Resources
June Affinity Month
June is a month of celebration and recognition for the many identities and experiences that enrich our university community. This month, we honor and appreciate the contributions of our Caribbean American and LGBTQIA+ communities, while honoring the rich history of Black music. We also commemorate significant moments in the ongoing endeavor for equity and social justice.
Some special dates include:
- On June 12, we observe Loving Day, which commemorates the landmark 1967 Supreme Court decision in Loving v. Virginia, striking down laws banning interracial marriage and affirming the fundamental right to love.
- June 14 marks Race Unity Day, a time to reflect on the importance of understanding, respect, and cooperation among all races and ethnicities.
- On June 19, we honor Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, which marks the anniversary of the day in 1865 when the last remaining enslaved African Americans in Texas were finally informed of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This day serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial equality and justice.
- June’s important occasions give us an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to fostering a community where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We invite all members of our university community to engage in the events, discussions, and resources available this month as we celebrate our differences and unite in our shared pursuit of knowledge, growth, and understanding.
National Caribbean American Heritage Month
Music
Tidal Caribbean American Heritage Month Music Playlist
Vevo Celebrates Caribbean American Heritage Month
Spotify: Carnival Soca Mix
Podcasts
Carry On Friends: Caribbean American Podcast
New Books in Caribbean Studies
Strictly Facts: A Guide on Caribbean History and Culture
Oral Histories
Caribbean Oral Histories on the Climate
UMiami Libraries Digital Collections Caribbean Diaspora Oral Histories
Caribbean American History and Culture
Top 10 Caribbean American Heritage Month Activities
19 Books to Celebrate Caribbean American Heritage
Caribbean-American Heritage Month - Guides at Orange County Library System
Anti-Racism Tools
Inclusive Language Guidelines
Books
- Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson- Two estranged siblings try to reclaim the closeness they once shared while trying to piece together their late mother’s life story and fulfill her last request of sharing a traditional Caribbean black cake “when the time is right.”
- Pleasantview by Celeste Mohammed- Written in a combination of English and Trinidad Creole, Pleasantview reveals the dark side of the Caribbean dream. Winner of the 2022 OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature.
- Island Futures: Caribbean Survival in the Anthropocene by Mimi Sheller- Mimi Sheller delves into the ecological crises and reconstruction challenges affecting the entire Caribbean region during a time of climate catastrophe.
- Dougla in the Twenty-First Century: Adding to the Mix by Sue Ann Barratt and Aleah N. Ranjitsingh- Identity is often fraught for multiracial Douglas, people of both South Asian and African descent in the Caribbean. In this groundbreaking volume, Sue Ann Barratt and Aleah N. Ranjitsingh explore the particular meanings of a Dougla identity and examine Dougla maneuverability both at home and in the diaspora.
- Monster in the Middle by Tiphanie Yanique- Vibrant and emotionally riveting, Monster in the Middle moves across decades, from the U.S. to the Virgin Islands to Ghana and back again, to show how one couple's romance is intrinsically influenced by the family lore and love stories that preceded their own pairing.
- Daylight Come by Diana McCaulay- In a future where global warming has forever altered the world's way of life, Sorrel, who lives on the totalitarian island of Bajacu, makes a harrowing journey for higher ground, facing the blistering sun and packs of feral animals with a taste for human flesh.
- What Noise Against the Cane by Desiree C. Bailey- What Noise Against the Cane is a lyric quest for belonging and freedom, weaving political resistance, Caribbean folklore, immigration, and the realities of Black life in America.
- Before Night Falls: A Memoir by Reinaldo Arenas- A memoir about being free—sexually, politically and artistically—chronicles the tumultuous yet luminary life of the author, from his poverty-stricken childhood in rural Cuba to his imprisonment as a homosexual to the events leading to his death in New York.
- These Ghosts are Family by Maisy Card- A man on his deathbed reveals that he stole another man’s identity decades earlier, traces the family’s history from colonial Jamaica to present-day Harlem and reconnects with the firstborn daughter he never knew.
- Augustown by Kei Miller- Set in the backlands of Jamaica, Augustown is a magical and haunting novel of one woman's struggle to rise above the brutal vicissitudes of history, race, class, collective memory, violence, and myth.
LGBTQ Pride Month
Library of Congress: Storytelling Panel - Millennium Stage (February 3, 2020) External
Watch Live: Cast of "Queer Eye" at the Library
Audre Lorde reading her poems with comment in the Recording Laboratory, Feb. 23, 1977
A poetry reading by Richard Blanco
Conversation with Author André Aciman
Love, Becky: One-on-One with Author Becky Albertalli
Mike Curato: National Book Festival 2020
Stonewall Uprising Interviews External
The Homosexual in Our Society: Part 1
The Homosexual in Our Society: Part 2
SUNY Empire LibGuide: Pride Month
University of Nebraska – Lincoln LibGuide: LBGTQIA Month
University of Chicago – LGBTQIA Studies
Library Of Congress Resource Page
6 Things LGBTQ Youth Want Allies to Do This Pride (GLESEN)
LGBTQ Activism and Contributions
Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series: Gender, Gender Identity, and LGBTQ+
Inclusion
LGBTQ Resources
LGBTQ Resource List
Being an LGBTQ+ Ally
Pronoun Guide(GLESEN)
LGBTQ Glossary
Pride Center of the Capital Region- Albany, NY
SAGE Upstate- Utica and Syracuse, NY
SAGE Service and Centers- New York, NY
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center- New York, NY
Human Rights Campaign- National Resource
The Trevor Project – National Resource
LGBT Network- Long Island and New York, NY
Translatinx Network- New York, NY
The Loft Community Center- White Plains, NY
Cortland LGBTQ Center- Cortland, NY
Dutchess County Pride Center- Poughkeepsie, NY
Hudson Valley LGBTQ Center- Kingston, NY
Black/African American Music Month
Register to Vote
Fall Speaker
Webinar featuring Avriel Epps on "Technology as a Tool for Connection vs. Disconnection and Isolation."
Epps, a Ph.D. candidate at Harvard's Graduate School of Education, is at the forefront of research on how online, machine-learning-driven environments impact youth of color as they develop their racial and gender identities. In this webinar, she will explore:
- How technology serves as a connector and an isolator in our lives
- The challenges and opportunities technology presents for youth development
- Strategies for harnessing technology's connective power while mitigating its isolating effects
- The implications of these findings for educators, parents, and technology professionals
This webinar is essential for:
- Educators seeking to understand how technology impacts students
- Parents navigating the digital landscape with their children
- Technology professionals interested in the social impact of their work
- Researchers in youth development, technology, or social connection
- Anyone concerned about the role of technology in our lives and communities
Employee Affinity Groups
ODEI Knowledge Base
A Guide to Disability Rights Laws - This guide, a publication of the U.S. Department of Justice, provides an overview of Federal civil rights laws that ensure equal opportunity for people with disabilities.
The Pros and Cons of Person-First and Identity-First Language
Bias-Free Language (APA Guide Style) – The American Psychological Association (APA) emphasizes the need to talk about all people with inclusivity and respect. The guidelines and recommendations presented in this site were crafted by panels of experts on APA’s bias-free language committees and should be used in conjunction with APA’s inclusive language guidelines.
Hispanic Enrollment Reaches New High at Four-year Colleges in the U.S., but Affordability Remains an Obstacle – Pew Research article (Oc. 7, 2022).
Inclusive Language Guide (2023) – A guide by Oxfam, a nonprofit global organization dedicated to end poverty and injustice, focused on how written work can subvert or inadvertently reinforce intersecting forms of inequality.
Inclusive language guidelines – American Psychological Association (2021).
The Duality of Labels – and How to Use Them for Good (video) – Queer Activist and US Air Force Sergeant Alexandria Holder delves into how labels, from racial identity to political affiliation, shape our lived experiences.
What’s behind the growing gap between men and women in college completion? – Pew Research article (Nov. 8, 2021).
Diversity Statements on a Syllabus – Resource page by the Eberly Center at Carnegie Mellon University.
EDUCAUSE’s Guide to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – The online guide includes resources and action steps to put the principles of DEI into practice, as well as learning and engagement opportunities to deepen your understanding.
EDUCAUSE Inclusive Learning Guide – A style guide for inclusive, bias-free, and equitable language.
Employing Equity-Minded & Culturally-Affirming Teaching & Learning Practices in Virtual Learning Communities (recorded webinar) by Dr. Frank Harries III and Dr. J. Luke Wood.
How to Make Teaching More Inclusive, Interactive, Equitable and Participatory – Inside Higher Ed (Oct. 27, 2022).
Inclusive Teaching – Article by Bryan Dewsbury and Cynthia J. Brame (2019).
Inclusive Teaching Resources for STEM (Michigan State University) – STEM classrooms are often overlooked in the area of inclusive education. This site by Michigan State University’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts provides a series of resources to help STEM faculty.
Maintaining Equity and Inclusion in Virtual Learning Environments – This guide, from San Diego State University, provides suggestions on how to maintain equity and inclusion in online classrooms. This resource covers accessibility, flexibility, proactivity, relationality, and transparency.
A Guide to Gender Identity Terms – NPR explains LGBTQIA+ language and best practices.
Language Around Gender and Identity Evolves (and Always Has) (video) - Sociolinguist Archie Crowley deconstructs three common myths around language, demonstrating how it's a fluid system that naturally evolves in the direction of inclusion.
Why I Must Come Out (video) - Professional model Geena Rocero tells the story of becoming who she always knew she was.
All employees and students at SUNY Empire have access to LinkedIn Learning courses/resources. (Login required.)
You'll be redirected to a screen like the one below. To access the resources, you'll need to sign in using your Empire credentials (email address and password). For more information visit: How to access Empire's LinkedIn Learning portal
Below are some courses that might be of interest to you.
Imposter Syndrome & Confidence
- Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
- Coping with Impostor Syndrome to Build Career Confidence
- Confidence: How to Overcome Self-Doubt, Insecurity, and Fears
- How to Crush Self-Doubt and Build Self-Confidence (audio course)
Emotional Intelligence
American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity - The American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity (AAAED) is the longest-standing national organization of professionals who engage in the important work of leading, directing and managing affirmative action, equal opportunity, and diversity programs.
American Association of Blacks in Higher Education - The American Association of Blacks in Higher Education (AABHE) is a national organization involved in numerous initiatives such as addressing the pipeline of Black faculty and staff in higher education, bringing issues pertinent to Black faculty and staff to the attention of the larger academic community and recognizing African American achievements and accomplishments to higher education.
Gender Spectrum – This is a national organization committed to the health and well-being of gender-diverse children and teens through education and support for families, and training and guidance for educators, medical and mental health providers, and other professionals.
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights - A coalition of more than 200 national organizations that work to promote and protect the civil and human rights of all persons in the United States.
National Center for College Students with Disabilities – The only federally-funded national center in the U.S. for college and graduate students with any type of disability, chronic health condition, or mental or emotional illness.
National Center for Transgender Equality – A national organization focused on advocacy to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people.
NYC Pride – A nonprofit organization that offers a diverse array of opportunities to gather in activism and advocacy working towards a future without discrimination where all people have equal rights under the law in New York City.
SUNY Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion – SUNY ODEI provides leadership and strategic direction to all of SUNY’s campuses for developing and implementing a portfolio of affirmative action and diversity programs.
Are You a ‘Good-ish’ Person? How to Push Past Your Biases (podcast and transcript) – Psychologist Dolly Chugh discusses her book on how we can take stock of our unconscious bias.
CUE Racial Equity Tools - The Center for Urban Education (CUE)’s Racial Equity Tools aim to change the minds, hearts, and practices of faculty, staff, and leaders by reflecting on the racialized characteristics of everyday practices (CUE merged with the USC Race and Equity Center in July 2020.).
Harvard Implicit Association Test - Project Implicit is a non-profit organization and international collaboration between researchers who are interested in implicit social cognition - thoughts and feelings outside conscious awareness and control. The goal of the organization is to educate the public about hidden biases and to provide a “virtual laboratory” for collecting data on the Internet.
How Prejudiced Are You? Recognizing and Combating Unconscious Bias (video) – Business entrepreneur and public speaker Jennefer Witter talks about unconscious bias and how to confront our own biases.
How Racial Bias Works -- and How to Disrupt It (video) - Psychologist Jennifer L. Eberhardt explores how our biases unfairly target Black people at all levels of society and discusses how creating points of friction can help us actively interrupt and address this troubling problem.
How Students of Color Confront Impostor Syndrome (video) - Dena Simmons shares her story and talks about how for students of color, success in school sometimes comes at the cost of living authentically.
Identifying and Responding to Bias Incidents - This general audience website focuses on identifying and responding to bias incidents, offering 10 tips for identifying bias and seven tips for responding to bias.
My Identity is my Superpower (video) – Actor, director and activist American Ferrara talks about how her identity and the need for more authentic representation of diverse cultures in media.
Reducing Stereotype Threat - This website offers summaries of research on stereotype threat and discusses unresolved issues and controversies in the research literature.
The Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States: 2022 Historical Trend Report - The Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education of the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) conducts and disseminates research and policy analysis to encourage policymakers, educators, and the public to improve educational opportunities and outcomes of low-income, first-generation students, and students with disabilities. Findings are summarized in this report.
The Urgency of Intersectionality (video) - Kimberlé Crenshaw talks about the intersection of our identities and their importance.
Embrace Your Raw, Strange Magic (video) - Author Casey Gerald shares the personal sacrifices he made to attain success in the upper echelons of American society.
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable (video) - Author, podcast host Luvvie Ajayi Jones shares three questions to ask yourself if you're teetering on the edge of speaking up or quieting down.
How to Build Community When you Feel Isolated (video) - Educator Chitra Aiyar talks about how she encourages her students to cultivate spaces for other marginalized students to connect and help each other grow.
We're all Hiding Something. Let's Find the Courage to Open Up (video) - Ash Beckham offers a fresh approach to empathy and openness.
What is imposter syndrome and how can you combat it? (video animation) - Elizabeth Cox describes the psychology behind the imposter syndrome, and what you can do to combat it.
