Student Jobs

Student Employee Diversity Forum

Introducing the Student Employee Diversity Forum!

Whether you are a current UW-Madison Student Employee or not, we all play a part in creating an inclusive Badger community for all. Join your peers in this thought-provoking forum which will provide an opportunity to exchange ideas while engaging in a variety of topics on diversity, identity and inclusion. The forum consists of a keynote address and 2 workshop session on Friday November 15, 2024. Students can attend all or any portion provided as part of the Diversity Forum. All sessions will take place in person at the Gordon Dining and Event Center and will be an hour in length.

REGISTER HERE!

Goals

  • Communicate new perspectives and knowledge to participants, providing a foundation for mindful discussion.
  • Develop valuable skills that will foster and encourage an expanded awareness surrounding diversity, identity and inclusion.
  • Empower participants to express their identity and feel confident in their ability to create inclusive environments.

While each session has a student employee focus, all students are welcome to attend these free sessions! We encourage you to attend to assist you on your diversity, identity, and inclusion journey. Together, we can collectively contribute towards a more inclusive Badger community.

Sessions

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Check-In & Mindfulness

Time: 11am-11:30am

During this time students will check-in and have time to converse with the other attendees while enjoying the provided lunch.

*Please register above if attending lunch so we can include you in the food count.

The event will kick off at 11:20am with a mindfulness activity.

Welcome & Keynote Session

Time: 11:30am-12:30pm

The Diversity Forum chair will provide opening remarks followed by a keynote address from Kacie Lucchini Butcher, the Director of the Rebecca M. Blank Center for Campus History. 

Workshop #1

Time: 12:40pm-1:40pm

Choose one of two engaging sessions to attend:

  • Option A: Fueling your Success: Navigating FoodShare & Essential Food Security with Julia Weibe
  • Option B: How to talk about race, gender and sexuality in a politically charged climate with Anikita Bharadwaj

Workshop #2

Time: 1:50pm-2:50pm

Just us for a collaborative closing session.  More details to come soon.

Closing & Wrap-Up

Time: 2:50pm-3pm

Closing remarks will be shared along with an opportunity to reflect on the Forum.

Session Descriptions

Using History to Empower the Student Voice in the Workplace 

Keynote: Kacie Lucchini Butcher; Director of the Rebecca M. Blank Center for Campus History

Student voices in the workplace shape our offices, departments and the entire institution.   By reflecting on pivotal moments in history, we can unlock valuable lessons in leadership, advocacy, and resilience.  During the keynote address, Kacie will explore the intersections between our past and the present to offer insights on how students bring their influence, promote inclusivity and inspire equity.  Join us to continue to discover how student voices are heard, valued, and impacted.

Fueling your Success: Navigating FoodShare & Essential Food Security

Facilitator: Julia Weibe; FoodShare Outreach Specialist 

Are you looking for ways to support your basic needs and thrive in college?  Join us for a workshop on FoodShare and the surrounding food security resources.  We will cover everything you need to know about FoodShare, what it is, how to screen for eligibility, and the application process.  You will also learn about broader food security resources and support systems.  Whether you are facing food insecurity or what to help others, this session will empower you with tools and knowledge to navigate essential resources.

How to talk about race, gender and sexuality in a politically charged climate

Facilitator: Anikita Bharadwaj; BIPOC Employee Retention Specialist

This talk will discuss how to talk to colleagues, clients and other folks in our lives about difficult identity related topics in a way that lands and caters to a peaceful exchange of knowledge. In a world where such topics are synonymous to potentially aggravated conversations, this talk can come in handy to find ways to express opinions without the fear of a fallout with those you care about. 

MORE TO COME…

Diversity Forum Partners

Thank you to the following UW-Madison partners who contributed to the 2024 Student Employee Diversity Forum:

  • Recreation & Wellbeing
  • Office of Inclusion Education

Resources

The following resources will help expand knowledge on unconscious bias and provide suggested strategies for reducing bias.

Pronoun Usage: 

“You can’t know what pronouns someone uses just by looking at them… Using someone’s pronouns correctly is important because it shows that you respect them. -UW-Madison Gender and Sexuality Campus Center Pronoun Guide

Inclusive Language Information

Social Justice aims to open the doors of access to everyone. The following resources include events and readings/documentaries to help build an understanding on the topic of Social Justice. The following have been graciously compiled by the Wisconsin Union’s Social Justice Hub:

“The Gender and Sexuality Campus Center (GSCC) is a unit on campus that is aimed to actively address oppression in all forms and affirms, includes and celebrates people across the spectrum of gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, including their intersectional experiences and perspectives.”

The GSCC provides a multitude of trainings, resources and guides for supporting the LGBTQ+ community:

For additional information or support, contact the GSCC at: lgbt@studentlife.wisc.edu