EDI News and Events
Stay up to date on the most recent EDI news from the Faculty of Health and Social Development and UBCO, as well as information on upcoming events, workshops, info sessions and more.
Upcoming Events
Learning Opportunities: Indigeneity and Anti-Colonial Resources
Learning Opportunities: EDI and Anti-Oppression
FHSD EDI Lunch and Learn Series & Monthly Update
SAAM 2024
IBPOC Faculty & Staff Get Together
Black Mental Wellness Project
JEDII STEM Series
Learning Opportunities: Indigeneity and Anti-Colonial Resources
We invite FHSD students, staff and faculty to continue their learning journey by committing to do frequent and purposeful meaningful actions, and to expand their knowledge about the history and legacy of residential schools and the intergenerational impacts of colonization on Indigenous peoples.
Do a meaningful actions by volunteering for an Indigenous organization, choosing to support Indigenous owned businesses and/or organizations, taking time from your class/meeting or have an open conversation within your close circles, etc. Take some time to reflect with your colleagues, students or close ones, and read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action.
Expand your knowledge by registering in a course, attending events/workshops, reading a book, watching a documentary or film or partaking in a learning activity to expand your knowledge.
Did you know that both the Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation take place on September 30 every year?
Orange Shirt Day is the legacy of an Indigenous-led grassroot project that took place in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in May 2013. “As spokesperson for the Reunion group leading up to the events, former student Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, a Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) woman from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band), told her story of her first day at residential school when her shiny new orange shirt, bought by her grandmother, was taken from her as a six-year old girl.” To learn more, please visit The Orange Shirt Society
Local governments, school districts, Indigenous nations and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) declared September 30 as Orange Shirt Day.
National Truth and Reconciliation Day: After a failed attempt in 2019 to pass a Bill designating September 30th National Truth and Reconciliation Day, the Canadian government passed Bill-5 in 2021 in response to Call to Action 80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). This Bill declared September 30th as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and a federal statutory holiday.
Want to learn more? Here are some upcoming learning opportunities and resources.
Featured Events:
- FHSD EDI Lunch and Learn: Jan 25 from 12-1:30pm
- FHSD Communities of Practice and Care: Jan 31 from 10-11am
- kinSHIFT- Are you a settler looking for decolonization training? Check out kinSHIFT to view their latest programs.
- IndigenEYEZ:- Workshops by and for Indigenous Peoples.
Date Specific Events:
- nsyilxcen for Everyone Level 1: Jan 16, Jan 23, Jan 30, Feb 6. Registration now open
- Mi’kmaq fiddler and singer Morgan Toney: Jan 19. Tickets
- UBC Second Nature Exhibition: Jan 19. Details
- Storytelling, Performance, and Identity: A Two-Spirit Artist talk with Madeline Terbasket: Jan 20. Details
- k’west’lap ee stethtatht (Truth Shows Itself): Jan 21. Details
- nsyilxcen: the Journey Continues: Jan 23, Feb 6. Details
- UBC Indigenous-Focused Harm Reduction (Part 1): Jan 24, open to UBC students, staff, and faculty. Details
- UBC Indigenous-Focused Harm Reduction (Part 1): Jan 24. Open to Indigenous students, staff, and faculty only. Details
- UBC Indigenous Foundations: Getting Started. UBC CTL event: Jan 24. Details
- UBC Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada: Open House: UBC Indigenous Programs and Services. Details
- UBC Holding Indigenous Topics with Care: UBC CTL event: Feb 22. Details
Recurring:
- Kelowna Art Gallery- Indigenous Beading Circle: In-person. Cost: $20. First Saturday of every month from 1 to 3 pm. The Indigenous Beading Circle has been created with the intention of welcoming both Indigenous and non-Indigenous crafters of all skill levels to join in a safe and creative space for open discussion and knowledge sharing. This is not an instructor-led class, however group leaders and others with experience will be participating and will be happy to share tips and techniques. REGISTER HERE
- Nsyilxcen 1 Online class: Open to Nation members* Every Tuesday and Wednesday from 5:30-6:30pm. MORE INFO HERE
- UNDRIP: A Reading Circle for Reconciliation: Wednesday, November 22 11:30-1:30pm Virtual (online) circle format. This virtual Reading Circle will enable participants to become familiar with the content of UNDRIP. REGISTER HERE.
- The Indigenous public Health Training Institute is back! Applications are open: Explore Canada’s only Indigenous Public Health professional development opportunity at UBC’s Faculty of Medicine. MORE INFO HERE
Asynchronous resources:
- A Calls to Action Conversation – Hosted by Yellowhead Institute: Recording from Sept 29, online event. Honour National Truth and Reconciliation day this year by joining an esteemed panel of Indigenous leaders, as they discuss ‘Legacy’ Calls to Action (1-42). The discussion is hosted by Dr. Eva Jewell and Dr. Ian Moseby, who led the research for Yellowhead’s annual Call To Action Accountability: A Status Update on Reconciliation. RECORDING HERE
- We Welcome The Children Back Home: The Burden of Sorrow and Survival of the Indian Residential School Experience in Canada: This Indigenous Speaker Series session brought together a panel of survivors of the Indian Residential School experience in Canada. This important session welcomed and honored these brave and resilient survivors as they lead us in a discussion about the urgency and motivation to right and write a new history in Canada that is based on a proper redress for Indigenous peoples and communities. RECORDING HERE.
- UBC Learning Circle- 23 and me(n) with Elijah Buffalo: Recording from Oct 4, online event. A discussion based on anecdotal and personal observations of the representations of men in the healthcare field and how Call to Action 23 is being addressed by institutions. RECORDING HERE
- UBC’s REDI office from the Faculty of Medicine- Diagnosing Truth, Healing and Conciliation Inside BC Health Care Systems with Dr. Danièle Behn Smith: Recording from Oct 17. Dr. Danièle Behn Smith is the Deputy Provincial Health Officer, Indigenous Health. In this second session of the Indigenous Speaker Series, we listened to Dr. Behn Smith’s unique perspective on how health and academic systems can best approach the work in relation to the processes of Truth and Reconciliation. RECORDING HERE
- Respect, Sincerity & Responsibility: Land Acknowledgements at UBC: 60 Min. Asynchronous course for faculty and UBC employees. At the end of this session, participants will recognize why land acknowledgements are an important part of our work at UBC, identify their positionality and responsibility when offering land acknowledgements and engaging with Indigenous communities and utilize resources and educational tools. REGISTER IN THIS COURSE HERE
- University of Alberta Indigenous Canada Massive Open Online Course (MOOC): 12 weeks of study, 2—3 hours/week. Asynchronous course. 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores the different histories and contemporary perspectives of Indigenous peoples living in Canada. REGISTER IN THIS COURSE HERE
- PHSA Indigenous gender diversity: creating culturally relevant and gender-affirming services: 3 HOURS. Asynchronous course. A foundational course to help learners increase awareness, knowledge, and skills for improving access to services for gender diverse Indigenous people across BC. REGISTER IN THIS COURSE HERE
- Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Read the summary of the Final Report here, or its full version here
- Read the In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in B.C. Health Care
- Indigenous Strategic Plan (ISP) and Implementation Toolkit (UBC)
- Check our Reports and Resources tab for: o The National Inquiry’s Final Report into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls 2SLGBTQQIA people and The 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan and 2022 Progress report
- Resources recommended by UBCO’s Library Indigenous Strategic Plan Implementation Sub-committee
- UBC Decolonizing and Antiracist Resources
- Every Child Matters: Honouring the Missing Children
- Teaching and Learning Resources from UBC’s Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre
- UBC’s Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre Collections
- Orange T-Shirt Day at UBCO
- Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre- Teaching and Learning Resources
- Indigenous Programs and Services at UBC Okanagan
- The history of Orange Shirt Day
- Google search:
- Annual Strawberry Ceremony- Feb 14th
- No More Silence- It Starts With Us grassroots advocacy group
- Red Dress Project- Métis artist Jaime Black and the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People- May 5th
- UBC’s Indigenous Foundations program
- Volunteer/donate to the Kelowna Friendship Society
- Donate to KUU-US Crisis Line Society, Orange Shirt Society, Indian Residential School Survivors Society, En’owkin Centre, Sncewips Heritage Museum, IndigenEYEZ, IndigiNews, or others
- Shop from the Okanagan Nation Alliance, Spirit of The Lake, Kekuli Cafe, Shop First Nations, Indigenous World Winery, Shop Indigenous, Indigenous-Owned Businesses, Theytus Books, Strong Nations, GoodMinds or others
- Kinshift: Find lists of books to dig into, Videos to watch and Podcasts to listen to or donate
- All-Ages List: 12 Indigenous Books to Expand Your Knowledge
- Books, Films and resources compiled by the Okanagan Regional Library
- Books, Videos, children resources, etc from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights
- A selection of films by Indigenous filmmakers and allies from the National Film Board of Canada. See also their Educational Playlist
- Residential Schools Podcast Series
- The Aboriginal Healing Foundation Archived Research Series
- Recognizing Our Implicit Bias Towards Indigenous Peoples | Kelly Terbasket | TEDxBYU
Learning Opportunities: EDI, Accessibility and Anti-Oppression
Featured events:
- FHSD EDI Lunch and Learn: Jan 25 from 12-1:30pm
- FHSD Communities of Practice and Care: Jan 31 from 10-11am
- Sexual Assault Awareness Month- SAAM 2024 programing:
- See SAAM 2024 tab
Date Specific Events:
- UBC Accessibility-centred Design: Creating Inclusive Learning Environments. Jan 16. Details
- UBC Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion in TAing at UBC: A Workshop. Jan 19. Details
- UBC English Language Conversation Circle: Jan 22. Details
- UBC Cross Cultural Communication & Consent: Jan 22. Details
- UBC Navigating Code-Switching and Language Biases in Academic Settings: Jan 23. Details
- UBC Inclusive Teaching: Reflecting on Your Teaching Practice: Jan 24. Details
- It Is What It Is, stand up comedy: Jan 28. Details
- UBC StEAR Roadmap for Change update: Reporting on equity and anti-racism progress: Jan 29. Details
- UBC Trans Allyship: Jan 29. Details
- UBC Diversity Makes Beautiful Music with DJ O SHOW: Jan 30. Details
- Concert Dominique Fils-Aimé: Feb 21. Details
- UBC Inclusive Teaching Studio: What Does Your Syllabus Say About Your Course? Apr 16. Details
Recurring events:
- Staff and faculty- Disability Affinity Group (DAG) Meetings: Attend an informal, drop-in style Zoom meeting to discuss concerns, issues, strategies, advocacy, ideas, or just sit back and relax with your camera off in a safe and supportive environment. Community of Care Drop in Sessions are:
- January 22, 2024 | 11am-noon on Zoom
- February 21, 2024 | 2-3pm on Zoom
- March 22, 2024 | 11am-noon on Zoom
- April 22, 2024 | 3-4pm on Zoom
- Centre of Teaching and Learning- OER Accessibility Clinic: Online. REGISTER HERE
- Find out what is on your drugs- UBCO Harm Reduction Team (HaRT) at:
- The Living Positive Resource Centre: Tuesday-Friday 2-5pm. 255 Lawrence Ave, Kelowna. (to drop samples off outside these hours or inquire about drug-checking call 778-753-5830 or email info@lprc.ca.)
- Interior Health OPS: Wednesdays 5-7pm. 1649 Pandosy St.
- UBCO: Sept-April. Picnic- UNC 1st floor
- This Space Belongs to You Gender Affirming Wear Drop-In: Stop by Living Positive Resource Centre the first Monday of every month from 11-2pm to drop off or pick up gender affirming wear! (Clothing and shoes (any size), Unused boxers, bras or any kind of underwear, Binders, Packers, Breast Forms, Breast/Chest Plates, Gaffs, TransTape and/or KT Tape etc) MORE INFO HERE
- Okanagan Regional Library- Spanish-English Intercambio: Recurring every Thursday until Mar 30 at the Okanagan Regional Library Kelowna Branch from 6-8pm. Spanish-English Intercambio is a relaxed meeting space for those looking to improve their Spanish or English and meet new friends while doing so. Practice your conversational language skills in this drop-in, weekly program. MORE INFO HERE
- Okanagan Regional Library- Book Club in French/Club de lecture en français: Si vous êtes un adulte curieux et passionné de littérature francophone, ce club de lecture est pour vous! Joignez-vous à nous chaque premier samedi du mois de 10h30 à 11h30. Le roman à discuter: “La part de l’autre” d’Éric-Emmanuel SchmittIf you like French literature, and enjoy discuss it in French, this Book Club is for you! Join us every first Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The book to discuss: “The part of the other” by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt. MORE INFO HERE
- Okanagan Regional Library-Mandarin Mondays: Mondays from 5-6:30 in Kelowna. A free Mandarin conversation club in Kelowna bridges east and west. Come meet with Mandarin speaking tutors every Monday.
Everyone is welcome! MORE INFO HERE - ASL Basics for Teens & Adults: Saturdays from 9:30-10:30am at the Okanagan Regional Library. Sessions from May 20-June 17. Learn the basics of American Sign Language and gain exposure to Deaf culture in a fun, engaging, and immersive way. MORE INFO HERE
- Rutland English Corner: A conversational English group for people with beginner to intermediate English language skills. Drop on in! Everyone welcome. Meet others and improve your English with engaging conversation. MORE INFO HERE
- Drag Brunch: Saturday and Sunday mornings at Friends of Dorothy. Downtown, Kelowna.
- Rebellious Unicorns Events: Rebellious Unicorns is a 100% 2SLGBTQ+ owned events, broadcasting and media production company, based out of Kelowna, BC. MORE INFO HERE
- Smashed Closet Comedy & Open Mic: Sundays. 19+ event. Cost:$10-$20 at Unleashed Brewing Company 880 Clement Avenue #207 Kelowna. Kelowna’s monthly 2SLGBTQIA+ night of comedy! A place for queer people to come and laugh without being made the punchline.
- UBCO Express STI Testing: In an ongoing effort to make STI testing more accessible and convenient, Student Wellness is providing express STI screening in the Nechako Residence at the Residence Wellness Hub (NCH 251). No appointment is needed. For more information about this event please visit the Residence Wellness Hub Website. **Remember to bring your Provincial Health Number or iMed so we can send your samples to the lab. We will also need your student number for registration. MORE INFO HERE
- Virtual Queer Community Book Club: The Virtual Queer Community Book Club features books written by 2SLGBTQ+ (2 Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) authors. The VQCBC strives to deepen our sense of community and ourselves in a queer centric space. Join us for a lively discussion about this months selection “Mama’s Boy” by Dustin Lance Black. Recommended for Young Adults and Adults. MORE INFO HERE
- Beyond the Music: Summer, Fall and Winter classes. Beyond the Music is a space to explore the joy of music while building connections! Led by a Certified Music Therapist, sessions will incorporate singing, music-making, group songwriting, and movement. They invite individuals living with disabilities and diverse abilities to join Beyond the Music. No musical experience is required. MORE INFO HERE
See asynchronous learning opportunities in our Resources and Reports page.
FHSD Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Series & Updates
2024/2025 EDI Lunch and Learn Series:
Students, faculty, staff, instructors or colleagues from the School of Nursing, Social Work and Health and Exercise Sciences are invited to attend the Lunch & Learns, organized specifically for our Faculty as part of a series of EDI learning opportunities. For more information, please contact us or check CANVAS and/or calendar invites.
- January 25 from 12-1:30pm- Chaa Da Cup: Amplifying South Asian Voices- Exploratory and heartfelt conversations with South Asian mothers and daughters
- February 29 from 12-1:30pm- Community Agreements as an inclusive practice
- March 18 from 12-1:30pm- Responding to Microaggressions
FHSD Communities of Practice and Care
In response to students feedback, the FHSD EDI Committee is hosting a welcoming space for students from the Schools of Social Work, Nursing or Health and Exercise Science, who identify as IBPOC, multiracial, member of a racialized group, 2S/LGBTQIA+ and/or folx with disabilities.
Come join us for a relaxing cup of tea, build connection and support within your program and Faculty, and co-create communities of practice and collective care.
For more information, please contact us or check social media and CANVAS.
FHSD EDI Monthly Updates:
Our FHSD EDI monthly update highlights UBC and non-UBC events and learning opportunities to foster community, support and continuous learning.
- Please stay tuned for our next update.
Please contact the EDI Advisor or Coordinator to be added to the listserve.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month Programing 2024
This year’s theme for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) is Sex Education Saves Lives. The Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office has chosen this theme in order to affirm the importance of comprehensive and inclusive sex education grounded in harm-reduction and trauma-informed practices at all stages of the formal education system in Canada. Sex education saves lives when it delivers practical tools to make informed decisions about what we do with our own bodies. Sex education saves lives when it enables healthy and non-coercive consent practices that we can imbed in all of our relationships. Sex education saves lives when it affirms and celebrates diverse gender identities and sexual orientations so that nobody has to face discrimination and hate.
Join SVPRO this January to raise awareness and take action!
- NAUGHTY BINGO Jan 11 from 7-9pm
- SELF DEFENSE WORKSHOP Jan 14 from 1-3:30pm
- CONSENT 101 WORKSHOP OPTION 1 from 6:30-7:30pm
- CONSENT WORKSHOP OPTION 2 from 4:30-5:30pm
- JANUARY CONSENT AMBASSADOR TRAINING Jan 20 from 9-4pm
- CROSS CULTURAL COMMUNICATION AND CONSENT Jan 22 from 2-4pm
- INDIGENOUS PART SERIES (PART 1): INDIGENOUS FOCUSED HARM REDUCTION 12-1:30pm
- INDIGENOUS PART SERIES (PART 2): INDIGENOUS CONSENT WORKSHOP Jan 24 from 2-3pm
- TRANS ALLYSHIP WORKSHOP 12-1:30pm
IBPOC Faculty & Staff Get Together
More about IBPOC affinity group @ UBCO:
A group of IBPOC staff and faculty in collaboration with the Provost Office hosts meet and greet gatherings for all staff, faculty and post-docs that identify as Indigenous, Black, Asian, multiracial, and/ or people of colour. If you are a UBCO faculty, staff or postdoctoral scholar who identifies as Indigenous, Black, Asian, multiracial, people of colour, or as a member of another racialized group, join us at our next event. These gatherings provide a space to connect and strengthen your community with other IBPOC-identifying faculty, staff and postdoctoral scholars at UBCO.
Learn more about IBPOC Connections: Staff & Faculty HERE
Looking to keep up to date with IBPOC Connections opportunities and next events? Sign-up our listserv:
- Open a new email message to be sent to listserv@lists.ubc.ca
- Copy and paste the following in the email body: subscribe IBPOC-CONNECTIONS
- Click send and await confirmation email
- Click on confirm subscription in confirmation email
***Please note that this is a space for faculty, staff, postdoctoral scholars and graduate students who identify as Indigenous, Black and/or Person of Color to build their support networks. We thank you for understanding and supporting this community initiative. For any questions please email: equity.ubco@ubc.ca
Would you like to learn more about why people who identify as IBPOC need their own spaces? Check out the article on the link (above), read recommendations #6, 32, 3, 14, 34 (and others) from the Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence (ARIE) Final Report and see Goal 1, action D from UBC: Inclusion Action Plan.
Black Mental Wellness Project
The Black Wellness Project is back! Black counsellors from within the community have collaborated with UBC Black Caucus once again to provide two FREE virtual and/or in-person counselling sessions on a limited, first-come, first-served basis. This is open to all black Student, Staff and Faculty on both campuses. Bookings can be made by contacting the counsellors directly. Please see the list of participating counsellors HERE and their contact information.
Equity and Inclusion in Action: JEDII STEM Series
The JEDII STEM Series offers regular, informal educational sessions on topics ranging from considering JEDII within your research program to setting up inclusive search processes for faculty and staff.
The series has been developed specifically to engage/support people who lead and support JEDII within STEM fields – for example, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Applied Science, Land and Food Systems, Forestry, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Medicine – and who already have some competencies in JEDII-related topics.
Although we center the experiences of people from equity-deserving groups in many of the discussions, allies and those from non-equity seeking groups are welcome and encouraged to attend – it is everyone’s responsibility to create a more just, equitable and inclusive university.
The series aims to primarily:
- Build a sense of community across STEM for people working on JEDII within their units.
- Enhance a sense of self-efficacy and solidarity through sharing of resources, knowledge and expertise.
- Through exchanges of ideas, develop a deeper understanding of some of the systemic barriers to JEDII within STEM in order to coordinate action across different units.
Sessions are generally delivered virtually and are available to participants at UBC Vancouver, UBC Okanagan, and other learning sites. For more information, please visit: Equity and Inclusion in Action: JEDII STEM Series
UBC’s Public Scholars Initiative (PSI): UBC Health is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Public Scholars Initiative (PSI) to facilitate the development of a community of PhD students working to address the complex questions and challenges of our world through collaborations, with a particular focus on those conducting research that impacts health equity. In partnership with UBC Health, PSI will be accepting applications this spring for a new health equity stream. The Health Equity Stream is a dedicated funding source to further increase the number of PSI scholars working to impact health equity within local, national, and global health systems. Find more information here.
Public Scholars Initiative: Health Equity Info Session: Feb 16, 2023 from 12-1pm REGISTER HERE
Hiring: Conference Coordinator, Indigenous Health- School of Nursing. Project Lead: Dr. Donna Kurtz. Deadline: January 12, 2023 at midnight. This position will be involved in activities related to a UBC funded community-university partnership grant. Coordination includes working with a team of researchers from UBC Okanagan and urban Indigenous community partner organizations.. Find more information here.
Community-University Engagement Support (CUES) Fund. The 2022/23 Community-University Engagement Support (CUES) Fund is open! Interested applicants are invited to submit a Notice of Intent. Apply for up to $25,000 to support community-university partnerships that benefit communities across British Columbia and advance collaborative research, teaching, and learning. Find more information here.
Actioning UBC’s commitments to equity and anti-racism: A message from UBC’s new Associate Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion (AVPEI). View the full message here.
Announcing changes in the Provost and Vice-President, Academic portfolio to support the important work underway on anti-racism and inclusive excellence at UBC Okanagan. Dr. Jannik Haruo Eikenaar has been appointed as the new Associate Provost, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism (IDEA) for a one-year term, effective August 1, 2022. View the full announcement here.
Announcing the appointment of Associate Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion: We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Arig al Shaibah as the new Associate Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion, starting July 1, 2022. In this role, Dr. al Shaibah will work to advance human rights, planning and evaluation, education, and systems change across the university. She will also be exploring ways to provide leadership for accessibility, and in partnership with other units, help implement the Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Task Force recommendations, and the university’s implementation of the inclusion action plan. View the full announcement here.
In recent years, Sept. 30 has been known as Orange Shirt Day. Founded by Phyllis Webstad in 2013, Orange Shirt Day is a grassroots campaign that grew out of her own experiences and the experiences of other residential school survivors who attended St. Joseph’s Mission near Williams Lake. It is a day to honour and hold up the healing journeys of residential school survivors and their families, to engage in meaningful discussions about the history and legacy of the residential school system. View the full announcement here.
June 29, 2022
The Faculty of Health and Social Development are pleased to announce our newest colleague, Natalia Peñuela Gallo, who will be joining the Faculty of Health and Social Development as Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) Coordinator on August 1, 2022.
Natalia has a MA in interdisciplinary studies from UBCO, and her thesis was titled Violence against Social Leaders and Human Rights Defenders in the Context of the 2016 Peace Accords in Colombia. She has previously worked as a Spanish Sessional Lecturer at UBCO, and most recently worked with the College of Graduate Studies at UBCO since 2020. Natalia has been highly involved in the UBCO Equity and Inclusion Office’s work and various EDI-related initiatives around UBC and Kelowna, including working with Migrant Agricultural Workers, speaking on panels and guest lecturing on the topics of human rights and intersectionality. She brings abundant experience, education and passion in the field of EDI work and will be an incredible addition to the team. Alongside the EDI Advisor to the Dean, Rishma Chooniedass, Natalia will work on improving EDI-related initiatives and strategic plans in FHSD and the three Schools.
Announcing the appointment of Associate Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion: We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Arig al Shaibah as the new Associate Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion, starting July 1, 2022. In this role, Dr. al Shaibah will work to advance human rights, planning and evaluation, education, and systems change across the university. She will also be exploring ways to provide leadership for accessibility, and in partnership with other units, help implement the Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Task Force recommendations, and the university’s implementation of the inclusion action plan. View the full announcement here.
RESPECT is a digital magazine run by students at the University of British Columbia (UBC) to promote an immersive dialogue on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). The interdisciplinary project is supported by the Equity Enhancement Fund at UBC Okanagan.
Like an acrostic poem, RESPECT stands for Representation and Equity in Systemic Practices to Effect Change Today. The digital space is coordinated and edited by multidisciplinary students.
RESPECT magazine may be your first opportunity to get published. It can also be an alternate way to share, react, collaborate, and inform our community. We want this interdisciplinary and quasi-academic digital publication to be rich with your participation. Click here to view the RESPECT Magazine website.
UBC students are invited to submit their work for the second issue of the RESPECT magazine. Submit to: respect.magazine@ubc.ca by October 31, 2022. MORE INFORMATION HERE
If you are doing work to advance equity and want us to feature it on the FHSD Equity website, please let us know by emailing our FHSD Advisor to the Dean and EDI coordinator