We are proud to announce that UMBC will be hosting introductory workshops on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, as well as LGBTQ Safe Zone Ally Development Training, throughout the Spring 2012 semester. Our aim is to help students, faculty and staff promote a more welcoming atmosphere for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning members of the UMBC community.

The first session is a Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Introductory Workshop. It will cover basic ideas and terminology related to LGBTQ issues and is intended for those with a very general understanding of what it means to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning. This session is for beginners.  The first Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity workshop will be taking place on Thursday,February 23rd, 2012 from 2:30pm - 4pm.

The second session is Safe Zone Ally Development Training.  It will prepare participants to join UMBC’s formal network of Safe Zone advocates, if they wish. Advocates are community members who agree to be publicly identified as being dedicated to making UMBC safer for students, faculty and staff of all sexual orientations and gender identities. One does not need to be a member of the LGBTQ community to become an advocate; all it takes is a genuine wish to be involved in helping students, faculty and staff feel safe and encouraged to be themselves as much as possible.

Since Safe Zone Ally Development Training does presume some level of knowledge and familiarity with LGBTQ ideas and terminology, Session II participants are expected to have a basic understanding of sexual orientation and gender identity through previous training (for example, the Session I Introductory Workshop), personal background or past experiences. 

A flyer with full descriptions for each workshop has been attached to this news story.  All community-wide workshops will take place in the OSL Mosaic Center, Commons 2B23 (unless otherwise noted).  RSVPs via email (mosaic@umbc.edu) are strongly encouraged.

The Diversity Educator Interns are a mix of six, talented undergraduate and graduate students who work to fulfill the Mosaic Center's mission and vision by promoting cross cultural programs, education and collaboration. Want to know more? Contact mosaic@umbc.edu.

Q: What is your year and major at UMBC?
A: I am a Junior and am double majoring in Psychology and Media & Communication.

Q: How is your major applicable to diversity education?
A: My majors are not applicable to diversity education, but they have helped me learn different ways of thinking and communicating. I can apply my knowledge to diversity education by helping increase communication and understanding through events, videos, and other forms of communication.

Q: Why did you decide to apply for the Diversity Educator Internship?
A: Diversity education is something that I have always been interested in. I wanted to help bring different groups and people together to discuss and accept each other. I believed this internship would help me figure out how to
use my personal skills to educate others about diversity.

Q: How would you define diversity?
A: I believe that diversity occurs when people accept and acknowledge differences in others.

Q: How does UMBC foster an appreciation for diversity?
A: UMBC has a multitude of groups that students can participate in that provide opportunities to interact with different cultures and beliefs. Even if you don’t participate in a group, it is impossible to walk around campus and not find someone who has a different background from yours.

Q: What are ways that students can participate in advocacy for diversity?

A: I believe that students can be advocates by learning instead of assuming when it comes to others, going to events that are not the norm for them, and keeping an open mind.

 Q: After graduating how will you continue to be an advocate for diversity?

A: I’m still figuring out everything for after graduation, but I would love to go find work as a Diversity Educator or eventually become someone who teaches about gender stratification and stereotypes. I find diversity, cultural interaction, and gender stereotypes interesting and going into any of these fields would give me tools to be an even better advocate for diversity. I also view being an advocate for diversity as a life style. It can just be little acts of kindness and acceptance, not a huge world changing cause.

Hey UMBC!

What will you be doing this Spring Break 2012?  Come out this Spring to learn, volunteer and give back to your local community!  ASB trips are student-run, week long service engagement trips designed to challenge students and combat civic issues underlying larger societal concerns such as homelessness, intellectual disabilities, animal rights, health care, and the environment.  The ASB trips included for Spring 2012 are the following:
The Arc trip involves students serving the mentally and physically disabled population at the Arc of Carroll County.
The Environmental trip has a focus on sustainable living in urban environments.

The TEAR trip (Through the Eyes of a Refugee) serves the refugee population of Baltimore.

The Animal Advocacy trip explores several aspects of animal rights and humane treatment of animals.

The Day in the Life trip focuses on the homeless population of Baltimore City.
The 2012 trips will begin on Sunday, March 18th and finish on either Thursday, March 22nd or Friday, March 23rd.  The cost of each trip is approximately $75.00 to cover expenses such as food and gas during the trip.  Join us on Facebook for regular updates at "UMBC Alternative Spring Break (ASB)".  For more information, you can also go to the My UMBC Serves group at http://my.umbc.edu/groups/serve.  Click on the documents tab to download the Trip Participant application and other informational documents. 
 
Applications are closing February 6th, so hurry and submit yours! 
Thank you and look forward to hearing from you,
 
ASB Team

410.271.1658

gmnkande@gmail.com