July 11, 2017 Meeting of Diversity Committee

Minute Taker:  Heather Murphy

1. Approve May meeting minutes
2. Update on Membership
3. Setting Priorities for the Year
4.  Collaboration with the iSchool
   1. Recruitment events for SAs and others
   2. Ideas for events
5. Programming Ideas
   1. Inclusive Illinois Week Sept. 11-15, 2017
   2. Additional training from ISSS
   3. Continuing with the Brown Bag monthly discussions
   4. October Disability Awareness Month
   5. Work with SDTC to do Cultural Connections series
   6.  Other Suggestions/Ideas

Zoe Revell, Angie Gruendl, Ben Riegler, Qiang Jin, Laila Hussein-Moustafa, JJ Pionke, Harriett Green, Heather Murphy, Donna Hoffman
Absent: Cindy Ingold, Ellen Swain

Minute Taker: Heather Murphy

1. Approve May meeting minutes
   May minutes approved with edit of “late June/early August” for 5b.
2. Update on Membership
   New membership shared with Committee. Atoma Batoma, Angie Gruendl, Laila Hussein-Moustafa, Qiang Jin, Emily Kasak, JJ Pionke, Ellen Swain, Heather Murphy, Greg Knott (with Donna Hoffman as designate), along with Zoe Revell and Cindy Ingold. Ben Riegler and Harriett Green rolling off Committee.
3. Setting Priorities for the Year
   See 4 and 5 below.
4. Collaboration with the iSchool
   The iSchool Diversity Committee will meet in September. We can partner with them on some activities (e.g., mental health event).
   • Recruitment events for SAs and others
     Create a forum to answer SA questions about going to library school. Panel of current iSchool students could speak to SAs. The Library has many multicultural SAs. Nicole
   • Ideas for events
5. Programming Ideas
   • Inclusive Illinois Week Sept. 11-15, 2017
     The Committee talked about having a table again. Angie would like to have counseling center materials on hand (not necessarily on display); she will obtain and stock the table should staffers need the information to hand out. Maybe a photo booth of sorts with a Library backdrop and a white board sign for people to write a one-word response to “What one word describes inclusivity at Illinois?” Inclusive Illinois Day is September 12. Zoe will check on availability of Room 106 since the table will be set up outside this room. International Day of Peace is September 21 (not during II week).
   • Additional training from ISSS
     Cultural Communications workshop was well received and there are two more modules. The Library could potentially host one in the fall.
   • Continuing with the Brown Bag monthly discussions
     Try out Cultural Communications series in lieu of the Brown Bags (see below).
   • October Disability Awareness Month
     One event could be implemented. Mental health issues are a disability. Early October or 8-weeks into the semester (between October 16-20). “Destress for Mental Health” during midterms. Tables in Room 106 with different stations was discussed (e.g., coloring, face painting, etc.). We could potentially partner with iSchool. Cindy has a GA (a SSHEL GA who is a multicultural GA) who might be able to help. Zoe recommended having a blog post with resources. The date and time decided on was October 16 (Monday) from 11-1; room 106 has been reserved. JJ will reach out to the disability ally program.
   • Work with SDTC to do Cultural Connections series
     Cultural Connections (similar to Creative Connections structure) in lieu of brown bag lunches. Bring a dish and share something about your culture. Have someone from the Diversity Committee be a primary contact for the countries/areas. 3 sessions in the fall semester to start (as a pilot). September: South Asia – Heather and Laila; October: TBD – TBD; November: Queer – JJ
6. Other Suggestions/Ideas
   Oct 11: National Coming Out Day – too much already going on in October
   Nov 20: International Transgender Day of Remembrance – JJ suggested doing a table or display where people can write names on post it notes or something similar to display

Waiting on Chancellor’s Report on diversity and the ClimateQUAL to move forward with spring planning