The Diversity Committee welcomed Dean Dewey to our meeting and made introductions.

Dean Dewey lead the discussion on raising visibility of the Committee’s programming to the Library and the University Community.

The Dean remarked on our achievements last year and noted that she shared committee’s annual report with others.  She is proud of the committee.

The Dean discussed how the addition of the diversity residents coming to us this year would enrich the committee with their new ideas and perspective.

Ideas for expanding awareness of the Committee’s Programming

1. Web 2.0 presence for the Diversity Committee

Facebook page
YouTube channel
Twitter

2. Video tape programming

3. Open meeting presentations

4. Departmental diversity awareness discussions (issues relevant to the department)

5. Deans Newsletter

6. Trace: diversity research

7. SIS topics in Diversity

8. WRAPS Forum

9. Library Council Presentations

9. Incoming faculty and staff cultural presentations

10 Story telling (video/audio archive of student faculty and staff stories)

11. SACS

The committee is approaching it’s 10 year anniversary:
Where have we come and were do we want to go?

The lack of Library staff attendance may be influenced by environmental factors. We are understaffed and people have a hard time getting away.

With the ideas derived from our discussion with the Dean, the Committee will go forward with creating our goals for 2010-2011.

MAR 12/4/09

Spring 2010 Culture Corner

The new Culture Corner Display is set for December 14^th.  We will present a poster in the big cabinet on the first floor and books by or about the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates. Book wrangling is still in the planning stage.

We plan to have a ceremony to celebrate the collaboration of the Common Ground Book Club and the Culture Corner Jan 11^th.

Diversifi-  Planning

Hodges Auditorium is booked after 6 pm every Thursday for Spring Semester.  I there are sporadic Tuesday’s available. Feb 2 nd 4-6,  Feb 16^th 4-6, Feb 23^rd from 6-8.

We discussed finding an out of the library location.  The Music Auditorium may be a good choice.  I will check with the Music department and see what we have.  After we have a location and date we can recruit sponsors and start publicity.

Native American Student Association

Disscussion about having a NASA panel speak to student services about issues Native students have on campus.

Laurie mentioned events planned for next semester

WWII Code Talker, Keith Little?, is coming in January

April is Native American Heritage month

Discussion  about having another NASA panel in the spring maybe March.

Meeting with Dean Dewey

December 3^rd we are meeting with the Dean. Thura asks that we bring questions. The Dean has received our Annual Report.

Questions for the Dean

Shout out for the diversity committee at All Staff

Pertinent

Restructure

Library Staff Participation

The committee discussed options for more inclusion of the Library staff in the events produced by the committee.  The committee considered employing instruction components in the Library All staff meetings to broaden the awareness of diversity issues to the Library staff.

Ideas Shared

Take 20 style diversity talks

Ambassadors for diversity issues

5 to 10 min hot points at all staff

Video programming and post on the Diversity site

Committee Professional Opportunities

Send any conference information that is pertinent to the Diversity Committee.

BIC 2010- “Black in America: How Far We Have Come…Yet, So Far to Go”.

See Attached Information: http://omsa.utk.edu/files/Black%20Issues%20Call%20for%20Programs%202009%20Interactive.docx

We can brainstorm by email on the issues

MAR 11/17/09

Present: Thura Mack, Allison Roberts, Jerry Roberson, Laurie Roberson, Trisha Brady, Allison Sharp Bolorizadeh

1.      Announcements

Powwow at Crutch Park October 17, 2009

2.      Reflection on Let’s Talk About It programs

Hensley talk Oct. 13- Laurie and Jerry attended: it was a good group, but small.  The presentation went well. It was very interesting.

What’s Offensive panel Oct 1^st: also a small crowd, but extremely intriguing.  We want to do this again.

AR: what can we do to increase attendance to our events.  We currently post at Tennessee Today, @Tennessee, Beacon, Metro Pulse, WUTK, Knoxville News.  – Maybe more lead time to events. – More posters – White board directing to event

3.      Upcoming Culture Corner  (ideas, suggestions, etc.)

Highlight Nobel Piece Prize winners

Ideas for speakers? http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/index.html

4.      Brainstorm on Spring Let’s Talk About It programs

• Appalshop speaker: highlight services they perform and opportunities they provide http://appalshop.org/

• Homeless Organizations Panel: discussion about the homeless, issues they face, how to relate, help, support.  http://sites.google.com/site/kkchcoalition/

• Food and Culture: involve the new Culinary School, Ready for the World. Link with speakers focus on the culture of food.

• Diversifī: student  talent competition – contact student groups for support – cool prizes – sponsor ideas – Fresh Market, UT Bookstore, Square Room, Catalist, Glowing Body, Knoxville Visitor’s Center, Black Culture Center.

1. Plan for FEB – check calendars
2. round up sponsors
3. publicize
4. round up food
5. t shirts (need money?, make our own, donated)

5.      Other

• Welcome new member Allison Bolorizadeh
• Schedule Meeting with Dean Dewey

Concluded

Native American  film series October 2009 :

• Oct. 6:  Apocalypto Hodges Library Room 253 @ 6:00
  As the Mayan kingdom faces its decline, the rulers insist the key to prosperity is to build more temples and offer human sacrifices. Jaguar Paw, a young man captured for sacrifice, flees to avoid his fate
• Oct 22:  Skins Hodges Library Room 129 @ 6:00
  An inspirational tale about the relationship between two Sioux Indian brothers living on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation.
• Oct 26:  The New World Hodges Library Room 253 @ 6:00
  A drama about explorer John Smith and the clash between Native Americans and English settlers in the 17th century.

The Lakota Sioux Dance Theatre opens the 2008-2009 Cultural Attractions Series presented by the Cultural Attractions Committee at the University of Tennessee. Founded in 1978 on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, Lakota Sioux Dance Theatre features some of the most highly acclaimed performers of the Sioux Nation. The troupe performs at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 28 at the UT Clarence Brown Theater.

http://www.lakotadancetheatre.org/index.php

Diversity Committee

I. Membership

List of ppl applying for our committee – we accept all of the applicants. Barbara will be informed.

Allison Sharp Bolorizadeh

Erin Moore

Dan Green

Ppl returning

Thura

Allison Roberts

Annazette McCane Houston

Laurie & Jerry Roberson

Rotating off

Jeanine Williamson

Marielle Veve

Sandy Allen

II. Volaware updates

a. JW has contact Connie Briscoe – director of Volaware – mental health awareness group. Distressed/distressing student helpline. Will come talk to us about Volaware in September…this will be a “Let’s Talk About It”

b. Future volaware events

1. Volaware street fare 11/7

2. Concert – 10/6

a. JW will probably attend the above functions. The theme is Poverty.

b. She can have posters rdy for the event.

ii. The library usually has presence at these functions.

III. We’ll host a welcome back thing in August

a. We usually pass out ice water and literature – last time we used cases of water.

1. We can pass out water during lunch….Tuesday the 25^th of August and the August 27^th

2. Allison will bring a banner we already have prepared.

3. Thura and Trisha will each bring two cases of water. Allison will supply an ice chest. Jeanine will make a financial contribution. Thura will accept it. Jerry will bring water (and has volunteered Laurie)

4. We’ll set up right on Melrose

5. If we can set a date on the volaware “Let’s Talk About It”, we can have promotional materials for that at our table at the welcome back.

IV. Let’s Talk About It – feat. Beverly Watts

V. Conflict – the timing of this allows us an hour…but there’s a retirement function at around the same time as the let’s talk about it.

a. Allison will get the let’s talk about it in the beacon, metropulse, and sentinel.

i. Trisha has created flyers, and some of them will go to the display that Shantrie is creating on the1st floor

ii. Allison will bring in some old child’s shoes…these can be part of the display (tossed over a phone line).

iii. Trisha has some other images of poverty Shantrie might use form when she was working on the posters.

1. We’ll eschew movies in favour of the welcome back activity – the movies will be depressing.

2. Advertising – hang flyers in Sociology, Poli Sci, the Golden Roast? TM and JW will help with hanging flyers.

VI. Reception for residents program completion

a. 8/24/09 – 10:30am in 605

b. There’s a committee planning the party

i. Gail Watson

ii. Sharon Boring

iii. Wanda Rosinski

iv. Melanie Feltner-Reichert

v. Sara Foster

vi. JoAnne Deeken

vii. Thura Mack

c. The theme is – “Sail away…but welcome to sail back!”

d. Trisha may be photographing the festivities

e. It’ll be a brunch – we can bring food.

VII. Allison Roberts will be the new co-chair of the committee – hopefully. TM will ask Barbara if it’s okay.

VIII. Volunteering Rocks – see the AgVet facebook and youtube..see Allison Roberts for details.

Diversity Committee Meeting 4-30-09

1. Thanks for helping with International Fest
2. Beverly Watts is available in August 6, 13, and 20 to talk about Poverty
3. Margaret Casado is here to tell us about her poverty project and how we can support her
   1. She’s on the task force for the campus, and the theme is poverty.
   2. Tahirah wanted to participate with our discussion today
   3. Poverty/economic disparity is a facet of diversity

i. Margaret brought handouts pertaining to collaboration between the task force and the diversity committee

ii. They’re working poverty into the curriculum and trying to get students to consider how poverty can play into their work and their lives.

1. There are some classes on social justice and the environment that poverty may fit into

2. We have the LOGS? program, but it’s not a library program, it’s just something that individuals have gotten involved in.

3. The members of the task force have been asked to talk to ppl in their units about their involvement

iii. “The Glass Castle” – book on poverty in Virginia, suggested reading

iv. There are things that the committee can/will do

1. Culture corner

2. 1^st floor display

3. Let’s talk about it

a. Beverly Watts from the human rights commission

b. Bharat Mehra from SIS has written on technology and poverty, so he might be a good speaker as well

i. Bring him in Spring 2010 – Margaret will get with him.

4. Film Series – Pursuit of Happyness, Slumdog Millionaire, a documentary out of Appleshop dealing with poverty in the mountains. Trisha will ask Greg Womac if we have Appleshop films

a. Will there be discussion before and after the films?

i. Unless we have a speaker after or a literary involvement, usually not

ii. We COULD have a set of questions for ppl to consider and have a discussion leader for the films

iii. Partner with ppl from soup kitchens and have them come by and tell us about hunger

1. Canned food drive – this could work at every even we do

2. We could get the Greek organizations to get in on canned food drives

3. Solicit leftovers from Panera, Einstein’s Bagels, etc.

5. Website for the life of the mind by Tahirah and Thura

6. Volunteer project?

a. Something dealing with literacy, reading, etc.

i. People will probably need to be screened before being permitted into school

b. Tahirah did outreach via Theory and Practice in Teaching Education (TPTE) in the form of a read-in

v. This is a yearlong endeavor, so we don’t need to do it all in one month. September = Volaware, October = Native American student activities.

vi. There needs to be a clear understanding of what the Diversity Committee is responsible for here

1. Let’s Talk About it – usually with light refreshments

2. Films – though getting discussion leaders might be tricky

3. Culture Corner

a. The next one is on this topic and we need to get started by the first week of June

b. Margaret Casado – the culture corner should be set up in time for incoming orientation groups

c. We need 100-150 books

i. Thura, Jeanine, Allison, and Damon will work on this

4. Display case

a. Shantrie, Tahirah, Jeanine, Thura, and probably Martha will help.

vii. Laurie is busy in June with Orientations, free in May. Jerry will probably be busy after July

viii. Is there a way to get students thinking creatively about how to address this problem? Build student engagement

1. JW – The NING site might be helpful in this

2. TM – The Life of the Mind does a lot of this

3. AR – Diversity Committee or Culture Corner might need a facebook page

4. See what other avenues to help with poverty are being explored on campus

a. Read up on “technology mitigates poverty”

i. Damon will ask Velynda about the cellphone she got – recycled bottle phone

1. Announcements
   1. Laurie – Native American Heritage Night. 2^nd annual on 4/20/09 @ McClung Museum @ 7:30. We will publicize this. Post Bills about the library and put it on our website.

i. Publicity materials will be sent to Allison Roberts (Jerry will send them to Allison)

1. International Festival next Friday. Schedule is as follows:

8:00-9:30      Damon Campbell, Thura Mack

9:30-11:00    Jeanine Williamson, Thura Mack

11:00-12:30  Trisha Brady, Joanne Deeken

12:30-2:00    Laurie Roberson, Jerry Roberson

2:00-4:00     Shantrie Collins, Allison Roberts, Marielle Veve

1. 1. Thura will fill in as needed
2. Support for Possum Queen (Trisha Brady vs Michelle Brannen) – to support staff activities within the library
   1. How can we support this?

i. Trisha will have a friend with a pet possum in

ii. Trisha will solicit funds from others within the library

iii. Possible bake sale

iv. This goes on til May 12^th, at which point the winner is crowned. This will happen during the Spirit Awards in the Hermitage room at the UC.

1. Marielle will email Laurie information RE the spirit awards and such.

2. Trisha will send updates to the committee as well.

1. Let’s Talk About it with Native American Students
   1. We’ll hold off on this til fall – during Native American month
   2. Jerry says that we should pick a day in October and he’ll take it back to the Native American Students – this way, the group will be aware.

i. 10/01 is the pow-wow

ii. 10/16 – McClung Cherokee days

iii. The 15^th would be good, but it’s during fall break..

iv. We could do ours on the 8^th.

1. This is now our tentative date. Midterms jump around depending on the teacher, so some students will be busy, others will not (so says Trisha).

1. Invite VolAware ppl to have a Let’s Talk About It
   1. VolAware helps students in crisis
   2. As suggested by Dean Maxine
   3. We could do this Summer of fall.

i. AR says it might be lost in the summer

ii. Jerry suggests doing this after the first test

1. Are we focusing this on staff or students? Staff.

a. Trisha suggests training for high stress situations when we’re not high stressed.

iii. Ppl from other branches and portions of campus would have a better chance of attending if it falls in the summer.

1. We also need to be aware of summer vacations and ALA

iv. Late August/Early September, when we’re gearing up but before things are in full swing

1. JW will check with VolAware for times in Early September and see what they have.

2. We could put this in the Beacon to publicize, but students mainly came for LGBT session and Beverly Watts.

3. JW wants this to be focused on staff – helping us help students.

4. We should also encourage our student workers to attend, as per JR

1. Collaborating with Margaret Casado on poverty issues
   1. Culture corner?
   2. Some other way of showing our support, as this is a diversity issue

i. How can we go beyond the culture corner? JR suggests:

1. there will probably be campus-wide activities related to this

2. There are schools in the immediate area with high rates of child poverty – maybe there’s something we can do RE a visit to the school (work with Tahira A Williams on outreach) possibly host a read in at the school.

3. Program to get books to the kids or do a fundraiser?

a. AR – will this be ongoing? It’s a large undertaking.

b. We can adopt a school or a class – do it on a small scale as per JR

c. We’d need a lot of approval to actually give books to kids, but it would be effective publicity for UT and for higher education in general

d. Encourage volunteerism of some sort.

ii. Margaret has not talked with TM or JW about this yet

iii. We’ll want to do something that’s not only meaningful, but that supports Margaret

iv. This could be a service learning opportunity (like the Baker Center does). Bob Kronick from College of Education sometimes brings in younger students and exposes them to UT. They’d be in the library for 45 minutes or so. Allison Roberts and Chris Durman have participated in this.

1. 1. This issue is already part of Ready For The World (The Glass Castle is the book that they’ll be reading)
   2. AR might develop a webpage resource for dealing with this
   3. We can also scour the web for outreach models and bring them back to the group