Conversations to Foster Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The events of 2020 have shown that it’s more important than ever to practice inclusion and encourage equity. To help create a culture of inclusion, the Office of Student Life is encouraging students to have open and honest discussions about diversity and the student experience. These critical initiatives are offered to students through two event series for fall 2020: The Open Dialogue series and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion series.

The Open Dialogue series provides student-driven conversations surrounding current issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and the student experience. Conversations allow a safe space for students to voice their thoughts. Topics may include identity, colorism and racism, cultural assimilation, and societal impacts, among others.

Created in collaboration with Career Services and assistance from Alumni Relations and the Office of International and Experiential Education, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion series provides engaging workshops and webinars on important matters impacting the student experience, including barriers faced by international students, encouraging community activism, and promoting self-advocacy in the workplace, among other topics. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion series is also featured in the New York Tech Votes initiative, which supports the institution's mission to build a civically engaged campus community.

Alumni are also contributing to the conversation. In the first event of the DEI series, held September 29, Chantel Diaz (B.F.A. ’13, M.A. ’15), Christopher Frumusa (B.S. ’14), and Michelle Shinder (B.S. ’19) joined students in the conversation, “Intersectionality: Embracing and Leading with Your Identity.” The discussion focused on how intersectionality provides a framework for diversifying knowledge across academic, personal, and professional spaces and for understanding overlapping identities to create more inclusive environments where people of marginalized identities can succeed at all levels.

Students are encouraged to tune in to future conversations:

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Series Fall 2020:
#InternationalStudentProblems – The Politics, Culture, and Struggles
October 22, 12:45 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Covering the unique challenges faced by international students, this discussion will focus on finding work, adapting to a new language and culture, barriers, time zones, and coping with issues in the classroom.

Speaking Up, Activism, and Organizing in Different Spaces
November 17, 12:45 p.m.
This webinar and workshop will cover different forms of activism, creating a campaign, and how to take direct action towards creating change in various organization settings from the local community to the workspace. Participants will leave with concrete steps to integrate these practices in their day to day lives and build for the longevity of a movement.

Pitching Your Story as a First-Generation Student
December 3, 12:45 p.m.
This workshop for first-generation students will focus on self-advocacy in the workplace, including the components of developing and delivering a career pitch. Students will also be given time to create and receive feedback on their career pitches.

Open Dialogue Series 2020:

• October 30, 3 p.m.
• December 4, 3 p.m.
• December 18, 3 p.m.

New York Tech’s diversity is represented by a mosaic of unique individuals from a variety of racial, ethnic, religious, gender, gender presentation, sexuality, geographic, cultural, age, abilities, and socioeconomic groups. Each individual brings unique intellectual, artistic, and creative gifts to create a rich, vibrant campus community. The university recognizes the strength that stems from a diversity of perspectives, values, ideas, backgrounds, styles, approaches, experiences, and beliefs. New York Tech aspires to continue to grow as a place that always welcomes and encourages individuals of all backgrounds to contribute to and be part of the university culture.

For more details about the Open Dialogues Series, contact Diandra Macias at dmacias@nyit.edu. For more details about the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Series, contact Kinsley McNulty at kmcnul02@nyit.edu.