Second Annual Springfield College SEAT at the Table Recap

SEAT at the Table Oct. 17 Photos

The second annual SEAT at the Table started on Oct. 17, 2021 with the following presentations: 

Land Acknowledgement and Opening Remarks

Xavier Washington, Xavier Gibson, Brianna D'Haiti, and Lexie Blake

Remarks from the Collaborative Council and nominated student speakers. Student speakers Xavier Washington, Xavier Gibson, Brianna D'Haiti, and Lexie Blake were selected to speak with the opening remarks and reflect on what SEAT at the Table means to them.

System Change in Higher Education: Lack of Feedback Loops

Judith Herzberg

Students and faculty took part in a session that focused on the difficulties of addressing racism and sexism within an educational system.

Across the Lifespan: Patients and providers

A panel discussion on health inequities faced by the LGBTQIA+ community.

Julia Chevan, Alexandra MacPherson, Rachel Wetnick, Russell Allen, and Kiki Li

There is a long history of individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+ having negative encounters with health professionals and the health care system. LGBTQIA+ individuals are more likely to experience discrimination, social isolation, and unethical health care that can impact their health status. Not only was homosexuality a crime in the past, it also was listed as a diagnosis in the American Psychology Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual and thus approaching a health professional, even during an acute health care need, can feel threatening to LGBTQIA+ community members.

The aim of this presentation provided a deeper education and understanding for audience members about the health and health care disparities and unethical experiences lived and faced by those in the LGBTQIA+ community and to propose solutions. Progress has been made in recent years, however, older and younger generations continue to face bias, inequity, and solitude. The perspective from older generations facing elder abuse and premature death is also intended to spread awareness and promote advocacy for a lifespan approach that will positively impact the health care experiences of all LGBTQIA+ populations young and old.

Promoting Diversity and Inclusion Through Dialogue: Exploring Our Identities

Jill Kochanek

In this interactive workshop, participants engaged in experiential activities that helped them gain a deeper understanding of their own and others’ identities. Grounded in a dialogic pedagogical approach, this workshop helped participants deepen their understanding of concepts related to diversity, inclusion, and identity. At the end of the session, participants developed a greater awareness of the multifaceted nature of their own (and others’) identity. They explored how dialoguing about difference can help us identify areas of common ground to bridge those differences and embrace diversity as a strength. Participants also were able to critically reflect on how they might better support others to show up as their full authentic self and be more inclusive in their everyday interactions.

Tuesday, Oct. 19 Photo Gallery

SEAT at the Table continued on Tuesday, Oct. 19 with seven individual sessions, including a combination of in-person and Zoom.

The following sessions occurred on Tuesday, Oct. 19:

A Nation in Peril: How Springfield College can address the crisis in our nation

Michael D'Andrea

Those persons participating in this presentation took away the following: (1) new knowledge about the complex psychological, economic, social, and moral underpinnings of the current threat to democracy and peace in our country; (2) new insights related to the physical and mental health impact of the current threats in our nation; and (3) encouragement to implement the non-violent strategies/interventions outlined by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. among Springfield College faculty members, administrators, and students to ameliorate the threats to democracy and peace in our society.

The Springfield College Journey of Racial Awakening

Calvin Hill and Mary-Beth Cooper

This session served as the launching point of a comprehensive research project, which will seek to tell the story of our current and historical commitment to becoming a diverse, equitable, and inclusive campus. During this session, attendees explored demographic trends, campus data, and look back at past efforts the College has made to increase its campus diversity, and to foster a sense of community. Historical data was presented, along with employee and alumni narratives in acknowledgment that some prior efforts may be unknown to many, and that not all efforts have met the intended diversity, equity, and inclusion outcomes.

The Intersection of Contemporary Music and Social Politics in America

Paris Lizana and Chris Gagne

Attendees explored the ways in which contemporary music confronts the political realities of our time, and also consider examples of music being used for political gains that may run counter to the intentions of the artists. The primary focus of the conversation was about music of the past five years, but the discussion also extended well into the past for context and scope. As part of the conversation, attendees listened to, analyzed, and discussed a handful of relevant songs that contain themes of sociopolitical activism. 

Encouraging Allyship and Bystander Intervention in Diverse Environments

Ayanna C. Crawford

The goal of this presentation was able to use the helpful tools and language to help with encouraging allyship and bystander interventions in diverse environments.

Capoeira

Professor Morcego

This was a beginner class for capoeira, a Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, and music. Attendees started at the basics of Capoeira with the ginga, basic dodges and kicks, as well as some beginner acrobatics and other movements. Attendees trained as a group, and also in pairs, with proper social distancing. The class also included a musical component, where attendees learned and played capoeira songs and discussed the history of capoeira through music, which is an integral part of the style and culture.

Restorative and Transformative Justice: An introduction to re-framing communities

Becca Jacobson

This introductory session allowed participants to reflect on their own experiences with punitive systems and how those have impacted them. Participants moved into conversations about restorative and transformative justice. Attendees engaged in conversations, activities, and reflections that allow us to envision communities that are both mutually supportive and accountable.

Linguistic Discrimination

Nathalie Beltran Vargas

The goal of this program was to educate people about linguistic discrimination and some of the problems multilingual people have to go through because of having an accent. Certain accents are considered to be beautiful and exotic while others are not. It is for this reason that we must educate ourselves to prevent biases and become allies. One section of the program was dedicated to learning what linguistic profiling is and some of the consequences that it has. Also, attendees discussed what code-switching is and some of the mental health consequences that this has on people’s daily experiences. Another major portion of the program was dedicated towards evaluating how common linguistic discrimination is in social media, institutions, and at work settings, and some of the things we can do to tackle this issue.

Photo Gallery October 21, 2021

SEAT at the Table continued on Thursday, Oct. 21 with eight individual sessions, including a combination of in-person and Zoom.

The following sessions occurred on Thursday, Oct. 21:

Post-historical Trauma and Contemporary Art

Simone Alter-Muri

This session overviewed post-historical trauma, post-slavery syndrome, and artists whose art represent these issues. The presenter discussed her journey in understanding post-historical trauma. Participants now understand how post-historical trauma affects us and discover artists whose art not only represents these issues but increases awareness.

What's All This Talk About Critical Race Theory?

Stephanie Logan and Justine Dymond

The banning of Critical Race Theory (CRT) has become a talking point of many commentators, politicians, and parents at local school boards. The opposition to CRT is a part of a movement to counteract the collective protest and actions that took place during the summer of 2020 and the changing demographics in the United States. This session provided an introduction to CRT, background on the current anti-CRT movement, and discussion about strategies for supporting educators and communities in teaching the truth about the country's past and present.

Building Trans and Queer Community: A group dialogue on safe and brave intersectional spaces

Grayson Stevens and Zev Spiegel

This session aimed to foster trans and queer community on campus by uplifting the voices of TGNC students and their experiences with holding intentional and meaningful space. The goal was to have participants leave having engaged with each other’s unique experiences of building safe and brave communal spaces. We define “safe” as a space in which an individual can freely exist as their full, authentic self, and “brave” as a space in which an individual can feel compelled to expand their comfort zone and challenge their own biases and assumptions. The goal was to hold this type of space in order to discuss what these types of spaces necessitate, specifically within higher education environments. It is the hope that a dialogue such as this will encourage collaboration and community amongst participants.

How Faith, Spirituality, and Vocational Discernment Can Assist Students to Succeed in College and in Life

Donald Brown, Jacquelyn Waters, and Catharine Cummings

This session explored how faith, spirituality, and vocational discernment can assist students to succeed in college and in life. During this session, attendees explored terminology, concepts of vocation, personal and lived experiences, personal bridges and barriers experienced, and ways we have integrated and enhanced faith and vocation with our ongoing work while on a path pursuing and living out one's vocation.

Conceptualizing Mental Health in Higher Education: Exploring environmental, social, historical, and cultural differences and the impact on student well-being

Felicia Lundquist, Colleen Brown, Alijah Gonzalez, and Mikayah Rushinski

Ever wonder which influences impact our Springfield College students' ability to seek out support specifically for mental health and well-being? Grounded in critical theory, critical pedagogy (a teaching philosophy that invites educators to encourage students to critique structures of power and oppression), while using the four I's of oppression and intersectionality as frameworks, presenters explored (1) individual, interpersonal, and institutional level factors that are associated with overall mental health among college students; and (2) the complexity of identity, the disparities in mental health among different identity groups, and the relationship between the environmental, social, historical and cultural differences that influence the Springfield College student experience related to mental health.

Using a study that investigates the influences that impact our Springfield College students' ability to seek out support specifically for mental health and well-being, this session (1) highlighted the increased demand and importance of student mental health, and need for equity and inclusiveness in mental health care; (2) examined the stigma attached to mental health; (3) reviewed data and analyze research on mental health services and the students who seek mental health and well-being services on campuses; and (4) offered resources and action steps that “we” can take to better support the overall emotional well-being.

Women’s Empowerment (sponsored by the Student Government Association)

Jennifer Charlera, Danielle Fernandes, and Dominique Chaves

This session was about women's empowerment and awareness of breast cancer month. Women have been oppressed for so long and participants wanted to share and celebrate the amazing things they do for us. In Cheney Hall, different booths about showing women support, donation boxes to help with gaining women's independence in different parts of the world, information on programs where we can help, and programs we can be a part of or create were set up.  Inspirational spoken word poems and music were played around Cheney, all created by influential women. Sticker and pamphlets were handed out to show support.

Supporting and advocating for diverse peoples in a professional setting

Brianna Violante and John Cipora

Brianna Violante, second-year Master of Mental Health Counseling student, with input from Department of Education faculty member John Cipora, discussed how we can show our diverse co-workers, students, colleagues, and families that they are valued and respected. Attendees also talked about how words have an impactful meaning and how we can refrain from stereotypes and premeditated biases.

Discussion on Classism

Student Society for Bridging Diversity

There was a presentation on classism along with discussion questions. Attendees then engaged in the privilege walk activity to understand more of the topic and be hands on with the audience. Next, attendees handed out resources to people to take home and educate others.

Photo Gallery October 23, 2021

SEAT at the Table continued on Saturday, Oct. 23 with three individual sessions, including a combination of in-person and Zoom.

The following sessions occurred on Saturday, Oct. 23:

My Community Does Not Look Like Me

Sue Scheppele

How do we create relationships that empower and sustain each others' identities? Each person is more than a single story. Participants explored the concepts and constructs of identity and culture. Participants learned and discussed what it means to be culturally responsive and sustaining within relationships. Participants participated in activities designed to promote cultural strengths and learned strategies to create democratic and pluralistic spaces for all human beings.

Mexican Folk Dance

Andrea Vazquez-Aguirre Kaufmann

This dance is one of the most popular in the region of Andalusia in the southern coast of Spain. The sevillana is danced at any form of get-together, whether it is the feria, a wedding, or at a family party, where all present can join in. It is performed to a strict three-quarter rhythm and will be danced by pairs or groups of people. There are many different styles of sevillana, such as sevillanas boleras, corraleras, biblicas, rocieras, and marineras. Students learned two of the four traditional variations.

Gender Awareness in Health Care

Tien Nguyen

The goal of this session was to raise awareness regarding gender stereotypes in health care. For example, when you hear the term “nurse,” most people automatically think of a female, or when you hear “doctor,” most people think of a male. The discussion focused on the adversities that male health care professionals have to endure in a predominantly female medical role (e.g. nursing, obstetrics, and gynecology, etc.)