CODI Membership Kathy Evans, CODI Co-Chair, faculty - Education Celeste R Thomas, CODI Co-Chair, staff - Director Multicultural Student Services, Senior Advisor to the President on Diversity and Inclusion, Student Athlete Advisor Talibah Aquil, faculty - CJP Ben Bergey, faculty - Music Stefano Colafrancesci, faculty - Computer Science Allison Collazo, staff - Director of Counseling Services Deanna Durham, faculty - Applied Social Sciences Shannon W. Dycus, staff - Dean of Students, Student Life Emily Forrer, recorder, staff - Student Life Operations Coordinator Marci Frederick, staff - Director of Libraries Ashley (Stick) Kishorn, staff - Field Hockey Coach Lindy Magness, staff - Assistant Director of Housing and Residence Life Katie Mansfield, staff - Lead STAR Trainer Luke Mullet, staff - Admissions Counselor Rachel Roth Sawatzky, staff - Director of Student Programs, Title IX Coordinator Kristopher Schmidt, faculty - Biology Tim Seidel, faculty - Applied Social Sciences, CJP Wendell Shank, faculty - Spanish MaryBeth Showalter, staff - Director of Human Resources Johonna Turner, faculty - CJP
If you would like to be involved in the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus, contact codi@emu.edu. To learn more about interfaith engagement, contact interfaith@emu.edu.
"We Do Not Lead Single-Issue Lives" We are over a year into Syndemic struggle. Syndemic is defined by epidemiologists as when diseases co-occur/concentrate due to harmful social conditions. We are struggling with heartbreak and hope as we consider the big picture of diversity and inclusion in the US and the world, and we give thanks for Audre Lorde’s guidance. Audre Lorde (1934-92) [pictured below; From Dagmar Schultz, Audre Lorde, The Berlin Years 1984 to 1992, 2012] self-described as “Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet.†She was a professor, civil rights leader, essayist, feminist, and movement shaper of both the Black and LGBTQ+ movements of the 20th century, globally. Her insight (see Wisdom sidebar) might help us hold what we are living through... In 2021, while some experience a hopeful horizon of vaccination, most people in the world are unable to access a COVID vaccine. Virginia abolished the death penalty this month. Yet still we reel from the January attack on the US Capitol by an armed mob aimed at stopping the ratification of election results. The trial for the murder of George Floyd has begun in Minnesota. A shooter in Atlanta, Georgia targeted Asian women, killing 8 people. In Boulder, Colorado someone else entered a grocery store and took 10 lives. In Myanmar, following a coup, civilian protests and killings by the junta continue. Amidst this pain, we also remember possibilities. We just passed the Spring Equinox (Mar 20), when day and night are at equal lengths, a marking of the change of seasons celebrated by many Indigenous cultures. Millions just celebrated Persian new year - Nowruz (Mar 20). Hindus marked Holi (Mar 28-29), a festival of color and goodness. We are now in Passover. We are in Holy Week for some Christian traditions, with Orthodox Easter approaching May 2. The holy month of Ramadan begins soon as well. In the US we celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January (18) and Black History Month in February, and we continue that celebration, as one month is not enough. March 20 marked National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Globally, March marked Developmental Disabilities Awareness and Women’s History Month and held International Women’s Day (Mar 8) and World Down Syndrome Day (Mar 21). March 31 marks International Transgender Day of Visibility. We declare Black History Month every month. We need to know more about each other’s identities, experiences, ideals, and challenges. Developmental disabilities awareness needs to be a daily community care priority. Particular days or months to highlight a massive amount of struggle, brilliance, and leadership are both a blessing and a challenge. Having particular days/months is necessary because of the too-long-lived reality of invisibility, silencing, violence, and stigma for many bodies – and the hoped-for reality of inclusion, shared power, care, and pride for everybody. We are thankful for EMU’s own inspirers and challengers from APISA, BSA, LSA, Safe Space, and SGA, whose efforts affirm the vision of ancestor Audre Lorde. These include the recent LGBTQIA+ Matters event on March 23 and creation of the Black Lives Matter mural that was unveiled in September 2020. We “commit ourselves to some future that can include each other and to work toward that future with the particular strengths of our individual identities†(Audre Lorde, 1934-92). Black Lives Matter: Creating the Mural For almost two semesters now, the Black Lives Matter mural in front of the University Commons has been a symbol of what students want EMU’s values to represent. It has given many comfort as they walk from one point of campus to another. It also has challenged many to seek out ways of working towards a time in society where Black Lives truly do matter as much as any other. And, with this mural, we still know that EMU has a far way to go as an institution to embody all that the phrase “Black Lives Matter†encompasses. We’d like to recognize the students who have been working with and pushing EMU towards these values. It was not EMU who made this mural, but the Black Student Alliance. Students, faculty, and staff who are not in BSA can take a lot of wisdom from the story of the hard work and artistry put into the creation of this institutional symbol. This past summer, the Black Student Alliance was asked to allow EMU to borrow the Barbershop as a COVID testing center. After much discussion among BSA and with Dean of Students, Shannon Dycus, two answers stemmed from this ask. The first was that, yes, EMU could borrow the Barbershop for the community’s needs this year. And, as a second answer, BSA created a list of demands in return for the use of this space. These conversations were occurring at the same time as many influential Black Lives Matter marches and the creation of the Washington, DC BLM street mural. As BSA considered what to ask of EMU, a member brought up the idea of creating a mural, similar to the DC mural, at EMU. From that point forward, senior Jakiran Richardson started planning, organizing, and reaching out to anyone he could think of who could help with this idea. Jakiran explained, “I was trying to reach all the artists I knew to figure out how this could be done.†Luckily, Jakiran found the perfect artist. For centuries, women of color have been the force behind social movements and moments. The case of BSA’s BLM mural is no different. As Jakiran put it: “Shout out to Ezrionna [Prioleau]. If she was taken out of any of this equation, we wouldn’t have no mural. I promise you that.†Ezrionna Prioleau [pictured right at the Black Lives Matter mural unveiling] is a graduate assistant at EMU who knew exactly what to do when Jakiran brought the idea of a BLM mural to her. She had years of experience from working in theatre with the programs, tools, and directing needed for large projects such as this. The BSA logo and the artful letter sizes were all inspired by Ezrionna. The entire BSA, as well as people who BSA graciously invited to take part, put in hours and days of work to get the mural painted. The leadership of other BSA executives such as Merry Yirga, Maya Dula, Akiel Baker, Johnny Prioleau, Amanda Jasper, Tahj’ae Coleman, Nardos Haile, Skyy Brinkley, and more was also an integral part to this process. The investment put into this mural by BSA cannot be understated and goes to show the deep value of the symbol. Along with the hours of work put in was $2,000 worth of paint and supplies and three months of planning. As Ezrionna put it, “Knowing that there is this huge thing, that is not hidden in any way, that faces the street, that you can read from the street… that you have to walk over, that you have to kind of notice, it brings me so much joy.†I hope that those of us who aren’t in BSA can see the BLM mural as we walk by each day and remember that it is not a symbol of where our institution is at, but of where we want it to be. I hope that those of us who weren’t responsible for creating the mural can use its presence as a reminder to reach out and support the people of color on our campus in any of their endeavors to make EMU, the United States, and the world a better, more just place. And to BSA: THANK YOU for the hard work each of you put into this mural for our campus. The artistry, heart, and investment is so evident.
MYANMAR RESOURCES
CODI Committee on Diversity and Inclusion March 2021
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emu.edu/diversity/committee-on-diversity-and-inclusion
Committee on Diversity and Inclusion
Eastern Mennonite University
1200 Park Road, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 22802 A monthly practice of transparency and shared learning.
Wisdom “There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle, because we do not lead single-issue lives. Our struggles are particular, but we are not alone. What we must do is commit ourselves to some future that can include each other and to work toward that future with the particular strengths of our individual identities.†- Audre Lorde Celebrations Passover
March 27-April 4
Commemorating Hebrews' liberation from enslavement in Egypt. Holy Week
March 28-April 4
Marking the political persecution, crucifixion, and movement toward the resurrection of Jesus. Ramadan
April 12-May 11
Holy month of fasting, spiritual reflection and prayer for Muslims. Orthodox Easter
May 2 Resources Books Not a Crime to Be Poor: The Criminalization of Poverty in America (2017)
by Peter Edelman A Burst of Light and Other Essays (1988/2017) and Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches (1984/2007)
by Audre Lorde Sacred Instructions: Indigenous Wisdom for Living Spirit-Based Change (2018)
by Sherri Mitchell Medicine Stories: Essays for Radicals (1998/2019)
by Aurora Levins Morales Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice (2018)
by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha 
(Thank you to CJP alum, Joanne Lauterjung Kelly, for sharing Myanmar resources.) Virtual Services Campus Worship: Preparing for Easter
Wednesday, March 31
10:15-11:05am
 Somethin' to Talk About: Talk Back
Thursday, April 8
7:00-8:00pm

Exploring 8 Questions with Rabbi Goldstein
Wednesday, April 21
10:15-11:05am

Cords of Distinction Ceremony
Saturday, April 24
3:00-4:30pm 
Donning of the Kente Saturday, April 24
5:00-9:00pm
CODI Website