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Social Justice Conference: Empowering Pride and Challenging Norms

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Social Justice Conference: Empowering Pride and Challenging Norms
September 24-25, 2024

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

5:30-7:00 Welcome/Keynote
Presenter: Dr. Edward Antonio, Vice President, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Location: Nelly Goletti (light refreshments will be available)
Open to: Marist students, faculty, and staff; local community members
 

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

9:30-10:30 - Poster Session & Welcome Breakfast
Location: SC River Rooms Hallway display all day; light breakfast and coffee/tea/beverage service available
What: A selection of posters will be on display showcasing the work of Marist students, including original research and other projects guided by faculty mentors, that address LGBTQIA+ issues. 
Open to: Marist students, faculty, and staff; local community members

11-12 - Breakout Sessions 1

Option 1: Empowering Pride Through Allyship
Location: Cabaret
Presenter: Executive Board Members of FoxPride – Victoria Cardone, Abigail Storing, Pluto Raja, Abell Scholl and Queer Trans Committee Chair, Ais Oisin
What: Interactive workshop to gain tools of allyship and identify resources for LGBTQIA+ inclusivity and belonging 
Open to: Marist students, faculty, and staff; local community members

Option 2: Self-Acceptance & Expression: Exploring Identity Through Art
Location: SC River Rooms
Presenter: Dr. Daria Hanssen, Associate Professor of Social Work/Director of the BSW Program
What: A hands-on workshop using painting and discussion to explore the complexity of identity.
Open to: Marist students, faculty, and staff; local community members

12:30-1:45 - Keynote (to include Q&A)

Presenter: Carvell Wallace
Location: McCann Arena
Open to: Marist students, faculty, and staff; local community members

Carvell Wallace is a New York Times Bestselling author, memoirist, and award-winning podcaster who covers race, arts, culture, film and music for a wide variety of news outlets. He is a regular long form contributor to the New York Times Magazine where his profile of Riz Ahmed was a cover story in August 2018. He has additionally written cover profiles on Michael B. Jordan for Rolling Stone, Mahershala Ali for GQ, and Samuel L. Jackson for Esquire. Other high-profile subjects have included Tarell Alvin McCraney for the New York Times, Viola Davis for Glamour, G-Eazy for MTV and Steph Curry for the New Yorker. 

More information on Carvell Wallace can be found here.

2:15-3:15 - Breakout Sessions 2

Option 1: Solidarity in Action: Queer & Trans Committee Ally Training
Location: Cabaret
Presenter: Dr. Emma Fredrick, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Clare Dinio, Enrollment Services Assistant, and Dr. Cara Messina, Assistant Professor of English 
What: An interactive workshop that introduces terminology, current issues, and campus resources as they relate to the LGTBQ+ community, as well as providing an opportunity to talk through various scenarios that may emerge here at Marist and how you can be an effective ally.
Open to: Marist students, faculty, and staff only

Option 2: Classrooms and Communities: LGBTQIA+ History and Activism in the Hudson River Valley
Location: SC River Rooms
Presenter: Dr. Kristin Bayer, Associate Professor of History/Director of Women's Gender, and Sexuality Program, Dr. Melissa Gaeke, Senior Professional Lecturer in Political Science/Director of the Center for Civic Engagement and Leadership, and Karen Marder, Director of Dutchess Pride
What: Discussion of queer & trans history; Discussion of ongoing work in the Hudson Valley
Open to: Marist students, faculty, and staff; local community members

3:45-4:45 - Breakout Sessions 3

Option 1: Panel Discussion: At the Intersection of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC Identities
Location: SC River Room 3101
Presenter: Dr. Edward Antonio, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Moderator). 
Panelists: Angel Arriaga, Coordinator of Academic Interventions, Marist College Center for Multicultural Affairs, Dereck Guzman, '25, and Robin Santaromana, '25
What: A conversation exploring the experiences of intersecting identities among queer and trans individuals of color. 
Open to: Marist students, faculty, and staff; local community members

Option 2: Navigating Transition: Trans and Nonbinary Healthcare
Location: SC River Rooms
Presenter: Dr. Emma Fredrick, Assistant Professor of Psychology
What: This session will examine the experiences of TNB people in healthcare, their desires and preferences for care, and the ongoing legal battles that stand in their way.
Open to: Marist students, faculty, and staff; local community members

Option 3: Harassment, Digital Abuse, and other Victimizations through an LGBTQIA+ Lens: Barriers to Understand & Tools Collected to Support Survivors
Location: SC River Rooms
Presenter: Kelly Yough, Marist College Director of Equity and Title IX Coordinator, Tam Cacchione, Campus Advocate/Family Services, and Eliza Benfer, Marist College Title IX Outreach Coordinator
What: Join us for an interactive workshop where we as a community explore and further 
understand various victimizations such as the ones experienced in Felix Ever After.
Open to: Marist students, faculty, and staff

5-6 - Social Justice Award & Closing Remarks

Location: Cabaret 
Presenter: Dr. Edward Antonio, Vice President, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
What: Presentation of the Social Justice Award; closing remarks; light refreshments
Open to: Marist students, faculty, and staff; local community members

Keynote Speakers

Our keynote speakers for this conference are Ronald Cotton and Jennifer Thompson, authors of the New York Times Best-Selling Book, Picking Cotton, and Charlotte A. Burrows, Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Learn more >>

Introductions, Film Screening, and Reflective Panel Discussion

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Location:  Murray Student Center – Nelly Goletti Theatre
Time:  2:00 – 3:15 p.m. 

Introduction and Welcome:
Addrain Conyers, Assistant Provost for Faculty Development
Edward Antonio, Vice President for Diversity, Equity,  Inclusion and Belonging
Carol Rinke, Assistant Provost for Student Success

Film Screening: Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution

Facilitator: Dana Gathers, Assistant Professor of Education, Marist College 

Panelists:             
Judy Creedon, Learning Specialist, Office of Accommodations and Accessibility, Marist College
Joseph Guardino, Director of Housing and Residential Life, Marist College 
Dana Jones, Marist Alumna
Dana Weidman, Professor of Communications, Media Arts & Film, Dutchess Community College
 

Interactive Workshops

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Workshop 1:
Comics and Disability
Location: Murray Student Center - Third Floor Hallway
Time: 3:15 – 4:30 p.m.

At this station, student presenters will engage participants in conversation about how comics represent disability realistically, metaphorically, and/or politically. Participants will have the opportunity to examine specific comics and to sketch panels that represent their own experiences.

Workshop Facilitators: 
Elizabeth Clarke, Research Services Librarian, Marist College
Shania Fernandez '26
Moira Fitzgibbons,  Professor of English, Marist College
Erin Greenfield '26
Marin Rosman '26
Deborah Tomaras, Metadata and Resource Management Librarian, Marist College
 

Workshop 2:
Advances in Adaptive Fashion
Location: Murray Student Center - Third Floor Hallway
Time: 3:15 – 4:30 p.m.

Runway of Dreams x Marist is a club whose mission is to empower people with disabilities to have confidence and self-expression through fashion and beauty inclusion. We are here to celebrate and encourage people's differences, whether it be physical or mental disabilities, and are proud to partner in this interactive segment through showcasing various works that examine the advances in adaptive fashion.

Workshop Facilitators: 
Stephania Bendek '26
Kristina Cangiano '25
Hana Dempsey '25
Jennifer Finn, Chair Marist Fashion Program, Faculty Club Advisor 
Lauren Maggio '26
Mia Siano '25
 

Workshop 3:
Assistive Technology Scavenger Hunt
Location: Murray Student Center - Third Floor Hallway
Time: 3:15 – 4:30 p.m.

Since the signing of the ADA on July 26, 1990, there has been a general assumption that the world has been made accessible and inclusive for those with varying abilities. During this session, the Doctor of Physical Therapy students will guide participants in an accessibility scavenger hunt. Participants will have the opportunity to “walk in another’s shoes” or “locomote in their wheelchair” enabling them to experience aspects of physical accessibility on the Marist campus and draw their own conclusions about accessibility and inclusion.

Workshop Facilitator: 
Julie Fineman, Clinical Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
Yvonne Egitto, Clinical Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
Doctor of Physical Therapy Students 

 

Workshop 4:
Digital Accessibility: Ensuring Equity for All
Location: Murray Student Center - Third Floor Hallway
Time: 3:15 – 4:30 p.m.

Digital accessibility describes an inclusive process of designing a digital learning environment that integrates procedures and tools to ensure that everyone can access education effectively and meet the same outcomes. At Marist, Brightspace includes many tools to support students and faculty in digital accessibility within the digital learning environment.

Through this session, we’ll explore the features and functionality that could help make the digital learning environment accessible.

Workshop Facilitators: 
Julin Sharp, Assistant Vice President, Digital Learning Platforms & Technology
Digital Education Staff 
Digital Education Students

Presentations

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Concurrent Session 1: 
Considerations for Creating Accessible Space - A Restorative Approach 
Location: Murray Student Center – Room 3105
Time: 3:30 – 4:00 p.m.

This workshop aims to address accessibility from a restorative perspective, both philosophically and materially. There will also be a follow-up circle to help participants integrate the knowledge and ideas they have gained during the Conference in a more intentional manner.

Presenters:
Claudia Abott-Barish, Director of Restorative Justice Programs, Dutchess Mediation Center
Vanessa Lynn, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Marist College


Concurrent Session 2:
Advocacy and Empowerment for Individuals with Disabilities
Location: Murray Student Center – Room 3104
Time: 3:30 – 4:00 p.m.

How to help your students/clients/children/self-learn to be proactive in their journey through the laws and regulations of special education and beyond……being an advocate for themselves is critical.

Presenters:
Charlie Bender, retired Director of Vocational Services, Abilities First (previously REHAB Programs)
Joanna Huyck, Professional Lecturer of Professional Programs, Marist College
Amie (Cousens) Fredericks, teacher of the Deaf, Dutchess BOCES, President of BOE Pine Plains School District
Faith Cousens, Session Facilitator, retired Special Ed teacher Dutchess BOCES, Professional Lecturer of Psychology, Marist College


Concurrent Session 3:
Creating an Accessibility Map of the Student Center
Location: Murray Student Center – Room 3105
Time: 4:00 – 4:30 p.m.

We will be defining accessibility and what accessibility on campus means to us. We will then explore the Student Center and map its accessibility features.

Presenters:
Joelle Fingerhut, Assistant Professor of Education, Marist College 
Dana Gathers, Assistant Professor of Education, Marist College 
Lexi Malaterra '24
Kira Poliviou '24
Stephanie Purington, Session Facilitator, Professional Lecturer of Education, Marist College
 

Concurrent Session 4:
Building an environment of accessibility on the Marist Campus
Location: Murray Student Center – Roon 3104
Time: 4:00-4:30

Members of the Delta Alpha Pi International (DAPi) Honor Society will discuss the importance of prioritizing accessibility on campus in order to foster inclusivity and empower students with disabilities to achieve their academic potential. 

Presenter: 
Charlotte Green, President of the Beta Delta chapter of Delta Alpha Pi at Marist College
Quinn McNicholas '24 
Emily Jones '26

Presentation of Social Justice Award

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image of Kumba Nyang, Social Justice Award Recipient

The Marist College Social Justice Award recognizes the contributions of outstanding members of the Marist community who have dedicated themselves to diversity, equity, and inclusion

2023 Recipient

Kumba Nyang (she/hers), '23

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Register for Social Justice Conference

 

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Contact Information:
Addrain Conyers, PhD
Assistant Provost for Faculty Development/
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
845-575-3000, ex. 3629
Addrain.Conyers@marist.edu

Carol Rinke, PhD 
Assistant Provost for Student Success
Professor of Education
845-575-3000, ex. 3629
Carol.Rinke@marist.edu

Date: September 20, 2023
Location: Murray Student Center, Marist College

For accessible entrance to the conference, please enter through the Murray Student Center’s south entrance and continue through the Fusco Music Center doors.