Spring 2025
The spring 2025 semester has commenced, and the DEI team has been hard at work putting together DEI learning and development programs. LMU staff and faculty are invited to participate in training programs to continue fostering personal growth through meaningful conversations and activities. The Transformation Today series of workshops is designed to promote cultural humility across the LMU community. The series is open to all students, staff, and faculty with the goal of uniting the community and developing a caring coalition centered around cultural humility and cura personalis. Though change often occurs slowly at a systemic level when working towards justice, today is a good day to continue making transformations. Below are the workshops for this semester:
National Day of Racial Healing: Story Circle Training
Join us to experience a story circle, an experience offered through the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Alliance through LMU DEI. After experiencing a story circle, participants will have an opportunity to learn from other faculty how they have incorporated this racial justice-oriented facilitation within their classroom and will be trained on how to lead a story circle.
Location: McIntosh 3999
When: Wednesday, Jan. 22, 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Facilitators: Julia Wade & jamal epperson
RSVP
UndocuAdvocate 1.0
UndocuAdvocate training is designed to learn about the challenges, rights, and resources available to undocumented immigrants as well as equip participants with knowledge on how to support and advocate for undocumented people. the workshop is hosted in partnership by Undocumented Student Support Services (USSS), Office of International Programs and Partnerships, and LMU DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). Join us as we cultivate a brave and supportive environment for undocumented students at LMU.
Location: Collins Center
When: Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2 – 4 p.m.
Facilitators: UndocuAdvocate LLC
RSVP
Hiring for Mission and Inclusive Excellence
The Recruiting and Hiring Teacher-Scholars for Mission Initiative includes systematic efforts to recruit and hire an ethnically diverse, gender-balanced faculty which enhances the university’s educational goals, strategic objectives, and adds to the overall quality of the institution. Simultaneously, the Initiative provides professional development for search committee members on a variety of topics including the history of LMU, reflections on LMU’s Catholic identity, the Catholic intellectual tradition, ethnic diversity and religious identity in U.S. Catholic universities, benefits of faculty diversity, the definition of hiring faculty for mission, and legal and ethical principles and strategies for recruiting and hiring faculty.
Location: Virtual via Zoom
When: Friday, Jan. 24, 9 – 10:30 a.m.
Facilitators: Emelyn dela Peña and John Sebastian
RSVP
Generative Conflict: Part 4: Presupposition, Cognitive Distortions, and Multipartiality
This workshop delves into the need for presupposition within conversations. The session will unpack implicit biases and cognitive distortions, participants will have opportunities to go beyond neutrality and practice incorporating multipartiality in our everyday lives.
Location: Loyola Law School
When: Wednesday, Jan. 29, noon – 1:30 p.m.
Facilitators: Julia Wade, Kat Brown, and jamal epperson
RSVP
UndocuAdvocate 1.0
UndocuAdvocate trainings are designed to learn about the challenges, rights, and resources available to undocumented immigrants as well as equip participants with knowledge on how to support and advocate for undocumented people. Join Undocumented Student Support Services, Office of International Programs and Partnerships, and LMU DEI as we cultivate a brave and supportive environment for undocumented students at LLS.
Location: Loyola Law School
When: Wednesday, Feb. 5, 10 a.m. – noon
Facilitators: UndocuAdvocate LLC
RSVP
Afffinity Group Alliance Retreat
We want to engage new faculty and staff in understanding the purpose and value of affinity group spaces, and this retreat marks the second gathering of LMU’s Affinity Group Alliance. Originally convened by the Black Faculty and Staff Association, this group is being reassembled by LMU DEI along with the Affinity Group Alliance Liaisons to continue this important work.
We are gathering to unite existing student, faculty, and staff affinity groups based on racial and ethnic identities, including Black (OBSS & BFSA), Latine (CLSS, LSA, & LFA), Asian American & Pacific Islander (APSS, AAPIFSA), and White anti-racist groups (AWARE), as well as the LGBTQIA+ community (LSGT SS & LGBTQ+ FSN). Our goal is to exchange ideas, share stories, and build momentum as a coalition of organizations advocating for anti-racism at LMU.
During lunch, students will join us in dialogue to foster closer mentoring relationships and synergy based on students’ priorities.
We will also dedicate time to discussing ongoing DEI efforts at LMU, along with examining current issues within our communities. Together, we will explore synergies, cultivate a deeper sense of community and solidarity, and envision a set of shared priorities for this year and beyond. Please contact jamal epperson with any questions.
Location: St. Rob's Auditorium
When: Friday, Feb. 14, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Facilitators: Valeska Gutierrez & jamal epperson
RSVP
Are you resilient? Strategies for Resilience and Retention in a fast-paced world
This workshop will explore the topic of individual and community resilience. Whether you are looking for individual strategies to build a more resilient you or insights/interaction/music to build a resilient community, this workshop is for you. Specifically, it will explore key protective factors that nurture and support resilience, as well as current research and evidence-based strategies that can be used to support students' ability to withstand adversity, trauma, and stress. Join us to learn the science of resilience!
Location: Marymount Institute
When: Wednesday, Feb. 19, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
Facilitators: Patti Winograd & Roy Pereria
RSVP
LMU Anti-Racism Workshop Series (Participants must attend both sessions)
LAWS (LMU Anti-Racism Workshop Series) is a cohort-based program designed for faculty, staff, and administrators. It consists of two retreats each semester, where participants can develop skills and strategies to effectively address racism within their areas of influence. Participants will also have the opportunity to become DEI facilitators and can share their involvement in this program during their performance reviews.
Location: Loyola Law School
When: Friday, Feb. 28 and March 28, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Facilitators: Joseph Bernardo and jamal epperson
RSVP
Safe Zone Part 1 and Part 2
LGBT Student Services, the LMU DEI office, and other campus partners have collaborated to offer the Safe Zones workshop. This workshop is an opportunity to learn about LGBTQ+ identities, sexuality, and gender expression, and to examine the biases, assumptions, and privileges surrounding these identities. Participants of all levels of knowledge and experience are invited to join this introductory workshop.
Whether you are new to these terms and ideas and want to learn the basics, a long-time ally who needs a refresher, or a member of the queer community who wants to build your network across campus with your colleagues and students, this workshop will have a little something for everyone.
Location: VDA 190
When: Wednesday, Feb. 26 and Wednesday, March 12 1:45 – 4:45 p.m. (Note: Participants must attend both sessions)
Facilitators: Stuart Moskovitz, Issac Cardenas, Sandibel Borges, Jae Williams, and Astra Yatroussis
Light refreshments will be provided.
RSVP
Neurodiversity 101
Attendees will engage in dialogue on neurodiversity and how to support neurodivergent students, staff, and faculty.
Location: McIntosh UNH 3999
When: Thursday, March 13, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Facilitators: Natalie Aguilar, Elmira Irvin, Michelle Yeung, Joseph Bernardo, & jamal epperson
RSVP
Generative Conflict: Part 4: Presupposition, Cognitive Distortions, and Multipartiality
This workshop delves into the need for presupposition within our conversations. Attendees will unpack implicit biases and cognitive distortions, and have opportunities to go beyond neutrality and practice incorporating multipartiality in our everyday lives.
Location: University Hall, Room ECC 1857
When: Thursday, March 13, noon – 1:30 p.m.
Facilitators: Julia Wade, Kat Brown, and jamal epperson
RSVP
Hiring for Mission and Inclusive Excellence
The Recruiting and Hiring Teacher-Scholars for Mission Initiative includes systematic efforts to recruit and hire an ethnically diverse, gender-balanced faculty which enhances the university’s educational goals, strategic objectives, and adds to the overall quality of the institution. Simultaneously, the Initiative provides professional development for search committee members on a variety of topics including the history of LMU, reflections on LMU’s Catholic identity, the Catholic intellectual tradition, ethnic diversity and religious identity in U.S. Catholic universities, benefits of faculty diversity, the definition of hiring faculty for mission, and legal and ethical principles and strategies for recruiting and hiring faculty.
Location: Virtual via Zoom
When: Friday, March 14, noon – 1:30 p.m.
Facilitators: Emelyn dela Peña and John Sebastian
RSVP
Faculty Focused UndocuAdvocate Workshop
UndocuAdvocate Trainings are designed to learn about the challenges, rights, and resources available to undocumented immigrants as well as equip participants with knowledge on how to support and advocate for undocumented people. Participants will engage in a faculty-focused workshop centering how to create braver spaces for our undocumented students. Join Undocumented Student Support Services, Office of International Programs and Partnerships, and LMU DEI as we cultivate a brave and supportive environment for undocumented students.
Location: William H. Hannon Library, VDA Family Suite (#322)
When: Wednesday, March 19, noon – 2 p.m.
Facilitators: UndocuAdvocate LLC, Claudia Sandoval, and Meng Li
RSVP
DEI Considerations for Cultivating and Engaging Community
In this workshop, participants will engage in a collaborative, interactive, reflexive exercises in order to co-create a vision and blueprint for inclusive and equitable engagement with communities. The convening of participants becomes laboratory for DEI.
Location: McIntosh
When: Wednesday, March 26, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
Facilitators: Magaela Bethune
RSVP
Conflict Dynamics Profile Overview
Learn more about the Conflict Dynamics Profile(CDP). The first 30 RSVPs will receive a license to their CDP. The CDP, an assessment instrument measuring conflict behaviors, is an excellent resource to increase self-awareness and improve conflict management skills. The CDP is unlike any other assessment tool in that it focuses specifically on conflict behaviors, rather than styles. It helps individuals and teams understand how they respond to conflict, what triggers can escalate conflict, and how to manage conflict more effectively.
Location: Von der Ahe 190
When: Tuesday, April 8, noon – 1 p.m.
Facilitators: Julia Wade & jamal epperson
RSVP
UndocuAdvocate 2.0
UndocuAdvocate Trainings are designed to learn about the challenges, rights, and resources available to undocumented immigrants as well as equip participants with knowledge on how to support and advocate for undocumented people. Join Undocumented Student Support Services, Office of International Programs and Partnerships, and LMU DEI as we cultivate a brave and supportive environment for undocumented students.
Location: St Robs Auditorium
When: Thursday, April 10, 1 – 3 p.m.
Facilitators: UndocuScholar LLC
RSVP
For more information about Transformation Today, contact Joseph Bernardo or jamal epperson.
Want to request a workshop? Please use the new centralized Facilitation Request form to request a session. A member of Capacity Building, Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Alliance, LMU Restore, or Intercultural Facilitators will contact you.