June 2024 Newsletter
Dear Friends & Colleagues,
Happy Pride Month! đłď¸âđ
We hope everyone has been enjoying the summer weather! Itâs been a while since the last DEI newsletter, and we sincerely appreciate your patience with the delay.
DEI Subcommittee Updates
Hereâs what weâve been up to!
Accessibility
Weâve hosted two Accessibility Listening Sessions to hear your concerns, questions, and hopes for how to make External Affairs more accessible. The subcommittee is currently consolidating questions and scheduling conversations with the relevant parties to address these topics.
Learning, Education, and Development
We are exploring paths for more growth after our successful launch of Volunteer Time Off (VTO)! Donât forget to use your two VTO days this year. The two VTO days are allocated annually from June 1 through May 31, and this summer might be a good opportunity for you to volunteer at an organization of your choice. Please reach out for our spreadsheet of suggested places to volunteer, or suggest your own.
Media & Culture Club
With a busy year so far, itâs been hard to find time for events! We have decided to reschedule our discussion on Weike Wangâs âStatus in Fluxâ article. Youâll have another chance to read the article on immigration and assimilation, and if you are able to attend the meeting in person, snacks will be provided! An upcoming reminder is headed your way later in June.
Now that weâre back on schedule with event planning, you can look forward to another Salon! Brian Baldeck will be hosting his Salon in July. Details upcoming!
Style Guide
The Style Guide Subcommittee is busy deciding the best format for our future best practices guide. Weâve heard your feedback and are diligently crafting style rules for more inclusive language practices!
Other Updates
The large DEI Committee is exploring themes in the Belonging & Culture Survey data to find areas of improvement for years ahead. Please let us know if you have any exciting ideas!
June Events at BU
Juneteenth
The Office of the Senior Diversity Officer is hosting a Juneteenth event to celebrate the day enslaved people in Texas were declared legally free. Here is the officeâs event description:
âConnect with colleagues to celebrate Juneteenth with live music, food, and drinks! This free event is open to the entire BU community. It is co-sponsored by the Faculty and Staff of Color Community Network, BU Womenâs Guild Women of Color Circle, and the Office of the Senior Diversity Officer.â
Register for the Juneteenth event!
Pride Month
Celebrate Pride Month with the LGBTQIA+ Faculty and Staff Center! The center hosts events all month and notes observancesâsuch as June 12, the Pulse Day of Remembranceâin the linked email.
If you have any queries, concerns, or comments, you can email the committee: eadei@bu.edu. Of course, youâre always welcome to reach out to any individual member too.