Cultures of Belonging Certificate Program
Albion College is committed to teaching and developing training related to Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EIB). The Office of Belonging and Human Resources has created a EIB certificate program. Faculty and staff will have the opportunity to engage in a EIB professional development certificate program. The certificate program (open to all Albion College employees) is designed to prepare all participants to work in a more inclusive work environment.
Program Details:
Participants who successfully complete the program will have the tools to engage in EIB conversations and feel comfortable. Participants will possess the following:
- Skills to have difficult conversations around EIB and increase their knowledge of EIB initiatives.
- The ability to understand key terms and concepts of EIB.
- The opportunity to create their own diversity statement for their area.
- Opportunities to further their development in EIB and opportunities to train in the future.
- Obtain an official certificate of completion, signed by the President and Vice President of Belonging.
Eligibility:
This program is available to all Albion College faculty and staff (salaried and hourly).
Participate Commitments:
- Complete all seven core EIB professional development workshops/trainings.
- Attend two EIB programs/events offered by the Office of Belonging.
- Write their own diversity statement and highlight their EIB professional development experiences.
- Program total hours to complete is 14 hours (each training session 2 hours).
Core Trainings/Workshops:
All participants must complete all 7 core EIB professional development trainings/workshops listed below. The Office of Belonging will offer sessions related to EIB topics.
- I Just Want to Belong (Dr. Taran McZee)
- Removing Barriers (Elizabeth Rudolph & Nysha Wallace)
- Safe Zone 101 (Rivkah Gamble)
- Safe Zone 102 (Rivkah Gamble)
- International Cultures (Cristen Casey)
- Religious Perspectives (Laura Todd)
- Linguistic Justice (Dr. Angela Zito)
Program Dates & Time Frame:
- 09/08 – I Just Want to Belong
- 09/22 – Removing Barriers
- 10/20 – Safe Zone 101
- 11/17 – Safe Zone 102
- 01/26 – International Cultures
- 02/16 – Religious Perspectives
- 03/16 – Linguistic Justice
Each Program will be 2 hours of training from 3pm to 5pm and 3rd Monday of each month.
Completing the Certificate:
All workshops/training will be mandatory in order to complete the certificate. The certification will be good for four years. Research shows that EIB certification programs are successful when completed in one year. Human Resources will keep all records of completion.
Training / Workshop Descriptions
Breathe “It’s Just DEIB!”
Description:
This engaging workshop focused on the transformative power of community in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). This will be the introduction to the diversity certification program. In a world that is increasingly interconnected, understanding and valuing our differences is crucial for creating a unified, supportive environment where everyone can thrive.
Key Highlights:
- Understanding Community: Explore what community means in the context of DEIB, and why it’s essential for fostering unity and collaboration among diverse groups.
- The Power of Belonging: Delve into the concept of belonging and how it impacts individual well-being and group cohesion. Learn how to cultivate a sense of belonging within your organization or community.
- Strategies for Inclusion: Gain practical tools and strategies to promote inclusive practices that empower all voices, ensuring that everyone feels valued and heard.
- Building Connections: Engage in interactive activities designed to strengthen relationships and encourage open dialogue about our unique experiences and perspectives.
Facilitator:
Dr. Taran McZee (He/Him/His)
Removing Barriers
Description:
This Accessibility Training is designed to challenge participants to examine their own ableism and understand its pervasive impact on individuals and society. By exploring different forms of ableism, participants will gain a deeper awareness of how these attitudes and behaviors contribute to the exclusion of people with disabilities. This training will provide practical tools and strategies for dismantling barriers and building inclusive environments that respect individuals with disabilities. Through interactive activities and discussions, participants will learn how to advocate for accessibility and foster an inclusive culture of belonging.
Facilitators:
Elizabeth Rudolph (She/Her) & Nysha Wallace (She/Her)
Belonging Zone
Description:
This workshop will be engaging and transformative training focused on cultivating a sense of belonging within our communities and workplaces. This session will delve into microaggressions, implicit and explicit bias, and stereotypes—key barriers to inclusivity—and provide participants with the tools to navigate these challenges effectively where all will feel valued.
Key Topics:
- Understanding Belonging: Discover what it means to create a culture where everyone feels valued and included.
- Microaggressions: Learn to identify subtle, often unintentional, comments or behaviors that can undermine someone’s sense of belonging.
- Implicit vs. Explicit Bias: Understand the differences between these two types of bias, how they manifest in our interactions, and their impact on decision-making.
- Stereotypes: Explore how stereotypes shape perceptions and behaviors, often leading to misunderstanding and exclusion.
- Practical Strategies: Gain actionable tools to recognize and address microaggressions and biases, fostering a more inclusive environment.
Facilitator:
Dr. Taran McZee (He/Him/His)
Language Diversity & Linguistic Justice
Description:
Language is a fundamental medium through which we learn, act, relate and communicate within our communities. We know this intuitively, but we don’t often dig beneath the surface to fully understand how our language—and how we perceive others’ language—can often create cultures of exclusion. This training will introduce key concepts and terminology to expand participants’ knowledge of language diversity, and it will provide guidance for participants to challenge their own linguistic biases.
Facilitator:
Dr. Angela Zito (she/her)
Diversity in Religion
Description:
The religious diversity training will focus on three main areas. First, participants will observe the impact of religion on culture and policy, especially gaining an understanding of the dominance of Christianity in the U.S. Second, they will learn how to navigate situations in which they have radically different beliefs or practices from others.
Finally, they will explore ways to use this knowledge to support students in their religious belief/non-belief in classroom and co-curricular environments.
Facilitator:
Laura Todd (She/they)
SafeZone 101
Description:
Safe Zone 101 is a foundational program designed to foster understanding and support for the LGBTQIA+ community. Participants will engage with essential terminology, explore diverse identities, and review critical statistics that shed light on the lived realities of LGBTQIA+ individuals. The workshop will also clarify the distinctions between gender and sex, promoting empathy and respect in our interactions. Together, we can create inclusive environments that celebrate diversity and empower all individuals to thrive.
Facilitator:
Rivkah Gamble (She/They)
SafeZone 102
Description:
Building on the foundation laid in Safe Zone 101, the Safe Zone 102 workshop delves deeper into the complexities of allyship within the LGBTQIA+ community. Participants will explore the various levels of allyship, understanding the vital differences between being an ally and an accomplice. This session will also address bystander intervention techniques, equipping attendees with practical tools to effectively address discrimination and support their peers in real-time. By cultivating a proactive approach to allyship, we enhance our ability to advocate for justice and equality, ensuring that our communities are not just inclusive, but actively supportive.
Facilitator:
Rivkah Gamble (She/They)