From the Desk of Diversity
Northwestern's Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter
Fall 2016 Edition - The Trimester In Review
A Poem of Hope by Emily Dickinson
- Words to Live By
- Did You Know?
- Nominate a Dignity & Respect Champion
- Random Acts of Kindness (RAK)
- Links to Explore
- Days to Remember
- Topics in Diversity: Graduate Spotlight
- Thank You for Transforming our World!
- Community Engagement
- Past Events
- Get Involved
- Learning & Training Opportunities
- Apply for a Scholarship
"Hope is the Thing with Feathers
“Hope” is the thing with feathers
By: Emily Dickinson
“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -
And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -
I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.
Words to Live By
Maya Angelou
Did You Know?
Did you know that our very own, Dr. Tim Stark, was part of the health care teams at the Olympics? Not only did Northwestern represent, Team USA brought 558 athletes to the 2016 Olympic Games! Of the 558, 294 were female and 264 were male. Way to go USA for representing strong female competitors! You can find more information on the demographics here.
Nominate a Dignity & Respect Champion
The Dignity & Respect Champions program recognizes those students, faculty, staff and administrators who embody the mission and vision of diversity at Northwestern. Our champions are fully committed to diversity, inclusion, equity and justice throughout our University and the healthcare community. Champions promote a safe, inclusive and supportive environment of diversity at Northwestern, act as active community members in promoting social justice, and take a strong interest in making health care accessible for everyone.
The 2017 Dignity & Respect Champion is Jasmine Stark. Jasmine recently graduated with her massage therapy degree and was also a Diversity Scholar. She is now a practicing massage therapist in Tampa, Florida.
Here is what was said about Jasmine in her nomination:
Jasmine's youthful energy is matched well with her work on our campus to make the word healthier and more sustainable. She has used her voice well in her role in the student government to advocate for her peers, and she has treated the short duration of her program like a long term investment in the university and in our community.
Jasmine has consistently shown through her powerful but gentle presence the level of dignity she expects for humanity. She unequivocally makes herself available for service to underrepresented groups, and her kindness is unwavering. She embodies both dignity and respect as authentic core values in her life. I have been privileged to work with her over the past year and cannot wait to see what is next for her in the world.
Thank you Jasmine for your dedication to our community and we wish you luck in your endeavors!
Do you know someone like Jasmine? You can nominate your Champion at any time. Thank you.
Submitted by Alejandra Dashe, adashe@nwhealth.edu
Random Acts of Kindness (RAK)
If you see something, say something.
Please email Megan Spees (mspees@nwhealth.edu) to nominate someone and make their day.
Links to Explore
As you are probably aware, Donald J. Trump won the election for the 45th President of the United States. Although there are movements to question the election results, the Obama administration supports the outcome. This was a hard presidential election year and many are glad it is over. The inauguration is on January 20, 2017 and you can find out about how to participate here.
On the local end, the kids in Minneapolis voted for Hillary Clinton. And it might be cool to check out the Star Tribune - they put together an interactive map of how voters turned out in each county. Your participation matters in the elections and they happen every year. Register to vote!
Standing Rock.
Standing Rock is located here. People gathered with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe at Standing Rock in peaceful occupation to stop building the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL: note bolding to show where the hashtag #noDAPL comes from).
DAPL has the potential to harvest a lot of oil and create jobs in areas where jobs are needed. Building economy and harvesting resources for our survival is important to consider. However, some do not agree with building DAPL because building the pipeline would damage the water and culturally significant historical sites as cited by the 1851 Treaty of Ft. Laramie.
Some call what is happening at Standing Rock a protest. Some would state that the action, however, is not protesting. The action is water protection because the viability of the water is being threatened by the pipeline. Therefore, the "protesters" are known as water protectors. You can read more about what is at stake here.
Water protectors endured stand-offs from police and the problems of cold weather, including health problems. Acupuncturists Without Borders were at Standing Rock providing acute trauma support. You can appreciate some of their work detailed in Facebook posts from November 30, December 6, and December 8.
Ultimately, the water protectors were successful in their endeavors to ask the Army Corps of Engineers to stop the building. Although the building is suspended, the water protectors are working to make sure it is stopped entirely. If you are interested in following what they are doing, there are many organizations that are supporting the work and here are two: Standing With Standing Rock and Sacred Stone Camp.
Aleppo, Syria.
(There may be pictures of war and and there is discussion of genocide, including children in the links in the text below.)
Aleppo, Syria is located here. There is a civil war going on in Aleppo over who will control the city and access to economic resources: the government or rebels. The fight involves Syria, Russia, Iran, Turkey, United States, and several different militias from bordering nations. About 300,000 of civilians have died in this conflict. There is more to this conflict than meets the eye - you can read more here about the details of the battle and why it is important.
The battle over Aleppo has created a humanitarian crisis. The International Rescue Committee is one organization helping resettle Syrian refugees. There are also various articles titled "5 ways you can support the victims of Aleppo" that have some suggestions on what you can do locally to help.
Days to Remember
Here are the cultural holidays that some of our faculty, staff, and students observe.
September
- National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)
- September 5 - Labor Day
- September 8 - International Literacy Day
- September 17 - Constitution Day
- September 18 - International Day of Peace
October
- National Disability Employment Awareness Month
- LGBT History Month
- October 2-4 - Rosh Hashanah
- October 2 - International Day of Non-violence
- October 10 - Indigenous People's Day
- October 12 - Yom Kippur
- October 12 - World Arthritis Day
- October 17 - International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
- October 30-November 3rd - Diwali
- October 31 - Halloween
November
- National American Indian Hertiage Month
- November 1 - All Saint's Day
- November 8 - Election Day
- November 11 - Veteran's Day
- November 20 - Transgender Day of Remembrance
- November 24 - Thanksgiving Day
December
- December 1 - World AIDS Day
- December 3 - International Day of Disabled Persons
- December 15 - Bill of Rights Day
- December 25 - Christmas Day
- December 25-January 1 - Chanukkah
- December 26-January 1 - Kwanzaa
- December 29 - Wounded Knee Day
All dates were gathered from the 2016 Anti-Defamation League's Calendar. You can also find updated dates for 2017 here.
Check out the Office of Diversity & Inclusion's Cultural Calendar for more information on upcoming holidays or holidays not published here.
Submitted by Alejandra Dashe, adashe@nwhealth.edu
Topics in Diversity: Graduate Spotlight
Carolyn Filla, Chiropractic:
As my time at Northwestern comes to an end, I wanted to first send a HUGE thank you to the University for their generosity! I was a recipient of the diversity scholarship for half of my time there. I was blessed with the opportunity to serve as President of Club Mariposa and the League of Chiropractic Women, sit as a representative of Student Senate, and be a member of many groups on campus. Without the continued support from the university, I would not have been able to stay as involved on campus nor had the opportunity to attend seminars on the weekends. The students at Northwestern are so lucky to have had the opportunity to embrace their individuality and have a place to feel safe, especially in a world that wants everyone to be the same! A special thank you to Dr. Alejandra Dashe for being such a strong advocate for diversity and supporting the students in whatever way she possibly can!!
Thank you,
Carolyn Filla
Nathan Servey, Chiropractic:
When I initially decided to pursue chiropractic, and attend a chiropractic school, I began looking at my options. I considered many factors such as location, the surrounding city, ratings and reviews online and in-person, and general vibe (aka: campus climate). This search started with the combing of various schools’ websites; that's when I found the diversity scholarships at Northwestern Health Sciences University. I quickly read through the information about the scholarships as well as the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and was impressed by the apparent dedication of the university to promoting diversity and inclusion as campus values. I quickly searched for other diversity scholarships offered by other universities and found none. Sure, other schools had a page talking about how cool diversity is, but no other school seemed as committed as Northwestern. That's when I knew NWHSU was for me.
I am extremely honored and thankful to have been a part of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Northwestern during my time as a student and to receive such a generous and life-changing scholarship. I've done many things over the past three years such as organized a book club that read and discussed relevant books, helped organize and carry-out events including Chinese New Year and Canada Day, met with school leaders to discuss ideas for new clubs and diversity displays, and helped start and run a Student Mentorship Program. It is my hope that the Office of Diversity and Inclusion continues to grow and becomes more active and influential in the classroom to better prepare our future healthcare providers. I would also like to say a special "thank you" to all the hard work and dedication that Dr. Alejandra Dashe injects into the department and campus. As I graduate and build the practice of my dreams, it is my desire to one-day give-back to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion so that future diversity scholars can pursue their dreams as well.
In humble gratitude,
Nathan Servey D.C.
Michelle Speranza, Chiropractic:
I would like express my sincere gratitude to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion for being awarded a Diversity Scholarship. Due to the current economic downturn and large exchange rate between the Canadian and United States dollar, this scholarship facilitated my ability to be able to study here at Northwestern and live in the United States. While at Northwestern I was actively involved in both student and community organizations. During my time at Northwestern, I was a member and/or a leader in the following student groups: Student Senate Class Representative, Student Senate Volunteer and Club Committee Chair, the Canadian Club, Club Mariposa, SACA, Student Ambassadors, the NUCCA Club, and the Mentoring Program. I also had the opportunity as a student intern to make a positive impact in underserved communities through our school's community outreach clinical programs at the Pillsbury House, the Salvation Army, and La Clinica. These were just a few of my most memorable and cherished experiences and I look forward to applying them in my own clinical practice. I would like to thank everyone, including my teachers, peers, and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, who helped guide me through my education and made this experience possible!
Take care,
Michelle Speranza
Lanna Schwab, Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine:
Upon the past three years that I have been at NWHSU, I have seen the environment change dramatically, for the better. I would like to thank the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI), and Alejandra Dashe for all the work they have done to assist in that change. I am honored to have served on that team in my time here. Because of the ODI's commitment to creating a diverse learning environment; they have provided a opportunity for myself, and several other students to commit to making that change happen on the ground (student) level. I was given the opportunity to engage more with the campus community as well as the Twin Cities community than I would have otherwise. I went to events like Science Fusion, Fit Fest, Pride, Chinese New Year, and got to talk about what I love- Acupuncture! I am grateful for these opportunities to engage with the public and learn how to speak about my chosen profession in an educational and informational way. Through my work with the ODI, I have not only engaged community members about our school but also just practiced my "elevator speech" for Acupuncture 30 times in one afternoon. :)
I was also pushed outside of my comfort zone in which to lead/co-lead a student club on campus (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) for a while. I learned a lot about community engagement and event planning alongside leadership skills. Working and engaging in Student life at NWHSU has shown me a different side of the school. The student life, while exhausting, it was rewarding to get to know others on campus who you know share an interest in. It has also been an awesome way to get to know the new students that come in each year. If not for club events, I would not have known who the new students in each class were, or engage with the other programs for that matter! I also made great friends as a new student here through ODI, and I like to think I have maintained the same sort of "mentorship" with newer tri students I meet. It was valuable for me to have that resource, I thank ODI for providing this opportunity to me.
I also gained a great deal of respect for all the work Alejandra Dashe does on campus. She is full of passion and fire to get things done, no matter how difficult. She is an inspiration with her determination and drive. She definitely puts in a massive amount of work that goes without thanks. So, thank you, Dr. Dashe, for all that you do and have done for myself, your students, and this campus community. She has offered unwavering support and encouragement through all difficult times and taught me how be persistent and not back down.
Thank you once again to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion for providing so many students with the scholarships. It gave us with an opportunity to be active players in shaping the way of Northwestern Health Science University community.
In service,
Lanna Schwab
Thank You for Transforming our World!
This year was like no other. We held several culturally important and transformative events: a Lunar New Year celebration, discussions on health care communication, a food justice fund raiser, pulled together a collective artistic statement about homophobia, held booths at Twin Cities Pride and the Science Museum of Minnesota, conducted one on one conversations about racism and attended a city-wide event on racism, celebrated cultural events, volunteered in the community, gave out scholarships to promote access to education, helped patients feel better, gave students that aha! moment, raised and donated funds and supplies, walked for suicide, cleaned, raked, weeded, and organized, honored veterans, mentored and tutored kids, and listened to our fellow students and employees.
I'm sure there's more that I missed. But look at that list. Good work, Northwestern! All of our actions work on transforming our university culture into one for the 21st century and this transformation ripples out into our community as important energy. We are making our world a better place by serving healthy and it starts with living and learning healthy, as our motto goes. I want to thank you for engaging in our community and I especially thank the Diversity Scholars and ODI volunteers for the hard work they do to make our culture as great as it is.
Have an excellent winter break!
Submitted by Alejandra Dashe, adashe@nwhealth.edu
Community Engagement
Things to do:
- Things to do in Bloomington, MN
- Things to do in Richfield, MN
- Things to do in Minneapolis, MN
- Things to do in St. Paul, MN
More things to do:
LOVE YOUR MELON
Love Your Melon has been visiting two children battling cancer this trimester to provide them with support and encouragement through this journey. The LYM team is happy to report that one of those children is now cancer free! Continued support of this club and organization is appreciated as they continue to send cards and to these two children.
Want to get involved? Contact Jessica Keesling at jkeesling@nwhealth.edu for more information.
VOLUNTEER CONNECTION
Volunteer Connection is a program here in Bloomington that allows students to get involved with their surrounding community through volunteering as a tutor! This specific program for tutors is called homework connection. There are many different times and places that volunteering can be done and it is widely available to anyone to tutor any subject from K-12.
The girls group Courtney Bernard put together is at Washburn Elementary School where she works with 3rd grade girls and their teacher, Serena Christensen. She goes there to volunteer with them every other Thursday for an hour to talk about women's issues and how to deal with them and make it easier to talk about. She recently started an anti-bullying campaign, where they are going to be making posters and t-shirts to raise awareness about the issue of bullying.
Contact Courtney Bernard at cbernard@nwhealth.edu for more information about volunteering at Washburn Elementary School.
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE
The Neighborhood House is a community center on the West Side of St. Paul, located in the Wellstone Center. NH offers tutoring and mentoring for youth, adult programming, family and early childhood education, food support services, health education, and more. The Office of Diversity & Inclusion and Student Affairs have partnered to offer workstudy and volunteer positions at NH. Please apply here or speak with Dr. Dashe at adashe@nwhealth.edu or Lori Hannegraaf at lhannegraaf@nwhealth.edu for more details.
Past Events
Healthcare Communication: Bridging the Gap was an event on September 24, 2016. Moderated by Dr. Tolu Oyelowo, panelists spoke about their experience with interpreters and the cultural connections that are important to make with health care providers so that healing can begin. This event impacted our professors and administrators such that conversations on cultural competency and how to more obviously integrate cultural competency into our curriculum have spun off from this event. The event was sponsored by Hmong Language Club, Mandarin Language Club, S-AOMAM, Student Senate, SABCA, Asian Culture Club, and Office of Diversity & Inclusion.
Hispanic Heritage Month was a month long event from September 15-October 15, 2016. This year we celebrated with flags. The Spanish Language Club purchased flags from all of the Spanish-speaking nations and hung them in the foyer. A poster was displayed explaining some of the information about the flags.
Empty Bowls was an event on October 16, 2016 in honor of World Food Day. We raised $1,805.00 for Feed My Starving Children ($1,800 is one food pallet), which was sent to those impacted by Hurricane Matthew. We also raised $1,305 for Second Harvest Heartland. You can learn more here at this KARE11 spot. Sponsors include Student Senate, Office of Diversity & Inclusion, and several off campus partners like Whole Foods.
YWCA It's Time to Talk: Forums on Race was an event held on October 18, 2016 by the YWCA of Minneapolis. Nine people from Northwestern were invited to attend this metro-wide discussion on race. Since this discussion, the Student Senate president has committed to continuing discussions and volunteering to create programming to integrate the discussion on race into the university student culture. Sponsored by the Office of Diversity & Inclusion.
Orange Your World was an event held on November 29, 2016 to bring awareness to violence against women and girls. A moment of silence was held for us to remember and work on prevention. Sponsored by the Gender & Sexuality Alliance.
Get Involved with Diversity & Inclusion
- Take training! See "Learning and Training Opportunities" below. Most trainings are free or low cost and can get you CEUs.
- Take the Dignity & Respect pledge.
- Join one of our cultural clubs.
- Want to write for From the Desk of Diversity? Book Club book suggestion? Engaging diversity activity idea? Contact Dr. Dashe, Kirsten Kruse, or Celia Peters.
Learning & Training Opportunities
Local
- Immigrant and Refugee Health Online Course by the U of M Medical School Department of Global Health (and other opportunities)
- YWCA of Minneapolis Racial Justice Workshops & Events
- Rainbow Health Initiative Trainings & Presentations
- Minnesota AIDS Project
National
200+ Super Free Online Public Health Courses & Training + Certificates MPH Programs List
- Think Cultural Health: Promotores de Salud; Office of Minority Health, Department of Health & Human Services
- A Physician's Practical Guide to Culturally Competent Care
- Health Resources and Services Administration: Effective Communication Tools for Healthcare Professionals 100
Office of Diversity & Inclusion
Email: diversity@nwhealth.edu
Website: http://nwhealth.edu/diversity/
Location: Northwestern Health Sciences, West 84th Street, Bloomington, MN, United States
Phone: 952-888-4777 235
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Northwestern-Diversity-Inclusion/678001138890536
Twitter: @NWHSU_Diversity
Alejandra Estrin Dashe, PhD
Director, Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Associate Professor & Chair, Social Science & Humanities, College of Health & Wellness
Email: adashe@nwhealth.edu
Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alejandradashe
Celia McDougle
Student, College of Chiropractic
Diversity Scholar
Email: cpeters@nwhealth.edu
Website: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/celia-peters/9b/b28/b74
Kirsten Kruse
Assistant Editor, From the Desk of Diversity
Diversity Scholar
Email: kkruse@nwhealth.edu