CCEE

Announcement: Black Excellence Gala & Lavender and Women and Gender Studies Graduation

On April 28, 2022, the Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment (CCEE) will be hosting the Black Excellence Gala and the LGBTQ+ Resources Center, along with the Women and Gender Studies Center, will be hosting the Lavender & Women and Gender Studies Graduation. Both events will be a time to celebrate and honor the accomplishments and hard work of our student communities who have been historically marginalized. We recognize and uplift that many of our students sit at the intersections of various identities such as Black and LGBTQ+ to name a few.

Recognizing that there is a time conflict between the two events, we want to acknowledge students at the intersections of these identities. CCEE, WGST, and the LGBTQ+ Resources Center honor and support our Queer and Trans Students of Color. Thus, we have prepared a few pathways for students to engage in either or both events on that day.

If you would like to attend both events please reach out to either:

  • Dr. Tamara Washington from CCEE
    • twashi3@gmu.edu
  • Josh Kinchen from the LGBTQ+ Resources Center
    • jkinchen@gmu.edu
  • Dr. David Powers Corwin from WGST
    • dcorwin@gmu.edu

Now Hiring Students

**DEADLINE EXTENDED TO APRIL 21

The Team

The Student Access and Equity team supports campus and student engagement for students who are historically underrepresented in higher education and their allies. This team specifically centers college students who are first-generation, have low socioeconomic statuses, and students who are undocumented, including students protected by Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), or who are seeking or have pending asylum status. Working together as full-time staff, graduate assistants, and undergraduate staff, we work to enhance the student experience through services, programs, policy awareness, and educating the campus community.

UndocuAlly Trainer (4 positions available)

Position Overview
The UndocuAlly Training team (as a part of the Student Access and Equity area within CCEE) includes the ongoing development of an established training curriculum to advance awareness across and beyond campus about undocumented communities (experiences, policy, language, support). Each trainer brings their own skills and experiences, but the training team works together to deliver educational content and facilitate engaging activities for faculty, staff, students, and off-campus partners to advance support for the undocumented student community.

This team works directly with the Student Support Coordinator for Student Access and Equity that works primarily with undocumented student support. All trainers are accountable to and report to the Associate Director for Student Access and Equity.

Click HERE to apply.

Student Support Coordinator, Student Access and Equity (1 position available)

Position Overview
The Student Support Coordinator (SSC) for Student Access and Equity (working with undocumented students) position includes completion of administrative tasks, trainings, direct student support and referrals, and ongoing enhancement of student-centered programs and initiatives towards the development, affirmation, and support of students who are undocumented, DACAmented, and Temporary Protected Status. This position reports to the Associate Director.

Click HERE to apply.

Application Process

Applications for both positions are due by Monday, April 19, 12:00 p.m. (Noon) on Handshake. Applicants that need additional assistance of who have questions, should email the hiring manager Dr. Amber Holton-Thomas (ahampto@gmu.edu). Note: Students interested in both the Student Support Coordinator, SAE (undocumented student position) and UndocuAlly Trainer position are encouraged to apply to both positions and will be considered for both. Please also be sure to update your cover letter to align with each position separately.

To apply, submit your application online through Handshake. Your application will include:
1. Cover Letter
2. Resume
3. Reference List

Selection
– April 20 – Students selected for an interview will be emailed to confirm an interview time. References will be checked at the time of interview invitation.
– April 21-23 – Interviews with candidates. Interviews will last between 30-45 minutes (via phone or Zoom)
– Monday, April 26 – Offer will be made to selected students. Once accepted, all other students will be notified via email or phone.

Questions?

Email the hiring manager Dr. Amber Holton-Thomas (ahampto@gmu.edu)

Now Hiring: Student Peer Mentors!

The Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment is looking for enthusiastic students to become student peer mentors. These positions will begin during the Spring 2021 semester and will continue through the 2021-2022 Academic Year. Students selected will be REQUIRED to enroll in a one hour UNIV 300-level course during the Spring 2021 semester.

Application Opens: January 8th, 2021 | Application Closes: January 15th, 2021 | Decision Finalized: January 23rd, 2021

First Generation Student Student Peer Mentors

The First Generation (“First Gen”) Peer Mentoring program is a program to support first gen student success at George Mason University. First Gen Peer Mentors will provide support while serving as a positive role model for these students.

Click HERE to apply.

STEP Peer Mentors

The Student Transition Empowerment Program (STEP) is an initiative in the Center for Culture, Equity and Empowerment created to enhance the recruitment, engagement and retention of first-generation college students accepted to George Mason University. STEP mentors play an integral role in helping incoming STEP students transition and build community at Mason.

Click HERE to apply.

Undocumented Student Peer Mentors

The Undocumented Student Peer Mentoring program is a pilot program to support undocumented student success at George Mason University. Undocumented students are a diverse student population including students who may be DACAmented or currently hold TPS. Undocumented Student Peer Mentors will provide support while serving as a positive role model for these students.

Click HERE to apply.

Questions?

Email our Assistant Director, Lex Lewis-Semien, at alewisse@gmu.edu.

JUSTICE FOR BREONNA TAYLOR

Justice for Breonna Taylor

[Statement Made: Sept 25, 2020]

Greetings Patriot Family,

196 days ago, on March 13, 2020, our national and global community, learned of the murder of Breonna Taylor, a Louisville, Kentucky native serving the community as a first responder; her life was snatched away in a “botched police raid”.  Months passed before any internal investigation of wrongdoing by the officers involved was completed, or job sanctions enacted. Continual injustice unfolded upon our nation as we heard on September 23, that only one of the three police officers involved in her murder was indicted on a lesser charge of putting other surrounding lives in danger and not for the life that they extinguished without cause.

This week, the system chose to look the other way. But we will not!

University Life’s Office for Coalition Building and Diversity Education (CBDE) and Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment (CCEE) at George Mason University, contends acts of social injustices through police involved violence must be called out as destructive, and bear the consequences of that destruction in our courts of law. We acknowledge these acts of injustice are emblematic of systemic racism that has existed for generations. These are deep-rooted national issues; We know that these realities affect our campus community, as well.

We recognized that the outcome of the indictment in Breonna Taylor’s murder is disappointing and some you may be experiencing a range of emotions. We encourage you to center your mental and spiritual well-being in this moment and seek assistance, if needed. Students we encourage you to connect with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) if you need someone to speak and process your thoughts.

Together, we will #SayHerName and acknowledge that Breonna Taylor’s life matters and the other lives of those who identify as Black and have been unjustly taken matter. We are also committed to you, your well-being, and the mission to actively address racism and anti-blackness through collaborative efforts and activism. In the coming days, our units will work with others to address the well-being of our students and campus community as we work through the range of emotions that we may be experiencing during this time.

This moment – and others — will continue to impact us months from now, and we challenge our campus community to confront bias, prejudice, discrimination, racism and other forms of systematic injustices in your world and area of influence, e.g., Facebook, chatrooms, Instagram, classrooms, departments, and in your local community. It is important above all things to acknowledge one another and take action when needed; there is no liberation without accountability! There is no liberation without collective community care.

If we all dedicate ourselves to the principles of truth, racial healing and transformation, we can collectively bring about the necessary changes in thinking and behavior that will propel our country forward as a unified force where racial biases and violent police interaction will become a distant voice in the past.

Please know the staff in CBDE and CCEE are here for you and if you need to talk to us, or share ideas, don’t hesitate to email us at cbde@gmu.edu and ccee@gmu.edu.

 

In Solidary,

Van Bailey, EdD (he/they).,
Assistant Dean/Director| Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment

Hamal D. Strayhorn, M.Div (he/him/his).,
Director | Coalition Building and Diversity Education

Black African Heritage Month 2020

Black/African Heritage Month

George Mason University is celebrating Black/African Heritage month with a host of events all throughout the month of February.

This month’s theme is “Lucid Dreams of Our Ancestors.”  In recent years, the quote “We are our Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams” became very popular and was seen and adopted by peoples of many cultures and backgrounds.This year, our students honor the rich, regal, wonderfully powerful, and deeply moving LUCID DREAMS OF OUR ANCESTORS; by being visible, taking up space, producing programs, exercising artistic self-expression, all while collectively working towards excellence and oneness.

The History of Black History Month
Founded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the United States began its recognition of black history in 1926 with the celebration of “Negro History Week” The week was initially created to recognize the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, both of which are in February.  In 1976, the celebration was expanded to be inclusive of the entire month of February. George Mason University proudly upholds the celebration of what we call Black/African Heritage Month by hosting annual events that are educational, inspirational, and inclusive of the diversity of the George Mason University Community.
There are several events that are happening during the month of February, not just those listed on our calendar. If you would like our office to share or promote any of your already planned programs during Black/African Heritage Month, please email odime@gmu.edu with a graphic and a brief event description. We will be happy to share on our social media outlets. Please come out to support our students!

Black/African Heritage Month Calendar

Ivan Gonzales

Ivan Gonzales-Maguiña was born in Alexandria, Virginia. He is from Peruvian descent. Specifically of Amerindian, Afro-Peruvian, and European descent. He was a Student Transition Empowerment Program (STEP), 2017 Scholar.

Ivan is a freshman, currently undeclared, but pursuing a major in Civil and Infrastructure Engineering with a minor in Entrepreneurship and possibly System Engineering. He has interests in robotics, music, and swimming. He is involved on campus as an Intern for F1RST Gen Mason and a member of the Aguilas Mentoring Program, as well as other volunteering opportunities that come up on and off campus.

Ivan has a passion for building and improving, his aspiration is to start up his own international infrastructure consultancy & implementation corporation. His motivation is to bring up the infrastructure of developing countries so that they can better thrive and provide equal opportunities to as many citizens as possible.

Contact Ivan at 571-707-9631 or e-mail: odime@gmu.edu with the text “Attn: Ivan” in the subject line

Michelle Allen

Michelle Allen is an academic, educator, and higher education practitioner. Michelle joins the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Multicultural Education (ODIME) as an Assistant Director of Programming. Her primary responsibilities include planning large scale diversity events, fostering opportunities for collaborative programming and research across functional areas, and supporting relevant student organizations in support of campus wide multicultural programming ventures.

Michelle earned her Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Savannah State University and Masters of Education in Higher Education Administration from Georgia Southern University. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Georgia Southern University’s Curriculum Studies Ed.D program; her cognate is Critical Race Feminism, Intersectionality, Cultural Studies, and Black Queer Studies.

She is a native of Atlanta, GA with a passion for education and diversity. Her work experiences range from companies like Nike and ExxonMobil to working in Student Affairs in Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment and Multicultural Education. Outside of work, she expresses her love of music as a DJ; her favorite genres of music are Hip-Hop, Indie Soul, Country, Afro Beats, and Power ballads. She also loves cooking and binge watching HGTV.

MBTI: ENFJ

Gallup StrengthsQuest: Strategic, Individualization, Achiever, Input, Competition

Contact Michelle at 703.993.2700 or MAllen26@gmu.edu