Are you a first year or transfer student? Are you a sophomore joining us on campus for the first time? Are you looking for opportunities to get connected, develop lasting relationships, and kick off the year strong? If you answered YES to any of these questions, i3b has you covered! Join us over the next several weeks for multiple chances to get connected! You can even grab an “i3b Punch Card” and be entered to win any number of prizes after you visit all three of our spaces.

Where, When, and How You Can Find Us:

Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Diversity programming and lounge space

The Mosaic: Center for Cultural Diversity is located in TheCommons Building, room 2B23. You can connect with Carlos Turcios, i3b Coordinator, in The Mosaic, Tuesday – Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. or virtually during his virtual Office Hours Mondays and on Fridays from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. EST at https://umbc.webex.com/meet/carlos6 

LGBTQ+ Diversity programming and lounge space

Join us in the Pride Center which is located in the University Center, room 201D. You can connect with Lucy Delgado, i3b Coordinator, in the Pride Center Tuesday – Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. or virtually during her virtual Office Hours on Mondays & Fridays from 10:00-11:30 a.m. EST at https://umbc.webex.com/meet/ldelgado 

Religious, Spiritual, Faith Oriented Diversity programming and gathering space

The Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being is located in room 103 of the Center for Well-Being building, and prioritizes use for religious student organizations and students who need space for foot washing, prayer, and other related gatherings. The Gathering Space is open from Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Please contact Lisa Gray and Dr. Jasmine Lee with any questions or needs at i3b@umbc.edu. 

What’s going on and how you can get connected:

Interact Dialogues – September 5 – October 18, 2021

TheInteract Dialogues Program, is an experience designed for first year and transfer students to learn and practice skills to become inclusive leaders and engaged community members. Each dialogue group is facilitated by Resident Assistants and past Interact participants. You will meet in-person small groups for a short, weekly session to learn foundational dialogues skills, and to practice empathetic and generous listening, cross-cultural storytelling, and critical self-reflection. Participating in Interact also makes you eligible to apply for our IDEAL internship peer facilitators program! For more information or to sign up, email us atinteract@umbc.edu.

Calling from the Couch Virtual Open House – September 2, 2021 12:30 – 2:00p.m.

Join i3b's Carlos & Lucy as your hosts for our Instagram Live to give you a tour, as they call from the couches of the Mosaic, Pride, and Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being! You will have the opportunity to see our community spaces, learn about Fall programs, and also get to know more about Carlos and Lucy. We might run into some special guests along the way, so don't miss out! Tune in on Instagram- @umbc_i3b and you can also catch it afterwards on our page.Find out more information HERE!

Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being Open House – September 3, 2021 12:00-1:00p.m.

Join us for a peek into our BRAND NEW building and BRAND NEW space! The Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being engages diversity at the intersection of religion, faith, spirituality, and holistic well-being. From 12:00-1:00pm you can tour our space, connect with i3b staff, religious organization members, student leaders, and religious/spiritual advisors. RSVP HERE!

i3b Welcome Home Reception – September 9, 2021 6:00-9:00 p.m.

Join us as we celebrate the racial and cultural, spiritual, and LGBTQ+ diversity of UMBC! This reception is for all students, staff, and faculty to come together, connect and build community. During the reception you will, have an opportunity to

·  meet our Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging (i3b) staff

·  meet students leading diversity, inclusion and social justice efforts across campus

·  learn about cultural, spiritual/religious, and social action-oriented student organizations

·  learn about social justice and inclusion-based resources, including our three on campus spaces: The Mosaic and Pride Centers, and our Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being

·  connect with faculty and staff who are excited to meet YOU!

·  learn about our fall semester events and opportunities designed just for YOU!

RSVP HERE! Have any questions? Please contact Lisa Gray, Associate Director at i3b@umbc.edu.

Pizza @ Pride - September 17, 2021 12:00-2:00 p.m.

Join us in the Pride Center for our monthly event-Pizza at Pride! This will be an informal time to connect in the Pride Center, enjoy FREE pizza, and play games in the lounge. Our first theme is First Year! We want to especially welcome our first year students and those who will be on-campus for the first time to the Pride Center lounge space. Upper class and graduate students are welcome to share stories of their first year as we dive into #i3bfirstyear programming, and of course eat pizza too! All are welcome to attend. RSVP HERE!If there are specific dietary needs for this event, please don't hesitate to reach out to i3b@umbc.edu 

Bagels & Banter: What’s Up in 2021 Part II - September 24, 2021 1:00-2:15 p.m. @ The Mosaic

Bagels & Banter is Mosaic’s pop-up series where we discuss trending global, national, or population based topics in an informal casual atmosphere. A new academic year should mean new beginnings, right? Is it really a new beginning or has it become a 2020 "2.0?" Pop in to chat about what you're looking forward to in Fall 2021 or if you think it's time to return to your trial of 2021. This is a time to talk about anything that comes to mind from anything ranging from the most recent TikToks to recent topics in pop-culture. 

All are welcome to attend. RSVP HERE!If there are specific dietary needs for this event, please don't hesitate to reach out to i3b@umbc.edu 

Pangea Cultural Showcase – October 1, 2021 6:00-9:00 p.m.

UMBC is bursting with cultural diversity! We are so excited to partner with cultural and ethnic student organizations at UMBC to showcase everything from organization information to cultural traditions to meaningful dances and performances. Join us on October 1, 2021 from 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. for student organizations, performances, & free snacks on The Quad.RSVP HERE!

“How to College” sessions w/ i3b & the Academic Success Center 

Transitioning into college is not always easy… especially if you are first in your family to attend, if you are a part of a marginalized community, or if you regularly find yourself with more questions than answers. Don’t worry, we are here to help! Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging (i3b) has partnered with the Academic Success Center to bring you three sessions that focus on helping you develop the skills and tools you need to experience first year success! Sessions will take place virtually on October 19 and 26 and November 2 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. Not only will we explore academic success skills and principles, we will also explore tools for navigating issues of discrimination, bias and microaggressions within academic spaces, and focus on the many ways our identities are assets within the college environment. Join us by RSVPing below for any or all three of the following sessions:

How to College: Exploring Successful Skills and Tools for First Year Students

How to College: Knowing What to Expect and How to Navigate Identity-Based Challenges

How to College: Bringing YOU into the Classroom

Women's Center Fall 2021 Hours of Operation:

This is a repost on behalf of UMBC Hillel. Original post here.

In partnership with The Associated's Insight Israel Forum and Resetting the Table, we are offering a 3 part mini series for UMBC students this fall semester. Participants will be trained in constructive communication skills and together explore the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a dual narratives approach. The program is open to people of all backgrounds, experiences, and knowledge levels—incoming freshmen and transfers included!

Meetings will take place during free hour on Fridays 9/24, 10/1, and 10/8 at 2 PM, lasting between 2–2.5 hours (currently unsure if in person or virtually). If you're interested in joining us, please fill out our non-binding application!

This is a repost on behalf of the Office of Student Disability Services. 

Thanks to Stephanie Lazarus, UMBC's Accessibility Manager & ADA Coordinator, for this important message about the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility/posts/111379

The anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities reminds us, as a campus, to  celebrate all persons with visible and invisible disabilities, and remain committed to their equitable inclusion.

 Since its enactment on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, and its state-based equivalent statutory protections have provided protections for disability access and inclusion, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, in public accommodation, in public services, in transportation, and in telecommunications. Former President George H. W. Bush called the Act “a new birth of freedom” for Americans who identify as having a disability. This landmark civil rights law has changed society from benevolence towards disability to acceptance. While our campus, both by accessible design and accommodation, endeavors to provide equal access and inclusion for faculty, staff, students and visitors with disabilities, copious work remains, especially within external communities.

 Maryland protects people with disabilities both in Title 20, State Government Article, and in Sections 7-701 to 7-710, Human Services Title. While these laws provide protections, they must be enforced and awareness must continue to be raised to promote equitable access and acceptance of persons with disabilities - on campus, on the job, and in the classroom.

 Recently litigation in Baltimore City brought an assertion about a lack of curb ramps - raising awareness about federal accessibility requirements and  the ongoing need for diligence.  On campus, curb cuts are and accessible grading are described on UMBC's Accessible Route Map.  All construction and renovation on campus is designed to meet current accessibility requirements.  That being said, repair conditions and maintenance needs arise and should be reported to Facilities Maintenance via Work Control (410-455-2550, workorder@umbc.edu) or via a department's AIM request.  Accessibility concerns may be reported at any time via this linked online form. The replacement of elevators in the Sondheim and Fine Arts buildings in 2021 will be a boost to campus navigation, especially for people with disabilities.  UMBC's Web Accessibility page (link), including information for reporting difficulty about digital content accessibility is also shared via the footer of UMBC's websites.

 Additionally, all students with disabilities  - graduate, undergraduate, part-time, full-time -  may seek academic accommodation via Student Disability Services.  Similarly, employees  - faculty, staff, graduate assistants, student workers, work-study - may seek work-related accommodations via Accessibility and Disability Services.

Accessibility and Disability Services looks forward to working in partnership with UMBC's diverse and inclusive community to support equitable access to education,  and employment as we reflect on the growth of campus accessibility over the past 31 years. 

P.S. UMBC's support of accessibility pre-dates the ADA-read more about the designer Guy Chisholm who was honored for his 1965 accessible design elements at UMBC by Governor Mandel in 1982 via this link.