IAP 2016 Activities by Category - Diversity and Inclusion

ATIC staff

Jan/28

Thu

12:00PM-02:00PM

7-143

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

The Assistive Technology Information Center opens its doors to show visitors the latest in commercially available assistive technologies for people with disabilities.  We will demonstrate

• text readers
• magnification devices
• screen reading software
• voice recognition software 

and various other technologies such as Braille labelers, tactile graphics and ergonomic keyboards and pointing devices

 

Contact: Kathleen Cahill, 7-143, 617 253-5111, KCAHILL@MIT.EDU

Abigail Francis, Director of LBGTQ Services

Jan/21

Thu

05:30PM-06:30PM

50-005

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)

Join us as we consider the complexity of sexuality and sexual orientation. Over dinner we will delve deeper into bisexual, pansexual, and omnisexual community identities. We will discuss experiences in coming out as non-monosexual, reactions from peers, and the feelings of support or isolation from both the straight and queer communities. How do we make the MIT campus a safe and comfortable place for Bi/Pan/Omni communities? Come discuss ways to foster a greater sense of belonging for individuals all across the sexuality spectrum!

Contact: Abigail Francis, 50-005, 617 253-0684, AFRAN@MIT.EDU

Sarah Bouchard, Community Engagement Administrator, Lauren O'Brien, Graduate Assistant

Jan/19

Tue

09:00AM-05:00PM

Cambridge, various, Times vary depending on site

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/11

CityDays is a series of one-day volunteer opportunities for all members of the MIT community. All students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to engage with the Cambridge and Greater Boston community by devoting a few hours to volunteer with CityDays throughout the year. In conjunction with MIT’s mission, the CityDays campaign aims to work for the “betterment of humankind” by connecting those who are a part of the MIT community with local organizations who need volunteers.

For this event we will be partnering with the Greater Boston Food Bank, Community Servings, Science Club for Girls, and the Community Art Center. Times will vary depending on site.

Sign-up here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/citydays-jan-19-honoring-martin-luther-king-day-through-community-service-tickets-19456606233

CityDays is a great fit for those who would like to give back and learn about the community, but who may not have time for a long-term volunteer commitment. The Priscilla King Gray Public Service Center handles all of the logistics for the day, including a meal, travel, and service placements. All you have to do is sign up and show up with an ethic for service. Participants may sign up as individuals or as groups. We encourage student groups to utilize CityDays as a pre-planned day of service.

 

Sponsor(s): Priscilla King Gray Public Service Center
Contact: Sarah Bouchard, W20-549, (617) 253-8968, citydays-staff@mit.edu

Ora Gladstone

Jan/31

Sun

09:15AM-01:00PM

Meet-Lobby W11-RAC, Lite lunch out will be included

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/27
Prereq: RSVP ora@mit.edu 617-610-1060

Join the Addir Fellows Interfaith Dialogue on our visit to 2 local churches including St. Paul's AME.

Meet 9:15am Lobby - W11.  RSVP - ora@mit.edu, 617-610-1060

Sponsor(s): Chaplain to the Institute, Addir Fellows Interfaith Dialogue
Contact: Ora Gladstone, W11-035, 617-610-1060, ora@mit.edu

Ora Gladstone

Jan/29

Fri

03:30PM-08:30PM

Meet Lobby W11, No electronics/cell phones off/women long skirts

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/27
Prereq: RSVP and cell #-need to know who's coming

Join the Addir Fellows Interfaith Dialogue as we visit 2 very different Friday night/welcoming-the-Sabbath services: 1) 4:40pm Young Israel of Brookline (Orthodox/Traditional - ID required, cell phones off, no electronics/photos, women-no slacks). 2) 6:15pm Temple Beth Zion (Spiritual, New Age, song-filled) followed by a kiddush/light meal.  Call Ora 617-610-1060 to participate and for meeting instructions.

Sponsor(s): Chaplain to the Institute, Addir Fellows Interfaith Dialogue
Contact: Ora Gladstone, W11-035, 617-610-1060, ora@mit.edu

Ora Gladstone

Jan/29

Fri

12:00PM-02:45PM

Meet Kendall Sqr. T, Meet on Inbound side of station.

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/27

Join the Addir Fellows Interfaith Dialogue on our trip to the I.S.B.C.C. (Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center) for the weekly sermon, Jum'ah/Friday prayer, and a tour of this beautiful center. Women head scarf and no bare arms please.  So we know you are coming - ora@mit.edu at 617-610-1060 by 1/27/16

Sponsor(s): Chaplain to the Institute, Addir Fellows Interfaith Dialogue
Contact: Ora Gladstone, W11-035, 617-610-1060, ora@mit.edu

Moran Tsur, Lifelong Kindergarten, Media Lab

Jan/25

Mon

03:00PM-07:00PM

E14-514B

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/18
Limited to 10 participants

Are you interested in introducing girls and women to technology? Part of a program that empowers them and shows the beauty of computer science? Want to start a new one, or join others?

Our workshop deals with the process of planning a new program, or iterating on an existing one. We will use the experience of many existing programs in the field and research findings to talk about goals, activities and tensions.

The workshop will help you:

• Formalize your goals and vision for the program.
• Design activities and methods to advance those goals, taking into account your unique situation.
• Familiarize yourself with other programs in the field, through a library of methods and activities.
• Learn about pressing issues in the field like inclusion, working with commercial companies, and scaling up.

Reserve your spot here: http://goo.gl/forms/1s4qy5Ox2W

Questions? Concerns? More info? morant@media.mit.edu 

Sponsor(s): Media Arts and Sciences
Contact: Moran Tsur, E14-445C, morant@media.mit.edu

Greta Kuriger Suiter, Collections Archivist, Phoebe Ayers, Librarian for Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Rebecca Thorndike-Breeze, Lecturer, Comparative Media Studies/Writing, Amy Carleton, Lecturer, Comparative Media Studies/Writing, Jessica Venlet, Library Fellow for Digital Archives

Jan/22

Fri

02:00PM-05:00PM

14N 132

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Join us for this IAP session to learn how to contribute to Wikipedia, the world’s largest reference work. From 2-3pm, we’ll offer an introduction to editing mechanisms and Wikipedia guidelines, and help new contributors get set up with usernames and articles. From 3-5pm, we’ll work on improving articles.

Staff from the Libraries and Writing, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication who are experienced Wikipedians will be available to answer questions about editing, writing and researching for Wikipedia throughout the session. Both new and experienced Wikipedians are welcome. For participants fluent in multiple languages, working in any language Wikipedia is welcome and encouraged. Drop in any time during the session, and bring your questions and ideas for topics to work on! Computers will be available, but participants can also bring their own laptops. For the most up to date event details, visit our Wikipedia Meet-Up page. 

Registration is not required, but encouraged. To register, visit the registration page. 

Excited about Wikipedia possibilities? Join us for two other Wikipedia events for IAP: Wikipedia in the Classroom: Creating Digital Research and Writing Assignments (registration page). Writing Black History into Wikipedia (registration page). 

Sponsor(s): Libraries
Contact: Jessica Venlet, 14N-118, 617 715-4468, JVENLET@MIT.EDU

David Brancazio '89, SM '91

Jan/21

Thu

06:30PM-08:00PM

4-237

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required

In Our Son's Name is an intimate portrait of Phyllis and Orlando Rodríguez, whose son, Greg, dies with thousands of others in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The bereaved parents choose reconciliation and nonviolence over vengeance and begin a transformative journey that both confirms and challenges their convictions.

They speak out against war in Iraq and Afghanistan, publicly oppose the death penalty of avowed 9/11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui and befriend his mother. As their search for meaning evolves they speak out against anti-Muslim actions and find peace in working with prison inmates.

Their marriage strengthens, and they reach a deeper understanding of their rebellious son, who had just begun to find his way when his life was cut short. The film mixes in-depth interviews with on-location footage and striking archival photographs and video to create a deeply personal story that invites us to re-consider conventional concepts of justice and healing.

A discussion will follow the screening of this one-hour documentary film.

Register for this free event!

Sponsor(s): Alumni Association
Contact: Elena Byrne, W98-206C, 617 252-1143, EBYRNE@MIT.EDU

Adam Reynolds, Chaplain

Enrollment: Advance sign-up helpful, not required
Sign-up by 01/11
Limited to 12 participants
Attendance: Attending all sessions strongly recommended
Prereq: Curiosity and an open mind!

Seek is a dinner discussion series offering an introduction to and exploration of faith in Jesus and connection with God. Seek is designed to be a non-preachy, non-dogmatic and zero-pressure environment that includes an emphasis on the practical aspects of faith, ample opportunities to ask questions, and informal discussions with a consistent group of similarly curious people.

seek.mit.edu

Sponsor(s): Blue Ocean Faith
Contact: Adam Reynolds, W11-011, 617 253-4819, ADAM1@MIT.EDU

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Seek Sessions:

Jan/04	Mon	07:00PM-09:00PM	PDR #3 (W20-303), Seek #1: Why Consider Faith in Jesus?
Jan/06	Wed	07:00PM-09:00PM	PDR #3 (W20-303), Seek #2: What's So Important about Jesus?
Jan/11	Mon	07:00PM-09:00PM	PDR #3 (W20-303), Seek #3: How Can I Expect Prayer to Work?
Jan/13	Wed	07:00PM-09:00PM	PDR #3 (W20-303), Seek #4: How to Get the Best Stuff From the Bible?
Jan/18	Mon	07:00PM-09:00PM	PDR #4 (W20-308A), Seek #5: Can I Expect God to Guide Me?
Jan/20	Wed	07:00PM-09:00PM	PDR #3 (W20-303), Seek #6: Open Discussion, AMA
	Jan/24	Sun	Time TBD	TBD, Seek Holy Spirit Day
Jan/25	Mon	07:00PM-09:00PM	PDR #3 (W20-303), Seek #7: Why Community
Jan/27	Wed	07:00PM-09:00PM	PDR #3 (W20-303), Seek #8: On the Road to Your Impossibly Great Life

Dinner is provided at each session! Each evening will include a presentation followed by open, small-group discussion. 

Location: Student Center Private Dining Room 3 (except Session #5 which is in PDR #4).

Sign up at: seek.mit.edu

Adam Reynolds - Chaplain

Jonathan Richmond, Takeoff Space Founder

Jan/26

Tue

11:00AM-01:00PM

W31-305

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Kids from lower-income backgrounds have a huge disadvantage in getting to good colleges -- and it can seem almost impossible to get to MIT, however brilliant they may be.

Brilliant students often come from uneducated and unfortunately disrupted familes where there is little or no culture of learning. Instead, they must often work long hours after school to help support their family financially.

Takeoff Space will be a highly selective program available only to academically top-performing high-school juniors from deprived backgrounds. They will visit MIT weekly to be mentored by an MIT student who will not so much advise them as do what professional parents do: lead them through the college and financial aid selection and application process to make sure it is completed correctly and optimally.

The program is planned to launch this spring with approximately a dozen students from Lowell High School. With success, it will spread throughout the Boston region and become a national model. We invite your interest.

This IAP activity will present Takeoff Space and will give MIT students a chance to get involved.

Contact: Jonathan Richmond, richmond@alum.mit.edu

La-Tarri Canty, Director, Multicultural Programs, Abigail Francis, Director, LGBT@MIT

Jan/27

Wed

12:00PM-01:00PM

W20 Twenty Chimneys

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Presenters: Abigail Francis & La-Tarri Canty

This interactive workshop will encourage participants to examine how their multiple identities are developed and influenced by their upbringing, engagement at MIT and society at large. 

We will also delve into the complexities of intersectionality and unpack its impact on our interactions with others.

 

Lunch will be provided!

Sponsor(s): Office of Undergrad. Advising/Academic Programming
Contact: Meghan Kenney, 7-103, 617 253-9764, MKENNEY@MIT.EDU

Greta Kuriger Suiter, Collections Archivist, Phoebe Ayers, Librarian for Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Rebecca Thorndike-Breeze, Lecturer, Comparative Media Studies/Writing, Amy Carleton, Lecturer, Comparative Media Studies/Writing, Jessica Venlet, Library Fellow for Digital Archives

Jan/29

Fri

01:00PM-05:00PM

14N-132

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

In anticipation of Black History Month 2016, join us for an edit-a-thon to update and improve Wikipedia articles about African Americans in STEM fields (STEM = science, technology, engineering and mathematics.) We will look at the Blacks at MIT History Project for inspiration and resources from the MIT Libraries will be on hand.

Staff from the Libraries and Writing, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication who are experienced Wikipedians will provide a short introduction and overview of editing Wikipedia and will be available to answer questions throughout the session. Drop in any time during the session, and come with questions and ideas for topics! For those fluent in multiple languages, working in any language Wikipedia is welcome and encouraged. Computers will be available, but participants can also bring their own laptops.

Learn more about this event on our Wikipedia Meet-Up page.

Registration is encouraged, but not required. Resigter online via the Libraries website. 

Excited about Wikipedia possibilities? Join us for two other Wikipedia events during IAP: Wikipedia in the Classroom: Creating Digital Research and Writing Assignments. Visit the registration page for more details. Introduction to Editing Wikipedia. Visit the registration page for more details.

Sponsor(s): Libraries
Contact: Jessica Venlet, 14N-118, 617 715-4468, JVENLET@MIT.EDU