Diversity Resources

Western is committed to providing students from all backgrounds and academic levels an accessible, inclusive, and equitable learning environment that results in credential attainment. Western and its employees are committed to every student, every day.

Fundamental Beliefs

• Every employee, regardless of position or title, is obligated to help create accessible, inclusive, and equitable conditions for student success.
• Teaching should be inclusive of all cultures and backgrounds and appropriate to the needs, abilities, and aspirations of each student.
• Students’ self-efficacy is increased by balancing academic rigor with compassionate support, effective teaching methods, and a precise focus on career-relevant topics and skills.
• Academic, social, and emotional assistance should not be stigmatizing. Success achieved with support is still success.

Faculty Resources

Using Films from the Make Change Film Series

(Link: https://www.westerntc.edu/leadership-involvement-opportunities)

To bring light to issues and problems experienced by numerous communities and across shared identities, a community-based discussion allows for students to become better informed while concurrently bringing in their perspectives, lived-experiences, and challenging what they know.

Facilitation Resources

• Voices of the Sea Documentary: “A young mother yearns to escape the unending hardships of a remote Cuban fishing village in search of a false and potentially fatal American dream. Illuminating the real struggles of the Cuban people with unique access and empathy.”
  • Voices of the Sea Faculty Discussion Guide PDF
• Tribal Justice Documentary: “In Tribal Justice, two Native American judges reach back to traditional concepts of justice in order to reduce incarceration rates, foster greater safety for their communities, and create a more positive future for youth. By addressing the root causes of crime, they are modeling restorative systems that are working. Mainstream courts across the country begin to take notice.”
  • Tribal Justice Faculty Discussion Guide PDF
  • Tribal Justice DVD available to checkout at the Library Commons. (Link: https://www.westerntc.edu/library-services)
  • Sign up for PBS’s POV – through this system they allow you to check out a film and provide a facilitation guide.

Social Justice and Inclusion

The following resources will help you engage with diversity topic in your classroom, strategies for conversing about controversial topics in the classroom, and more:

• 28 Common Racist Attitudes and Behaviors PDF
• Basic Principles for Equity Literacy PDF
• Building Diversity Competency PDF
• Common Terms and Phrases Used PDF
• Diversity Activities Resource Guide PDF
• Diversity Resource Guide for WTCS Leaders PDF
• Examining Identity PDF
• Group Identity Cards Activity PDF
• How to Avoid Misusing the Term “Intersectionality” PDF
• Pyramid of Hate PDF
• Safe Zone Ally Training Manual PDF
• So You Call Yourself an Ally PDF
• Teaching Race – Methods and Practice PDF
• The Danger of a Single Story PDF

Videos

• Thich Nhat Hanh on Compassionate Listening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=lyUxYflkhzo
• Brene Brown on Empathy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=1Evwgu369Jw
• Color of Fear – What it means to be American: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nmhAJYxFT4
• Color Blind or Color Brave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=oKtALHe3Y9Q
• Tim Wise on White Privilege, Racism, White Denial & the Cost of Inequality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPiGMP-_B3I
• I’ve lived as a man & a woman – here’s what I learned by Paula Stone Williams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrYx7HaUlMY
• Why kids need to learn about gender and sexuality by Lindsay Amer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQuwz64qsBM
• I’m not your inspiration, thank you very much: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K9Gg164Bsw

Articles

• Creating a Positive Classroom Climate PDF
• Discussing Race, Racism and Other Difficult Topics PDF
• Transgender 101 (information about sex and gender): https://everydayfeminism.com/2016/08/transgender-101/
• Gender Pronouns: https://uwm.edu/lgbtrc/support/gender-pronouns/
• 80 Awesome Mental Health Resources When You Can’t Afford a Therapist: https://greatist.com/grow/resources-when-you-can-not-afford-therapy
• Ensure Access for Students with Disabilities by Using S.P.E.L.L. Check: https://studentaffairscollective.org/students-disabilities-s-p-e-l-l-check/

Need Assistance?

We want to help you integrate more information regarding social justice and inclusion into your course/program, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us for help and support. Feel free to contact us via phone, email, or by simply dropping into Student Success Center Room 222 to chat.