Connective Issues: A UMass Chan diversity and inclusion blog

Misgendering, the act of using incorrect pronouns, can have profound negative consequences. When someone is consistently referred to by pronouns that align with their gender identity, it conveys a sense of acceptance and belonging, fostering a safe and inclusive environment.

UMass Chan offers multiple opportunities to engage in service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

Pipeline Programs aid in diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracism

This newsletter was created by our Diversity and Inclusion Office to serve as a platform for the often-unheard voices of individuals living in the margins whose stories are integral to our shared human experience and align with the values and mission of our institution. In this special issue, we seek to do just that by focusing on a story of great breadth and timeliness: the crisis in Israel and Palestine. Through the powerful voices of our community, we aim to shed light on the diverse and nuanced ways individuals within our community have been shaped and transformed because of this long and ongoing crisis.

In this spirit, the Diversity and Inclusion Office at UMass Chan Medical School created the “Power of Joy” series to explore how joy is used as a mechanism to foster unity, change and resilience in marginalized and/or underrepresented communities.

The Committee on Equal Opportunity and Diversity (CEOD) at UMass Chan Medical School was formed to ensure everyone in the Medical School community feels seen and heard and has access to opportunities that make them feel a part of the work to create a more diverse, equitable, inclusive and just organization.

Native American Heritage Month calls us to pause and celebrate indigenous peoples of the past and present and to reflect upon and recommit to the promises we have made to restore right relationships with tribal nations.

While the Diversity and Inclusion Office team takes responsibility in guiding the work, diversity, equity and inclusion work itself is a collective responsibility.

Juneteenth is being embraced by organizations, municipalities and institutions, which are holding celebrations and providing how to guides for observing the day. As with many holidays that tend to lose their meaning when they become part of mainstream culture, the onus is on all of us to honor Juneteenth by developing a collective awareness of what they mean and by being intentional about the ways we celebrate.

The first recorded history of Asian immigration to North America was of Filipinos escaping forced labor and enslavement in the 16th century. The 1850s saw a subsequent wave as Asian immigrants provided labor for the California gold rush and the transcontinental railroad. As low wages and economic troubles plagued Americans, blame was placed on the Chinese and led to the “yellow peril” trope and the passing of the Chinese Exclusion Act that placed a 21-year immigration ban on the Chinese.