Happy Thursday! I am reaching out on behalf of the Center for Social Justice Dialogue.

Over the past several years, we have collaboratively led a student-focused, inclusive excellence initiative called Your Story Belongs Here. This uses the power of storytelling to introduce students to our institutional values and commitments, creating an environment where all community members feel supported, valued, and celebrated. Participants engage with Your Story Belongs Here during Welcome Week and experience follow-up dialogues where they consider and explore their own and others' stories. 

We are excited to expand our focus to include faculty and staff. We are in the process of building the small first cohort and were interested in featuring individuals who represent our many affinity groups. We are looking for about four individuals. 

In the past, students have engaged in some relevant "social justice theater" training, participated in multi-session storytelling creation and practice, and spent a significant amount of time engaging in critical self-reflection around their identity and story at UMBC. To account for faculty/staff commitments, we anticipate needing about 12-15 hours of your time outlined as follows: June 6, 10:00 - 2:00, June 13 10:00 - 2:00, and Aug 15, 10:00 -12:00, plus 2 additional hours as needed. We know that faculty are out for the summer and are anticipating a small stipend to compensate for participation. We should have final details on this soon. 

Please take a look at a few of the final videos on the website linked above. If you or any members of your affinity group are interested or have questions, please reach out! 

Jasmine A. Lee, MSW, PhD (she/her)

Associate Vice President, Community & Culture

Co-Director, Center for Social Justice Dialogue 

jaslee@umbc.edu Connect with me via Webex Personal Room: https://umbc.webex.com/meet/jaslee | 640903142 

912, Admin Building, 1000 Hilltop Circle 

Baltimore, MD 21250