To Our LGBTQIA+ and Muslim Identified Community Members We see you. We hear you. We value you.

Recently, our UMBC community has been made aware of divisive language shared on social media pages that has negatively impacted members of our community, specifically members of the LGBTQIA+ and Muslim communities. Taking into account all the ways that our individual and community’s well-being has been negatively impacted this year, situations like this cause additional stress and trauma. Here at UMBC, diversity and inclusive excellence are principles and practices that we value. When we honor these values, it helps to keep our community and its members safe and well.

The Office of Health Promotion (OHP) deeply cares about the well-being of each and every member of our community, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, race/ethnicity, or religion. The OHP team, which includes our professional and student staff, want to affirm our dedication to fostering a culture of mutual respect and equity. We also recognize that all members of our community are free to express their points of view but do not believe that this freedom should be used to harm members of our community.

The greatness of our UMBC community is reflected in how we care for and treat each other. We honor and will continue to support the well-being of all students. We stand in solidarity with LGBTQIA+ and Muslim-identified members of the community during this time, and always.

To the LGBTQIA+ and Muslim-identified members of our UMBC community,

We see you. We hear you. We value you.

If you are in need of additional inclusion resources, we encourage you to contact the following UMBC offices before December 23 or after January 3 due to UMBC’s closure for the winter break.

❏      The Office of Equity and Inclusion

oei@umbc.edu

❏      Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, and Belonging

i3b@umbc.edu

❏      The Women’s Center

womenscenter@umbc.edu

If you would like to process these events with a professional, the Counseling Center is available to all students. Please contact 410-455-2472 to make a virtual appointment. 

If you are looking for support resources between December 23, 2020 and January 3, 2021, please call the after-hours support line 410-455-3230.

]]> Recently, our UMBC community has been made aware of divisive language shared on social media pages that has negatively impacted members of our community, specifically members of the LGBTQIA+ and... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/98191/guest@my.umbc.edu/946ab9367535bd961d0753d77995d73b/api/pixel Office of Health Promotion https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/healthed https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/180/f1789ccc93eb2d21cbd35a2f223d8922/xsmall.png?1665674185 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/180/f1789ccc93eb2d21cbd35a2f223d8922/original.png?1665674185 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/180/f1789ccc93eb2d21cbd35a2f223d8922/xxlarge.png?1665674185 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/180/f1789ccc93eb2d21cbd35a2f223d8922/xlarge.png?1665674185 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/180/f1789ccc93eb2d21cbd35a2f223d8922/large.png?1665674185 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/180/f1789ccc93eb2d21cbd35a2f223d8922/medium.png?1665674185 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/180/f1789ccc93eb2d21cbd35a2f223d8922/small.png?1665674185 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/180/f1789ccc93eb2d21cbd35a2f223d8922/xsmall.png?1665674185 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/180/f1789ccc93eb2d21cbd35a2f223d8922/xxsmall.png?1665674185 University Health Services & Health Promotion 1 0 true Fri, 18 Dec 2020 16:45:31 -0500 Spring Involvement Fest Connect with Student Orgs to get Involved! Spring Involvement Fest will be held via WebEx Events from February 1-4, 2021. Review the list of active registered student organizations here, make notes on who you want to meet, and mark your calendar!

Why should you get involved? Being involved in a student organization brings many benefits:
- build relationships with other students
- connect with faculty and staff who share your interests
- increase leadership capacity
- improve time management
- learn to plan events, budget, run meetings, market opportunities, and more skills that are attractive to graduate schools and employers
- enrich your UMBC experience through conferences, travel when safe, practical learning, service, and more

For questions about participating in Involvement Fest as a student organization or attending the event, please contact Tori Heasley (theasley@umbc.edu), Coordinator for Student Organization Engagement.

Check back soon for a more detailed schedule of Spring Involvement Fest 2021!
]]> Spring Involvement Fest will be held via WebEx Events from February 1-4, 2021. Review the list of active registered student organizations here, make notes on who you want to meet, and mark your... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/studentorgs https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/97987/guest@my.umbc.edu/6e44a3d78f6e366df233d4cf7385fe60/api/pixel connect event getinvolved ifest involved leadership organizations studentorgs welcomeweek winterwelcomeweek Welcome, Retrievers! https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/welcomeweek https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/342/add16b2d944dac530656033c3a11fabc/xsmall.png?1753978447 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/342/add16b2d944dac530656033c3a11fabc/original.png?1753978447 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/342/add16b2d944dac530656033c3a11fabc/xxlarge.png?1753978447 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/342/add16b2d944dac530656033c3a11fabc/xlarge.png?1753978447 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/342/add16b2d944dac530656033c3a11fabc/large.png?1753978447 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/342/add16b2d944dac530656033c3a11fabc/medium.png?1753978447 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/342/add16b2d944dac530656033c3a11fabc/small.png?1753978447 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/342/add16b2d944dac530656033c3a11fabc/xsmall.png?1753978447 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/342/add16b2d944dac530656033c3a11fabc/xxsmall.png?1753978447 Welcome Week https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/097/987/e62029f2e0b5ebd696db8c412fb819d6/xxlarge.jpg?1607600949 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/097/987/e62029f2e0b5ebd696db8c412fb819d6/xlarge.jpg?1607600949 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/097/987/e62029f2e0b5ebd696db8c412fb819d6/large.jpg?1607600949 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/097/987/e62029f2e0b5ebd696db8c412fb819d6/medium.jpg?1607600949 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/097/987/e62029f2e0b5ebd696db8c412fb819d6/small.jpg?1607600949 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/097/987/e62029f2e0b5ebd696db8c412fb819d6/xsmall.jpg?1607600949 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/097/987/e62029f2e0b5ebd696db8c412fb819d6/xxsmall.jpg?1607600949 0 0 true Thu, 10 Dec 2020 06:57:14 -0500 The Work Didn't End on Election Day
by Meghan Lynch '18, M.P.P. '21
Chair, Legislative Concerns, Graduate Student Association

On the day after Election Day, I felt exhausted. I had followed the election closely and participated actively in what had felt like the longest campaign season I had experienced. I struggled to process all that was happening:the messiness of democracy playing out on a 24-hour news cycle, on top of the long overdue reckoning on racial justice and the global pandemic.  

But what struck me most about that anything-but-ordinary Wednesday morning was a conversation I had with my neighbor about the events of the night before. For her, it had been like any other night, but with her favorite TV programming replaced  election results coverage. I asked her what she thought of all of it, and she noted that while she had gone out to vote the day before, it had been no big deal: “the sun was still going to rise the next morning.” Life would go on.

Initially I was impressed by her untroubled perspective. But in the days since, I’ve been thinking about her remark and the other versions of it I have heard from friends, neighbors, and loved ones. What strikes me is that they share the assumption that politics--or at least the need for them to participate--begins and ends on Election Day. I think that perspective misses both our power and our responsibility between elections.

Voting is not and has never been enough. Is there an area in your neighborhood that could use a stop sign? Do you need a sidewalk to connect your community to the next one over? A thriving democracy takes time, commitment, and perseverance. I keep thinking of the work of a local group of Baltimore residents who over the years organized to prevent CSX trains from carrying volatile crude oil through their backyards. It was because they connected with their community members, organized, and pulled together that they were able to work with local government to bring about change/advocate for the safety of their community.  

There is still a lot to process after the election and the coming weeks will be difficult. But if you need a reminder that the work is not over, let this be it. Our duty as members of a community and as participants in a democracy is to keep working to bring about the changes we want to see. 

Contact the author, Meghan Lynch, at mlyn1@UMBC.edu.
]]> by Meghan Lynch '18, M.P.P. '21 Chair, Legislative Concerns, Graduate Student Association On the day after Election Day, I felt exhausted. I had followed the election closely and participated... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/97631/guest@my.umbc.edu/d64999249c5d416b208c2e227e964951/api/pixel election2020 Center for Democracy and Civic Life https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/civiclife https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xsmall.png?1554944150 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/original.png?1554944150 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xxlarge.png?1554944150 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xlarge.png?1554944150 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/large.png?1554944150 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/medium.png?1554944150 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/small.png?1554944150 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xsmall.png?1554944150 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xxsmall.png?1554944150 Center for Democracy and Civic Life 7 0 true Mon, 23 Nov 2020 09:10:09 -0500 Mon, 23 Nov 2020 09:10:36 -0500 We Have Each Other
by Kate Drabinski
Senior Lecturer, Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies
Director, WILL+ Program

I love voting. My mom took my twin sister and me to the polls with her every time, and sometimes even let us poke the hole in the ballot. We voted in our elementary school gym where there was always a bake sale going on, and we always got a treat. Cemented in my body and mind is the knowledge that I have to vote, and voting day, no matter how it goes, will always come with a little treat. This year, it was pizza and mini Snickers bars, and a whole lot of TV.

What I have learned from 27 years of voting, though, is that it is just one tiny little part of what it means for me to be an engaged citizen. Our representative democracy means that whomever we elect, the chances they’re going to share my values are really tiny. Elected officials represent huge swaths of a diverse population with diverse needs, demands, and priorities. I can count on zero hands how many times I’ve felt like my whole self was at the political table due to my vote. If I really want to build the world I want, I have to do that building outside the voting booth, even as what I do in the booth can make a real difference.

This November, the importance of organizing beyond the vote has become even clearer to me. We elected Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, but I know that doesn’t mean they are coming to save us. I look out at a world where one in three families with children is food insecure, where unemployment rates are high—and even those with jobs often don’t make enough money to make ends meet, and where a global pandemic is raging through the nation with nary a hint of aid or leadership at the national level. So, I voted, and I’m glad for the results, but I know that the results will not change the lives of people in my community any time soon.

In the wake of the pandemic I am increasingly drawn to the work of people organizing mutual aid projects. Mutual aid means coming together and sharing resources—skills, food, emotional support, etc.—with each other. It means that we organize to save ourselves at the same time we organize to challenge the state and its structures that produce the very precarity that threatens so many of us. 

I voted, gave myself a treat, and am doubling down on my efforts to use the resources I have to support the communities I am in and that I actively build—in my city, my neighborhood, and in my classrooms. All we have is each other, and that is what is getting me through a rough 2020, and it will be my balm through the challenges ahead.

Contact the author, Kate Drabinski, at drabinsk@UMBC.edu.
]]> by Kate Drabinski Senior Lecturer, Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies Director, WILL+ Program I love voting. My mom took my twin sister and me to the polls with her every time, and... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/97567/guest@my.umbc.edu/2d8e9125ff4882f01e6b2d04b4b5ba90/api/pixel election2020 Center for Democracy and Civic Life https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/civiclife https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xsmall.png?1554944150 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/original.png?1554944150 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xxlarge.png?1554944150 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xlarge.png?1554944150 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/large.png?1554944150 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/medium.png?1554944150 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/small.png?1554944150 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xsmall.png?1554944150 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xxsmall.png?1554944150 Center for Democracy and Civic Life 15 0 false Wed, 18 Nov 2020 14:44:47 -0500 The Sun through Dark Clouds: Optimism in a Challenging Time
by Candace Dodson-Reed, '96
Chief of Staff
Executive Director, Office of Equity and Inclusion
Office of the President

Like many of you in the UMBC community, I am watching the post-election situation with a deep hope that our democratic institutions and calmer heads will carry us through this transition period. It is often said that democracy can be messy and I am truly hopeful that this is one of those messy times that we’ll get through sooner than later.

It is stressful enough to live through the most important election in our lifetime, but we are also living through a once in a century public health crisis that continues to sweep through our country. And as some in our country mourn and protest the murders of Black people due to senseless police brutality and mistreatment of people of color, we continue to reckon with the undeniable truth of systemic racism. 

It is a lot to handle. And it is important to acknowledge that. Yet, it is at times like this that we look to our UMBC community to share and be heard, and to find common ground where we can.

I am generally an optimistic person, but this year has tested my brighter nature. The missed family gatherings (including my parent’s 50th anniversary celebration), birthday parties, and time with my family and friends have taken a toll, but I know that these are temporary losses. What has affected me more deeply, because I know it reaches beyond the lifespan of this global health crisis, is the trauma of witnessing continued racial injustice, the loss of so many lives, and my sadness at seeing our country so divided. I am fully vested in everything that is happening and want to do my part while also feeling fatigued by the conflict and chaos I see on my computer and TV screen and cell phone for hours each day. 

But even during these challenging times, my optimism somehow finds its way to the surface and I find myself looking for opportunities and solutions to the big challenges that we’re grappling with--like I’m looking for the sun that cracks through the dark skies after a summer thunderstorm. So, I want to share some of the reasons for my optimism and why I remain hopeful. 

I remain hopeful because I interact with students, faculty, and staff members who are committed to addressing injustices and solving this country’s big problems. 

I remain hopeful because I watch young people of all races, religions, political beliefs, identities, and cultures stand up for what’s right.
 
I remain hopeful because I watch dedicated scientists work with haste to deliver a safe vaccine. 

I remain hopeful because I hear Dr. Hrabowski and Dr. Rous talk about “demonstrating the moral leadership necessary to unite our nation in true pursuit of both liberty and justice for all.”

I remain hopeful because I see our democracy grinding away towards certifying a true and fair election. And then because I think about how many young people in our UMBC community and beyond exercised their right and voted. 

I remain hopeful because I talked with my daughter, a college junior, who after standing in line for two hours in 38 degree weather to vote in Pennsylvania said, "We're ready to do our part too, mom.”

I was recently reading an excerpt from President Barack Obama’s new book, “A Promised Land”. He says, “In [a] world—of global supply chains, instantaneous capital transfers, social media, transnational terrorist networks, climate change, mass migration, and ever-increasing complexity—we will learn to live together, cooperate with one another, and recognize the dignity of others, or we will perish.”

I’m committed to doing my part—for my daughter and her future, for our democracy, and for all of you. 

And so I encourage you to continue to raise your voices against injustice, continue to stand for the truth and what is right, continue to work on real solutions in collaborative ways with others in our campus community and beyond, and continue to make time to listen to each other.

Let’s strive to live in a world where we can celebrate what makes us unique while acknowledging our similarities. As my favorite poet and activist, the esteemed Dr. Maya Angelou said in her poem, Human Family, “I note the obvious differences in the human family…[but] we are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike. We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.”

Contact the author, Candace Dodson-Reed, at cdodreed@UMBC.edu.
]]> by Candace Dodson-Reed, '96 Chief of Staff Executive Director, Office of Equity and Inclusion Office of the President Like many of you in the UMBC community, I am watching the post-election... https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/97488/guest@my.umbc.edu/029c76b3993c4bb4ba656f8c7b68d700/api/pixel election2020 Center for Democracy and Civic Life https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/civiclife https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xsmall.png?1554944150 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/original.png?1554944150 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xxlarge.png?1554944150 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xlarge.png?1554944150 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/large.png?1554944150 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/medium.png?1554944150 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/small.png?1554944150 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xsmall.png?1554944150 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xxsmall.png?1554944150 Center for Democracy and Civic Life 11 0 false Mon, 16 Nov 2020 14:34:00 -0500 Mon, 16 Nov 2020 14:35:08 -0500 Bike & Build: Pedaling for Affordable Housing (11/17 @12:30) Info Session hosted by Dr. Kerri Evans (UMBC Social Work) Join UMBC Professor, Kerri Evans, and Bike & Build to learn about the affordable housing cause and how to make an impact. 

Register here.  
]]> Join UMBC Professor, Kerri Evans, and Bike & Build to learn about the affordable housing cause and how to make an impact.  Register here.   Flyer https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/attachments/0c47c42b6042a2e9872a6796ddf2f169/69ea9ccb/news/000/097/450/5441a1aa8871476da67131c185a73c4d/Bike & Build (1) (1).pdf?1605301375 https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/97450/guest@my.umbc.edu/67b355f44baf1301969057daca3b56c1/api/pixel Center for Democracy and Civic Life https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/civiclife https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xsmall.png?1554944150 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/original.png?1554944150 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xxlarge.png?1554944150 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xlarge.png?1554944150 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/large.png?1554944150 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/medium.png?1554944150 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/small.png?1554944150 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xsmall.png?1554944150 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/462/3559ec2c1c4f29266d1c1eb0f1164549/xxsmall.png?1554944150 Center for Democracy and Civic Life 2 0 false Fri, 13 Nov 2020 16:13:35 -0500 Fri, 13 Nov 2020 16:18:11 -0500 Save the Date: Winter Welcome Week 2021 Fun for new and returning Retrievers! Save the Date!
What: Winter Welcome Week 2021
When: January 25-30, 2021
Where: the comfort of your own laptop!

Join departments from across campus in kicking off the spring semester! If you are new to UMBC, you will learn about academic resources, health and wellness support services, and ways to connect with other students.

New students will join in a WebEx Team with other new students in a similar major. Each group will be facilitated by returning students who know all about campus! There will be discussions, resources shared, and information that will set you up for success! More information on how to install and begin using WebEx Teams will be posted to this page by January 4, 2021.

If you're new to UMBC and are worried that you don't yet have enough black and gold swag, don't worry any more! A super swanky box of goodies will be heading your way! When you get your box, be sure to snap a few pictures and tag them on social media with #umbcwelcome! 

All Retrievers are welcome to join in social events such as bingo, trivia, and more! All events will be held virtually. Be sure to check back to this page, as well as welcomeweek.umbc.edu for a full schedule coming soon!
]]> Save the Date! What: Winter Welcome Week 2021 When: January 25-30, 2021 Where: the comfort of your own laptop! Join departments from across campus in kicking off the spring semester! If you... http://welcomeweek.umbc.edu https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/97424/guest@my.umbc.edu/33be84b9cc14ceba11bab7dd6add233c/api/pixel bingo events newstudents social studentsuccess transfers transferstudents trivia umbcwelcome welcomeweek winterwelcomeweek Welcome, Retrievers! https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/welcomeweek https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/342/add16b2d944dac530656033c3a11fabc/xsmall.png?1753978447 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/342/add16b2d944dac530656033c3a11fabc/original.png?1753978447 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/342/add16b2d944dac530656033c3a11fabc/xxlarge.png?1753978447 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/342/add16b2d944dac530656033c3a11fabc/xlarge.png?1753978447 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/342/add16b2d944dac530656033c3a11fabc/large.png?1753978447 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/342/add16b2d944dac530656033c3a11fabc/medium.png?1753978447 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/342/add16b2d944dac530656033c3a11fabc/small.png?1753978447 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/342/add16b2d944dac530656033c3a11fabc/xsmall.png?1753978447 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/342/add16b2d944dac530656033c3a11fabc/xxsmall.png?1753978447 Welcome Week https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/097/424/00f338d7e17690fdae24abe0508fd5ac/xxlarge.jpg?1605280626 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/097/424/00f338d7e17690fdae24abe0508fd5ac/xlarge.jpg?1605280626 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/097/424/00f338d7e17690fdae24abe0508fd5ac/large.jpg?1605280626 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/097/424/00f338d7e17690fdae24abe0508fd5ac/medium.jpg?1605280626 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/097/424/00f338d7e17690fdae24abe0508fd5ac/small.jpg?1605280626 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/097/424/00f338d7e17690fdae24abe0508fd5ac/xsmall.jpg?1605280626 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/097/424/00f338d7e17690fdae24abe0508fd5ac/xxsmall.jpg?1605280626 1 0 true Fri, 13 Nov 2020 10:17:31 -0500 Four Opportunities to Stay Engaged After Election 2020
Casting Your Whole Vote means working to build community and address challenges collectively every day, not just on Election Day. Here are four timely opportunities for members of the UMBC community to stay engaged and work together:
 
STRiVE is a five-day immersive experiential learning program for undergraduate students held off-campus during Winter Break. STRiVE’s intensive and engaging curriculum supports participants in developing critical thinking, leadership, community engagement, and cultural organizing skills. Well over 99% of the hundreds of UMBC students who have participated in STRiVE said they would recommend the experience to a friend. STRiVE 2021 will take place virtually from January 11-15, 2021. The application is due THIS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH at 11:59pm.
 
Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is a five-day immersive learning experience held during Spring Break. Participants think critically about social issues in Baltimore and develop skills in problem solving, community building, and storytelling. They meet with and learn from community partners, government officials, and scholars to develop a sophisticated understanding of local resources and challenges and lay the groundwork for long-term collective civic action. Alternative Spring Break 2021 will take place virtually from March 15-19, 2021. The application is due on Monday, November 23rd at 11:59 p.m.
 
After the Election: A Conversation with UMBC Legislators is an opportunity to engage with the District 12 legislators who represent UMBC and the surrounding communities in the Maryland General Assembly. This program provides an opportunity to talk in small groups about important issues, and learn about pathways for anyone, independent of their major or role on campus, to contribute to the civic health of our community. After the Election will take place virtually on November 18, 2020 from 5:00 - 7:00pm. RSVP here while spots are available but no later than Tuesday, November 17th.
 
The Civic Courage Journaling Project creates space for individual reflection on personal experiences with important civic implications. UMBC student, faculty, staff, and alumni journal bearers respond to prompts from the Center by creating entries in their journals and discussing them at monthly journal bearer gatherings. The next Civic Courage Journaling Project gathering will take place virtually on Friday, November 20th from 3:15 - 4:45pm. Sign up any time by sending an email indicating your interest to civiclife@umbc.edu.
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UMBC finished in the top 10 nationwide in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge voting pledge competition for 2020. ALL IN encourages college students to pledge to vote to promote accountability, based on evidence that when people make public pledges, they are more likely to follow through. More than 600 colleges and universities participate in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. To view the leaderboard with the top 25 institutions in the U.S. by number of pledges, click here and scroll down. 
 
The UMBC community will learn how many students actually voted in the 2020 national election when we receive our report from the National Survey of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) sometime next year. In the previous presidential election in 2016, 85 percent of UMBC students were registered to vote, and 75 percent of those actually voted. UMBC’s overall turnout rate in 2016 was 25 percent higher than the national average for colleges and universities (source: NSLVE).
 
UMBC’s Cast Your Whole Vote campaign, organized by the Center for Democracy and Civic Life in collaboration with many departments, student organizations, and campus leaders, encouraged members of the UMBC community to learn about issues, engage in civil conversations, and contribute their time and talent to building a better world on Election Day and every day. Cast Your Whole Vote programs (all virtual) included Dinner with Friends (facilitated dialogues), Change Maker Dinners (facilitated small group conversations with local leaders and activists), Debate Watch events, Post-Debate Lunch & Learn programs, and Election Night Extravaganza (a community gathering to watch and make sense of election returns). 
 
Students, faculty, and staff members trained as facilitators have organized more than 20 post-election Together Beyond November programs to help participants renew their connections and support each other in this challenging time. The Center for Democracy and Civic Life is continuing to work with campus partners to support opportunities for civic learning and sustained engagement, including the STRiVE leadership for social impact retreat (apply by 11/15), Alternative Spring Break (apply by 11/23), and a conversation with Maryland legislators who represent UMBC (11/18; RSVP required).
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by Charis Lawson, '21, English
Civic Literacy Intern, Center for Democracy and Civic Life

My relief is tainted. When I first realized that Joe Biden was probably going to be President of the United States, I had an overwhelming sense of accomplishment that was almost immediately mellowed. In the back of my mind, I kept hearing Biden’s voice from the video clip that swirled around the internet where he stated, “If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black.” This message to the black community is disheartening because plenty of candidates claiming to represent us have failed to deliver on their promises. Their rhetoric has implied that we shouldn’t ask questions, just be satisfied with the lesser of two evils. The black community is often left with the bare minimum, and then asked why we aren’t happy.  Yet as the weekend progressed, everyone’s joy seeped into my own soul, giving me a sense of warmth that I hadn’t felt in years. I wanted to hold on to the feeling of togetherness and accomplishment of the people around me. 

While I am happy with the outcome of the election I am not ecstatic. This election did not diminish my resolve to work for positive change. I want people to know that the fight for justice isn’t over, and want to be sure they are not lulled into a false sense of safety just because we have someone who knows how to speak coherently leading us. While of course, it goes deeper than that, I am afraid that by comparing Biden to someone I have would describe as incompetent we place him on a pedestal he doesn’t deserve.

I am motivated to continue to have deep conversations with peers and those with more knowledge than me about the problems that have plagued this country since its founding. I am determined to find unity amidst the chaos because I do not believe that all people who disagree with me are filled with hate. For me, that means starting locally because that is all that I feel equipped to handle. At this point, I have met all of the representatives from my Maryland General Assembly district and talked to them about the policies they see as important and am in the process of educating myself on those issues so I feel more equipped to form my own opinions. 

I hate the idea that one party is inherently moral and the other is inherently evil. Both parties have work to do. Figuring out exactly what I want to accomplish is evolving with the knowledge that I gain from my representatives and my own research and discussion with my peers.  I am determined to work toward the world as I imagine it: the world as it could be. 

Contact the author, Charis Lawson, at chala1@UMBC.edu.
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