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October 2019 Newsletter

Pitt Diversity Newsletter Masthead, Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Pitt
Contents • October 2019
Reflections on Diversity
Pitt Communities Open House panel members
Time is flying, and the semester is in full swing!  The past month brought us several causes for celebration, such as the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Pitt Communities Open House, and DICP certificate ceremony.  For the third time, Pitt was honored with the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award - - which is an acknowledgement of the important work that all of you do across our campuses.  Looking forward, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Relationship Violence Awareness Month, and LGBT History Month will include engaging and informative programming for our community.

While pausing to reflect on these events is important, the urgency and necessity of our work is evident and compelling.  Here are a few reasons why: 
 
- A study led by Pitt researchers in the School of Social Work demonstrated stark socioeconomic disparities by race and gender in the Pittsburgh region.  

- The AAU sexual misconduct report, based on a 2019 national student survey, will be published later this month.  Consistent with the reports received by our Title IX office, we expect the data to show that sexual misconduct remains a persistent and pervasive problem.

- As we approach the anniversary of the Tree of Life tragedy, our community continues to grieve the senseless attack.  This October will provide opportunities for reflection and action, such as the Lest We Forget exhibit detailed below.

May these reasons serve every day to motivate us in the work that we do to effectuate true and lasting change.  Thank you for your commitment and persistence.

Pam Connelly
Vice Chancellor, Diversity and Inclusion
 

HEED Award Announcement

 

The University of Pittsburgh received the 2019 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. As a recipient of the annual HEED Award — a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion — the University of Pittsburgh will be featured, along with 92 other recipients, in the November 2019 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. This is the third year in a row that the University of Pittsburgh has been named as a HEED Award recipient.
 
“The university is thrilled by this recognition. Every year, the HEED assessment provides an opportunity to gather and assess initiatives, efforts, and outcomes from around the university.  This award serves as a moment of positive reflection, which will fuel is to move our efforts forward,” said Pam Connelly, vice chancellor of diversity and inclusion.
 
INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine selected the University of Pittsburgh for its extensive array of programs and initiatives, including the Pittsburgh Admissions Collaborative, Cultivating Inclusive Action Planner, Diversity Retreat, and the Latinx cluster-hiring initiative, aimed increasing diverse representation and inclusive engagement across campus.
 
“The HEED Award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees — and best practices for both — continued leadership support for diversity, and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a HEED Award recipient. Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus.”
 
For more information about the 2019 HEED Award, visit insightintodiversity.com.
 

Launch of Intergroup Dialogue Community
Pitt Communities logo - Build Relationships. Strengthen A Community at Pitt.
The Pitt Intergroup Dialogue Community Collaborative is a new member of the Pitt Communities offerings for staff and faculty. The mission of the Intergroup Dialogue Community is to create a space and community of practice to bring together diverse people to engage in sustained and intentional dialogue, and to build together something greater than anyone can do alone - a shared vision of social justice.
 
The goals of the community are to help participants:
  • Learn and practice communication skills across differences.
  • Understood how our differences/identities impact how we relate to one another.
  • Develop skills for addressing conflicts.
  • Gain capacity to take action to support social change.
The Intergroup Dialogue Community is open to all members of the University community.

To learn more / get involved, contact Mario Browne at mcb77@pitt.edu 
 

Lest We Forget exhibit
Lest We Forget art exhibit
“Lest We Forget” Opening
October 18 - November 15, 2019
Cathedral of Learning Lawn
 

Lest We Forget is a public-facing outdoor exhibit that features giant, high-resolution, intimate photographs of Holocaust survivors from around the world. The exhibit will feature 16 never-before-seen portraits of Pittsburgh-area survivors.

Lest We Forget has been displayed in several international high-profile locations, including the headquarters of the United Nations and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The exhibit is coming to Pittsburgh to commemorate one year since October 27, 2018, when Pittsburgh was the site of the largest antisemitic attack in United States history. The portraits confront passers-by as a reminder of history and to raise awareness of the hatred and bigotry present in society today.
 

Provost Spotlight on Women Leaders 
Provost Spotlight n Women Leaders - Mary Roche
Provost Spotlight on Women Leaders – Mary Roche

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