Opportunities for community dialogue include important events on January 25 and 26, when Occidental welcomes Interfaith America to campus to facilitate a series of listening sessions for students, faculty, and staff.
Dear Occidental Community,
We write as the co-chairs of the Task Force on Promoting Community and Safety. As we shared with you in the fall, the College will sponsor several forums and events throughout the spring semester that advance President Elam’s end of year call to “find more spaces for community engagement, for coming together with good will, and for enabling difficult dialogues.” You may learn more about these and related initiatives on the Task Force’s web page, where we also include further information about the structure and purpose of the Task Force as a reminder for all, and especially for those who may be new to the community this semester.
These opportunities for community dialogue will include important events on January 25 and 26, when we will welcome Interfaith America (IFA)* to campus to facilitate a series of listening sessions for students, faculty, and staff. These sessions are designed to provide neutral and welcoming spaces for reflection on campus tensions, and to promote bridge-building through facilitated dialogue.
The IFA facilitators will create spaces for diverse viewpoints to be heard, and the confidential discussions will serve as the foundation for their suggestions and recommendations following their visit. IFA’s candid, but anonymized, feedback will guide the College in the months ahead in our ongoing efforts to help all members of the campus community feel safe and welcome.
The listening sessions are designed to accommodate small groups of 12-15 people who share common concerns and viewpoints. Interfaith America has also recommended uplifting programs and activities in which members of the community routinely work together across their differences towards common goals.
We recognize that some members of the community may be reluctant to openly voice their viewpoints. Therefore, we wish to emphasize that: a) each session will be structured for participants with shared views/identities; b) the participants in the listening sessions will be kept confidential by IFA; c) the sessions will be held in discreet locations on/near campus; and d) feedback provided to the College will not be attributed to any specific individuals.
Registration links for these events have been provided to students, faculty and staff directly via email.
Faculty have been contacted separately by Faculty Council with additional information about faculty sessions.
We will provide updates on additional events for the spring semester as they become available. Please continue to visit the website for the Task Force for Promoting Community and Safety for the latest information on this and related initiatives and programming.
Sincerely,
Wendy F. Sternberg
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College
Vivian Garay Santiago
Assistant Vice-President for Student Affairs & Associate Dean of Students
*Formerly Interfaith Youth Corp (IFYC), Interfaith America is a national nonprofit that promotes cooperation across religious differences. For two decades, they have worked with hundreds of organizations across the country, including many colleges and universities, on strategies for leveraging religious diversity as a powerful tool for addressing polarizing issues. You can learn more about IFA’s work and approach on their website.