DEI Plans Virtual Workshops For Black History Month

To honor and celebrate Black History Month, Dominican University of California’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is presenting a pair of virtual online workshops  – “Talking Black in America” on February 16 and “Read Together … Reflect Together: Love Is The Practice Of Freedom” on February 24.

Stacy Davidson, DEI director, will facilitate “Talking Black in America” on Feb. 16 from noon to 1 p.m. Join the Zoom call.

“This interactive workshop will enlighten participants about the origins of and what people get wrong about the African American Vernacular English (AAVE), why people code switch, and how to avoid bias around speech and grammar,” Davidson explains.

She will be joined by Dr. Karen McCarthy, associate professor in Department of Occupational Therapy, for “Read Together … Reflect Together” to discuss bell hooks’ essay “Love Is The Practice of Freedom” on Feb. 24 from 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Born Gloria Jean Watkins, bell hooks was an American scholar and activist who work examined the connections between race, gender, and class. She often explored the varied perceptions of Black women and Black women writers and the development of feminist identities.

“The values of Dominican call us to study, reflect, and be in community with one another.  This workshop will provide an opportunity for DUC faculty and staff to read a brief article by bell hooks, author, professor, feminist and social activist who passed recently,” Davidson says. “Her writing `shaped perspectives on the intersectionality of race, capitalism and gender’ during her distinguished career.”

For more information, contact Stacy Davidson at (415) 485-3235 or email stacy.davidson@dominican.edu.