The Young Black Leader’s Guide to a Successful Career in International Affairs: What the Giants Want You to Know. Generations Fellow, Leonard B Cisneros, will share his experience engaging with International Affairs Giants who blazed the trail and dive into insights gained from their interactions. This session will include topics such as student engagement methodology, imposter syndrome, being your authentic self, and more. This session is part of the Generations Dialogue Project for supporting a more representative American foreign policy.

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. | University Student Center

Lunch Break (box lunches provided)

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. | University Student Center 3rd Floor Lobby

Eating space is available in Room 310.

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. | University Student Center

Representing Transgender Life: Toward an Inclusive Vocabulary

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. | University Student Center Room 302
Presented by: Alexa Alice Joubin

What is gender? How do we maintain a safe space for trans visibility? Further, why is trans visibility not always empowering or desirable? In this interactive session, we will learn about the key issues with today’s vocabulary about gender as well as a quick history of representations of transgender individuals in popular media. Through copious film clips, we will unlearn our habits of seeing gender through a trans-inclusive perspective.

Performance provides fertile soil for understanding gender practices, because gender is not a fixed identity but a set of social practices and interpersonal relationships. They evolve in the presence of other people, in social spaces, and over time.

With the latest vocabulary and tools for cultural analysis, we will acquire a road map to better emotional intelligence to engage diverse communities with empathy, to move forward with shared vulnerability, to develop authentic relationships with individuals of all genders, and to build inclusive and restorative social spaces on campus.

Can Health Equity be Regulated?

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. | University Student Center Room 405
Presented by: Andrea Anderson and Sandhya Avula

All future healthcare workers will inevitably face the inequities seen in the medical field. The goal of this session is to educate students and faculty about the topics currently being debated at the state and federal level regarding how much of a role regulation should play in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the issues at play, as well as ways to further engage in health advocacy.

Diversity in Engineering Research and Education

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. | University Student Center Room 311
Presented by: Grace Zhang, Naomia A. Suggs-Brigety, Gina Adam, John Lach, and Dawn Ginnetti

This session will focus on the diversity of engineering in both research and education. The achievements of SEAS in diversity will be showcased and the current challenges will be discussed as well. Specific topics will include women in engineering; underrepresented faculty in engineering research; and underrepresented students in engineering research and education.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion play a critical role in engineering research and education. During the past years, our SEAS has done an excellent job in this field. We would like to showcase our achievements. At the same time, we would like to discuss the challenges and possible resolutions in the field as well. This session will be 60 mins and in a panel format. We would like to invite three speakers. The presentation of each speaker will be ~20 min including Q&A time.

Community Conversations around Inequity in Cincinnati, Ohio

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. | University Student Center Room 307
Presented by: Wendy Ellis, Kuan-Lung Daniel Chen, and Conner Hounshell

The CCR research team will share their approach to equitable community engagement using group model building, a place-based system dynamics modeling method to identify specific drivers of inequity. Initially, CCR researchers faced skepticism from Avondale residents due to past engagement with researchers who failed to address the needs of the Black community. In Riverside, the multi-racial CCR team faced opposition from residents who expressed distrust of 'outsiders'. Despite these obstacles, the CCR team was able to build trust among participants to facilitate productive, ongoing community conversations. While the neighborhoods differ in racial makeup, common themes have emerged including: lack of trust in outsiders, lack of community investment, and strong desire to build community power. Using techniques in equitable community engagement, these conversations have created opportunities to build community power to address systemic inequities.

From A Mother’s Womb: A Deeper Look at the Black Maternal Health Crisis in the US

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. | University Student Center Room 308
Presented by: Uwaila Stewart, Sydney Durrah, Allison Stewart, and Brenice Duroseau

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness… but what do these rights mean in a country where access to quality healthcare is seen as a privilege? How can these rights be accessed when the systems meant to uplift them become blockades to restrict and gatekeep them? What is the right to life and how do you pursue happiness when giving birth suddenly becomes a matter of life or death? This presentation will look back at the history of maternal and reproductive health in the U.S. while also addressing some of the most challenging barriers women and mothers face today in accessing quality health care. With help from three panelists who are beacons in the community of MCH research, we will discuss and answer some of the most pressing questions surrounding maternal health, reproductive justice, and health equity.

2:45 p.m. - 4 p.m. | University Student Center

A House is Not a Home: A Performance by Street Sense Media’s Theater Workshop

2:45 p.m. - 4 p.m. | University Student Center Amphitheater
Directed by: Leslie Jacobson

Through prose, poetry, song, and music, eight writers/performers share insights about being houseless and the true meaning of home. Performance followed by discussion and Q&A with the actors. Devised and directed by Leslie Jacobson, Professor Emerita of Theatre. Music direction and composition by Roy Barber. Street Sense Media uses a range of creative platforms to spotlight solutions to homelessness and empower people in need.

Allyship In Action: Anti-Ableism in Academia

2:45 p.m. - 4 p.m. | University Student Center Room 405
Presented by: Emily Decker

In this workshop, participants will receive a brief overview of contemporary disability issues and experiences of ableism and inaccessibility in academia, as well as evidence-based best practices and skills for anti-ableism and allyship within a university setting. Working in small groups, participants will review an anonymized vignette of real accessibility issue faced by current GWU students and staff with disabilities, collected with the assistance of the Disabled Student Collective (DSC). Using the learned best practices, participants will work together to identify ways that they could either work with or advocate for this student/staff member. We will then come together to discuss our ideas for advocacy.

South Asian Identity in Advocacy: A Student Debate by the GWU Debate & Literary Society

2:45 p.m. - 4 p.m. | University Student Center Room 311
Presented by: Anisha Sahni, Maya Sabeh, and Marielle Cornes

The GWU Debate & Literary Society is a co-curricular academic society dedicated to engaging controversial issues in a productive, inclusive, and academically rigorous manner. During the Diversity Summit, student-members will discuss their experiences navigating how to discuss and debate topics of social justice with diverse partners ranging from Morehouse College to Gallaudet University. In particular, South Asian American members of our society will discuss the nature of the challenges relating to the intersection of identity and advocacy in a live demonstration debate to answer the following question: Should South Asian Americans center their identity in their advocacy? Students will discuss issues ranging from race-based violence to representation in media. An audience Q&A will follow the presentation and debate.

The Depths of Data: Accountability for Algorithms in Medicine and Health Professions

2:45 p.m. - 4 p.m. | University Student Center Room 308
Presented by: Maranda C. Ward and Rubin Roy

The American Medical Association released a guide entitled “Advancing Health Equity” stating that the medical profession is (and has been) in need of significant change. Health inequities manifest in disparate health outcomes — particularly affecting marginalized populations — and since 2020, there has been a vast (albeit late) influx of funding to address this crucial issue.

Simultaneously, the medical profession is witnessing unprecedented technological change with an increasing reliance on algorithmic tools and machine learning. In medical research and practice, these technologies are becoming increasingly common, yet little attention has been given to the inequities that these tools introduce — or exacerbate.

During this session, we will present the Medicine, Equity, and Technology (M.E.T.) Initiative, which is designed to address this very issue. We will first discuss the numerous manifestations of systemic bias within these digital tools and subsequently cover best practices for health professionals. No background in equity or technology is needed — we will discuss the fundamentals of both before covering their intersection in the medical field.

Moving forward, we aim to partner with the School of Medicine and Health Sciences to launch the Initiative as an educational module for students and researchers in healthcare professions.

All day | University Student Center

Decolonizing Discourses in Asian Art Museums: A Post-Colonial Study of the Peacock Room

All day | University Student Center 3rd Floor Lobby
Presented by: William Zhou

This session explores the discourses of an exhibition at one of the largest Asian art museums in the United States from post-colonial perspectives. The goal is to examine the role of museums in the post-colonial era with a non-oppressive consciousness, in order to foster meaningful, authentic, and sustainable relationships within and across communities. Additionally, it aims to provide tools for diverse groups to work towards inclusion and make meaningful change as a collective. The study, inspired by post-colonial theorists such as Said, Spivak, and Bhabha, analyzes the discourse of the Peacock Room at the National Museum of Asian Arts in Washington D.C. Through a close examination of the room's history, from its origins in London in the 1870s to its later arrival in the United States and reshaping by Charles Lang Freer, and its current interpretation by museum professionals, the research reveals how Asian art is re-contextualized in Western public institutions. The research aims to: 1) revisit public institutions in the post-colonial era with a non-oppressive perspective, 2) help public institutions develop authentic and sustainable relationships within and across communities, and 3) provide tools for diverse groups to work towards inclusion and make meaningful change collectively.

An Extensive Retrospective Analysis on The Interactive Effect of Socioeconomic Status and Patient Location on Vascular Surgery Outcomes

All day | University Student Center 3rd Floor Lobby
Presented by: Renxi Li

The effect of socioeconomic status (SES) has been implicated in the outcomes of vascular surgery. In previous studies, selective vascular diseases and procedures under different time frames were investigated. This makes it challenging to draw a conclusion from a cross-study comparison. Moreover, the definition of SES stratification and the healthcare experience of the same-level SES are dynamic based on geographic locations. In fact, SES and patient location have been shown to synergistically influence health status in other fields of medicine such as primary care. However, the interactive effect of these two factors has not been investigated in vascular surgery outcomes.

This study investigated the interaction of SES and geographical location and how they affect the peri-operative outcomes, such as mortality and morbidity, of patients who underwent different major vascular surgeries including abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), aortoiliac occlusive disease (AOD), carotid artery stenosis, and lower extremity arterial disease. Open and endovascular surgeries were studied separately. All analyses were based on the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 1998 to 2020.

5 p.m. | Jack Morton Auditorium

Freedom of Expression in a More Perfect Union: A respectful disagreement featuring the GWU Debate & Literary Society

Doors Open at 5 p.m. | Debate Begins at 5:30 p.m. | Jack Morton Auditorium
Presented by: Anisha Sahni, Vee Witzel, Sriya Prathuri, Sid Kuchimanchi, Marielle Cornes

Topic: How ought universities balance between freedom of expression on one hand, and the need to create a safe and inclusive environment where all individuals feel valued and respected, with no tolerance for hate speech or discrimination, on the other?

March 3, 2023

9 a.m. - 2 p.m. | University Student Center

Break Room & Eating Space: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. | University Student Center Room 310

9 a.m. - 11 a.m. | University Student Center

Coffee Bar: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. | University Student Center 3rd Floor Lobby

11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | University Student Center

Snack Bar: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | University Student Center 3rd Floor Lobby

9 a.m. - 10 a.m. | University Student Center

Racism, Research, and Scholarship at GW: A Statement of Intent

9 a.m. - 10 a.m. | University Student Center Room 302
Presented by: Trudy Mallinson, Adnan Hyder, Evangeline Downie, and Grace Zhang

This panel will present the joint statement of the GW Associate Deans for Research titled “Racism, Research, and Scholarship at GW: A Statement of Intent.” Presenters will explain the rationale for, and process of, developing the statement, introduce the statement and key elements, and discuss the implications for implementation in research at GW. The statement supports identifying and ending the cultural and structural conditions that enable racism in academic research and scholarship at our institution. The statement supports a vision in which scholarly activities at GW are conducted by, for, and with all types of persons and that the outputs and outcomes of our scholarship are agents of positive social change.

Beyond Checking the Boxes: Advancing the Measurement of Identity through Demographic Questions in Surveys of the GW Community

9 a.m. - 10 a.m. | University Student Center Room 405
Presented by: Ahleah Miles and Abbey Salvas

In this session, facilitators will provide an overview of best practices in survey research regarding the measurement of identity through demographic questions. They will focus on both the purposes of these questions and the challenges of measuring social identity with rigid categories. Participants will have an opportunity to reflect on their previous experiences completing demographic questions. This session will also be an opportunity for participants of the Diversity Summit to contribute to the development of a standard set of suggested demographic questions used in surveys of the GW community. As a result of this session, participants will be able to understand the purposes and challenges of measuring identity in a survey, identify “othering” language in survey response options, and use best practices in inclusive survey research.

Importance of Culturally-tailored Messaging in Clinical Settings

9 a.m. - 10 a.m. | University Student Center Amphitheater
Presented by: Maranda C. Ward and Nikhil Kalita

The recent COVID pandemic has exposed the various effects of racism, while the HIV pandemic has perennially confirmed the existence of homophobia and transphobia in healthcare settings. Racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender-minoritized patients, are more vulnerable to illness and poorer health outcomes than ever before. A notable risk may be that primary care practitioners (PCPs) do not have the skills and training to have culturally-appropriate conversations with these marginalized communities. Our research aims to develop an evidence-informed national training model to improve PCPs’ capacity to routinize culturally responsive and non-judgemental communication about HIV and COVID prevention with patients who come from historically excluded communities.

Black Lives Matter protest art: Explicit and implicit emotions

9 a.m. - 10 a.m. | University Student Center Room 307
Presented by: Jordan S. Potash and Lindsey D. Vance

The presentation identifies how protest art functions as a specific form of voice rooted in emotional expression. By having an understanding and appreciation for this consideration, empathic attention can enable challenging conversations both among activists and with viewers (both bystanders and targets of activists’ messages). We conducted a qualitative analysis of Black Lives Matter protest messages adhered to the White House in Washington DC in summer 2020 revealed explicit text expressions of anger and pride but that the art reflected grief. The results indicate that protester’s emotional expressions comprise both explicit messages and complex feelings, which requires dedicated spaces for the expression of more vulnerable emotions. Art therapists and activists can address these different emotions in either public or private support spaces. Participants will 1) describe purposes of spontaneous political art installations, 2) apply protest emotion models to understanding activists, and 3) identify how to support activists. This study was published as: Vance, L. D., & Potash, J. S. (2022). Black Lives Matter protest art: Uncovering explicit and implicit emotions through thematic analysis. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 28(1), 121-129. https://doi.org/10.1037/pac0000584

Harnessing the Power of Intergenerational Diversity

9 a.m. - 10 a.m. | University Student Center Room 308
Presented by: Ashley Lynn Priore

This workshop will discuss the role that intergenerational diversity plays in creating liberty, justice, and civility for all. Through interactive discussions and hands on activities, together, we will analyze how understanding other age groups’ perspectives and actions can create empathy and unity.

Health in Context

9 a.m. - 10 a.m. | University Student Center Room 311
Presented by: Lisa Bagby and Kiara Johnson

OT programs, like other health profession programs, educate students about clinical conditions. Likewise, many health professions programs teach modules or cover content related to social determinants of health, diversity, and/or bias, but most health professions programs do not have a course which explicitly ties the concepts of health and disparity together. We know health nor disparity occurs in a vacuum, so why do we teach the topics as though they do?

To address this discrepancy, the GW OTD program centers their health conditions course around health disparities and inequity through the lens of social determinants of health. This session will outline the OT 8012 – Health in Social and Population Contexts course design and implementation. The presenters will provide an overview of the course, discuss the strengths and weakness of the course design and impact on student learning, as well as ideas and/or strategies for future course development and/or improvement.

10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. | University Student Center

The GW Multiracial Democracy Project

10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. | University Student Center Room 302
Presented by: Andrew Thompson, Rebekah Tromble, and Spencer Overton

This session will give participants an opportunity to learn about and provide input into the development of the Multiracial Democracy Project at the GW Equity Institute Initiative. Through convenings, research grants, and access to policymakers, the Project will support the research of a racially-diverse cohort of scholars from law, social science, communications, and other disciplines from GW and other universities. The Project will tackle difficult topics like cultural identity and attitudes toward democracy, respecting identity without hardening polarization, facilitating cross-community coalitions, the role of white identity politics in multiracial democracy, and navigating conflicts between different communities of color over representation and power. We’ll explore the potential for legal reforms to facilitate a well-functioning multiracial democracy, such as those related to increased voter access, alternative voting systems, tech platform regulation, reforms to the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Senate, and more.

Stepping into GW's Backyard: Exploring Environmental Justice through Theatre for Social Justice

10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. | University Student Center Amphitheater
Presented by: Chloe Olwell and Maya Levine

Our session uses theatre for social justice in order to engage with an environmental justice case study in Washington, D.C. Theatre for social justice is a drama-based theory and performance style used to engage communities in social justice work. It transforms the audience into the facilitators and participants. The case study focuses on how the City of D.C. is planning to put a school bus terminal in the historically Black neighborhood of Brentwood without conducting any studies about the health and air quality impact. Brentwood already houses a garbage truck fleet, a recycling center, a construction company, and multiple auto repairs. We will frame our session with the focus question of: How does the environment impact you and your community? In order to wrestle with the focus question, we will play Boalian games for actors and non-actors that physically engage participants in group games and use active discussion starters to encourage individual and collective reflection.

Know History, Know Self: Philippine American History

10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. | University Student Center Room 307
Presented by: Gabriel Young, Alyssa Cassandra Sunga, Wella Lobaton, and Nino Andre Dionio

The Philippine American population is the fastest growing Asian American group in America. With a population of almost 4.2 million and a rich history that intertwines with America’s, Philippine American history is American history. Despite this significant population, this history is rarely taught in classrooms leading to an entire culture and people being unrecognized for their contributions. That’s why when discussing what it means to head towards a more perfect union alongside the principles of liberty, justice, and civility for all, it’s important to uplift this history and reclaim the stories of cross cultural organizing and developments. This session will fulfill Philippine national hero Jose Rizal’s philosophy by teaching how Philippine American history helps Americans know their own history in order to know themselves through providing a space for cross-cultural reflection.

Critical and Collective: Exploration of Identity and “Imposter Syndrome”

10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. | University Student Center Room 308
Presented by: Sarah M. Ray, Almas Ayaz, Priya William, and Kacie Sherrell

In this workshop we will discuss the concept of impostor syndrome (also known as impostor phenomenon, fraud syndrome, perceived fraudulence, or impostor experience). We will engage in the following: Understand the nuances of the imposter phenomenon and how it connects to critical social justice; Identify and strategize ways to combat feelings of imposter syndrome individually and socially; Finally, participants will leave the session with support and strategies to employ in their own lives to address imposter syndrome and build community.

Imagining What Could Be: Using Collective Visioning to Build Power for Racial Equity

10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. | University Student Center Room 405
Presented by: Kimberly Rodgers, Wendy Ellis, and Christina Reinke

For those who acknowledge and seek to address structural racism as a primary cause of inequity, the focus is frequently on identifying what we no longer want; on preventing, decreasing, or mitigating the consequences of racial oppression. While it’s appropriate and necessary to pinpoint what must change within the current landscape, we should also imagine what could be. In this session, presenters will guide participants through a workshop that seeks to reframe approaches to creating solutions that foster equity. By guiding participants through a series of exercises — including individual reflection, small-group discussion, and collage-making — we hope to: (1) reinforce the importance of envisioning the world we can create rather than the many obstacles we must knock down to get there, (2) model a community-engaged approach that uses a lens of community resilience, and (3) build and reinforce our collective power to lead the change we want to see. Attendees will learn how to apply a resilience-oriented approach to community engagement that supports healing, joy, and motivation in the difficult work of fostering equity.

12:00 p.m. - 1 p.m. | University Student Center

Advancing Equality in Virtual Work

12:00 p.m. - 1 p.m. | University Student Center Room 405
Presented by: Lauryn Burnett, N. Sharon Hill, Ursula Martin, and Gillian Yi

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a dramatic shift toward remote work, leading to an increase in virtual work arrangements such as telecommuting, hybrid work, and virtual teams. It also drastically increased career inequality for women. As a result, the World Economic Forum has estimated that the pandemic increased the time needed to close the global gender gap by 36 years to 132 years. Research on career equality in virtual work suggests that while increased virtuality at work has significant potential to enable women’s success at work (increased opportunities for job access and career advancement) and in life (enhanced work-family balance and well-being), ironically, it can simultaneously inhibit these same outcomes.

JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) in the STEM Classroom

12:00 p.m. - 1 p.m. | University Student Center Amphitheater
Presented by: Evangeline Downie, Carly Jordan, Bethany Cobb Kung, Alexander van der Horst, and Gary White

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) are integral to the educational experiences of our students. They are often addressed in targeted programs or special events, but education research shows that directly incorporating JEDI activities as a standard part of the disciplinary classroom, and a regular part of the curriculum, has a significant positive impact on the professional identity development of minoritized students; and professional identity correlates highly with recruitment and retention. This session is an interactive panel discussion covering the importance and practical examples of addressing JEDI issues as part of the STEM curriculum. Each panelist will highlight the way in which they are integrating JEDI into their classrooms, with examples from introductory non-major to advanced major courses in biology, astronomy, and physics. The panel then aims to engage a broad and diverse audience in a discussion of the challenges and opportunities available in pursuing such evidence-based pedagogical innovation, to build awareness in the community, seed replication, and learn from the experiences, ideas and perspectives of the audience.

How Clinicians Can Shape Community Narratives on HIV and COVID

12:00 p.m. - 1 p.m. | University Student Center Room 307
Presented by: Oni Blackstock

As part of GW's 8th Annual Diversity Summit, we present a free CME-bearing moderated discussion with Oni Blackstock, MD, founder and Executive Director of Health Justice. She is a primary care and HIV physician and is recognized as a thought leader and influencer in the areas of HIV and health equity.

Learning Objectives

Discuss the challenges of HIV and COVID stigma;
Justify why clinicians have a role and responsibility in shaping community narratives on HIV and COVID; and
Review examples of community-based roles clinicians can pursue to combat HIV and COVID stigma in patient communities.

Earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM for this event.

Moderated by Maranda C. Ward, EdD, MPH

Re-Imagining the Faculty/Mentor-Student Relationship at GW

12:00 p.m. - 1 p.m. | University Student Center Room 308
Presented by: Jameta Nicole Barlow, Anne Laurie Joseph, India Moore, Kiera Sona, and Sara Ukani

This session will discuss the role of faculty/mentors in fostering a supportive and productive academic learning experience that prepares students for professional and personal success. Dr. Jameta Nicole Barlow will briefly introduce the research on the faculty/mentor and student relationship, emphasizing the nuanced commitments for students and faculty of color. The majority of this session will be an engaged dialogue with four undergraduate students at GW, who will discuss their on campus experiences and the different ways faculty/mentor and student relationships have facilitated both erasure and success. Collectively, the student discussants (India Moore, Anne Laurie Joseph, Kiera Sona and Sara Ukani) and Dr. Barlow will offer suggestions for a re-imagination of the student experience and expectations.

The Way of the World

12:00 p.m. - 1 p.m. | University Student Center Room 302
Presented by: Bernadette Itzkow

It is no secret that the United States has undergone periods of unrest, especially in the last 10 years. The need for radical change has led to increased civil disobedience across the country. When evaluating this unrest from a legal perspective, some of the contradiction lies in the numerous interpretations of the constitution. This interactive speech is a close analysis, almost a picking apart of, The Preamble that pushes individuals to question why the world operates the way that it does and to interrogate what stands in the way of radical change.

12:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. | University Student Center

Processing & Silent Space: 12:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. | University Student Center Room 301

1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. | University Student Center

Employment Law – Strengths and Limits to Assist in Meeting Diversity Goals

1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. | University Student Center Room 302
Presented by R. Budd Haemer

In the sixty years since the Equal Pay Act was passed, the ratio of average wages of men and women has not changed as much as might be hoped, in fact, much data shows there is hardly change at all. This session will do a thought experiment. Let’s imagine a company and postulate that it employs equal numbers of men and women but has a slight bias in hiring. We assume that usually if both men and women are equally qualified for a position, the man is selected. Then let’s run a few case studies to apply some of the Federal employment laws, specifically NLRA (Unionizing), Equal Pay, and Civil Rights. We will discuss what insights we get from looking at the imagined company and its transformation at it meets Federal Employment laws. What goals of diversity are thwarted? What goals are facilitated?

Redesigning to Prepare Equity-Centered School Leaders

1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. | University Student Center Room 405
Presented by: Rebecca A. Thessin, Abebayehu Tekleselassie, Tynika Young-Aleibar, Coleen Reyes, Leslie Trimmer, and Jennifer Clayton

In this session, we will provide a brief overview of our partnership thus far to engage in a full program redesign to prepare equity-centered school leaders. We will share the research that we gathered to inform the development and draft of our framework. Finally, we will engage in a conversation with audience members on the framework components, where we might further clarify and address omissions, and how we might bring the components to life.

Navigating Resettled Refugees' Experiences in the United States through Multimodal Storytelling

1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. | University Student Center Amphitheater
Presented by: Jihae Cha, Sarah Oh, Bawi Hnem, Susan Rai, Meh Sod Paw, and Sarah Nini

This session aims to give a platform for traditionally underrepresented voices, such as youth with refugee experience. A group of young adults who have been resettled to the United States at a young age participated in a participatory action research (PAR) project where they explored their own constructions of belonging and identities in imagined communities in the form of a multimodal narrative workshop.

10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. | University Student Center