SEAT at the Table 2023
At left, a member of the Class of 2025 Kushal Bhandari and faculty member Fadia Nordtveit present their topic titled, "Towards a Community of Difference in Springfield College."
By: Damon Markiewicz
The fourth annual Springfield College (S)ocial justice, (E)quity, (A)ccountability (T)ransformation (SEAT) at the Table Week took place from November 6-10, 2023, with the majority of this year’s programming in person.
With more than 25 sessions from which to choose this year, participants were able to select from a variety of sessions focused on important issues. The week-long panel discussions and interactive workshops offered educational experiences across media, pedagogies, and practices, dedicated to deconstructing oppressive systems and transforming our community toward equity for all. The SEAT at the Table Week is organized by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
The goal of SEAT at the Table is to educate our community on topics related to social justice, identity, power, privilege, and community care.
“I want to express that I am extremely pleased and proud of our staff, students, and collaborative community for the dedication to this event,” said Springfield College Vice President for Inclusion and Community Engagement Calvin Hill.
Monday, November 6 - Photo Gallery
Towards a Community of Difference in Springfield College
Presented by Fadia Nordtveit and Kushal Bhandari
Affirmative Aging across Spaces and Places
Presented by Travis Gagen
Unapologetic Excellence: Confronting the Impact of Respectability Politics on “Black Excellence”
Danielle Farrar-Noonan
Dismantling the Cis-tem: Exploring the Role of Cisgender People in Transgender Liberation
Presented by Grayson Stevens
Tuesday, November 7 - Photo Gallery
“Minority,” “BIPOC,” and “White/non-White”…What’s the Diff?
Presented by Donna Wang
Disability a Dimension of Diversity—Not a Deficit
Presented by Kate Green, Jennifer Dashiell-Shoffner, Allison Cumming-McCann
Visual Artists Who Inspire Awareness to Social Injustice
Presented by Nahjae Cogman-Pitts, Jayden Kement, Kyana Alvarado, Elizabeth Casinelli, Brittany Cotter, Simone Alter-Muri
Examining Whiteness, White Supremacy, and Anti-Racism
Presented by Danielle Clough, Julie Koivisto, Laura Krishnan-Mackie, Stephanie R. Logan
Wednesday, November 8 - Photo Gallery
African American Writers and Artists in France
Presented by Alice Knox Eaton
Navigating your Leadership Journey
Presented by Mary-Beth Cooper and Calvin Hill
The Almost Lost Gay History of Springfield, Massachusetts
Presented by Anne Wheeler, James Uyar
What's On the Menu?
Presented by Jade Brown, Erin Placey, Brian Krylowicz
Settler Colonialism, Native American (Tribal) Nation Sovereignty, and “Settler Moves to Innocence” in Contemporary U.S. Society
Presented by Laurel Davis-Delano
A Showing of Brandy's Cinderella (1997) and the Significance of Developing a Positive Racial Identity
Presented by Rachel Caffey
Thursday, November 9 - Photo Gallery
Fostering Inclusion and Equity for Latina/o Children and Their Families Well-being
Presented by Miguel Arce
Lessons from Teaching Social Justice-based Curriculum in Health Promotion College Courses
Presented by Olya Clark
Protect (What) and Serve (Whom): A Discussion on Policing in America
Presented by Gregory J. Coogan
We Can’t Teach What We Don’t Know and Lead Where We Won’t Go: The Importance of Understanding Identity and Antiracist Leadership
Presented by Nicole Graves, Allison Cumming-McCann, Alie Baranauskas, Devon Lyon, Ryan Welch, Hayden Utley
Literary Reading by Matthew E. Henry (part of the William Simpson Fine Arts Series)
Presented by Matthew E. Henry (MEH)
Friday, November 10 - Photo Gallery
Built on the Backs of Adjuncts: Colleges and the Abuse of Contingent Faculty
Presented by Mike Spry
Eliminating Implicit Biases Within Health Care
Presented by Elizabeth Casinelli, Brooke Hooper, Callie Dubos, Morgan Jones, Nicole Beaumont, Emma Garneau
Navigating the Latino Assumption
Presented by Ariel Rodríguez
Have You Seen How Much Textbooks Cost? Making the Case for Open Education: Resources as a Tool for Equity, Affordability, And Access
Presented by Gemma Bartha, Joan Giovannini, Sherri VandenAkker
Understanding & Navigating Healthy LGBTQIA+ Relationships: A One Love Workshop for Young Adults
Presented by Erin Leeper, Nate Fontaine
