Hello everyone, we hope you had a great start to the semester!

Updates:

Save-a-Swipe:

Thank you to everyone who donated meal swipes during the donation phase!

For the remainder of the spring semester, our Save-a-Swipe applications are now open! If you are a UMBC student experiencing food insecurity, sign up on our intake sheet to schedule a meeting with our social work intern. The link is down below!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkjzkc2jFnHO__ca-lleil2LxPsGyMDIUrRy2lcNd5L6dgrQ/viewform

Black and Gold Rush:

Black & Gold Rush is officially here 🎉. Be part of UMBC's future and show the strength of Retriever pride and generosity. Give today and help amplify support for our students andprograms. 🖤💛 You can nourish our community by choosing to contribute to Student Support & Basic Needstoday! 🐾 Be sure to select Retriever Essentials under designation.

For the past 10 years, Retriever Essentials has been dedicated to nourishing our ever growing UMBC community by fighting food insecurity, and providing essential resources to students, staff, and faculty. If you'd like to contribute to this important work please consider donating today. 

Data:

In the month of February, we've distributed 10.1k lbs worth of food and other household essentials! This absolutely breaks our previous month of 3.3k, and includes calculations from our Free Farmers Market on Thursdays, our mini pantry, and vending machine.

Suggestion Box:

To improve on our services, and try to address everyone's different needs, we would love to hear your feedback!

https://forms.gle/oUvd1EaMcmmasKFn8

Thank you so much for taking the time to read  our newsletter.

If you have any questions about what we provide, volunteering opportunities, or general inquiries, feel free to email us at retrieveressentials@umbc.edu at any time!

Sincerely,

The Retriever Essentials Team

The Social Justice Dialogues Cohort Experience (SJDCE) at UMBC invites participants from all perspectives and experiences to engage in meaningful conversations across difference. Rooted in intergroup dialogue theory, SJDCE provides a space to learn and practice the skills, tools, and mindsets necessary for effective communication across diverse identities and lived experiences — with courage, empathy, and openness.

The Social Justice Dialogue Cohort Experiences at UMBC are 8 two-hour dialogue circles that bring together students, faculty, and staff, to engage in sustained, facilitated dialogue across difference. Each cohort meets weekly within one of UMBC's vibrant cultural centers: The Mosaic, The Pride Center, and The Gathering Space.

In a time of growing polarization and deepening social divides, and fear surrounding living authentically, the Social Justice Dialogues Cohort Experience (SJDCE) offers a way forward, not through debate or persuasion, but through connection, listening, and shared learning.

Cohorts will be split between faculty/staff and students (both undergraduate and graduate), allowing participants to forge meaningful relationships with peers similarly passionate about social change, leadership and humanizing pedagogies. 

Students interested in applying for the pilot program can do so here. Additionally, faculty and staff can nominate students by emailing csjdialogue@umbc.edu by March 10.

Faculty and staff can apply here. Applications are due by March 12.

This is a pilot that is a part of a larger research project, meaning cohort sizes are limited and the 2026 sessions will be used to collect data for assessment purposes.

These events are open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.
To view the original myUMBC post click the link below:
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/csjd/posts/157087

Thriving in Graduate Education: Empowerment, Equity, and Influence

A Panel Discussion with the VP for Student Affairs and Vice Provost/Dean of the Graduate School and VP for Institutional Equity/Chief Diversity Officer!

🗓️ Tuesday, 04/07

🕓 12-1 PM

📍 University Center Ballroom

As a part of the annual UMBC GEARS Research Symposium, we will be sponsoring a panel discussion, titled "Thriving in Graduate Education: Empowerment, Equity, and Influence at UMBC". It is open to all UMBC undergraduate and graduate students.

Our featured panelists:

• Dr. Renique Kersh, Vice President for Student Affairs

• Dr. Christa Porter, Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School

• Tanyka M. Barber, Vice President for Institutional Equity and Chief Diversity Officer

The following four themes will be discussed:

• Equity & Access in Graduate Education

• Impostor Syndrome at Every Level

• Navigating the Academic Landscape

• Student Influence on Policy and Change

Have a question for the panelists? Submit it in advance via the QR code on the flyer - OR - via the link here. We want to hear from you!

Don't miss this engaging conversation on thriving in graduate education. We'll see you there!