At the January 2023 NASPA* Mental Health Conference, Jasmine A. Lee, M.S.W., Ph.D., director of inclusive excellence and Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, and Belonging (i3b,) and Samantha Smith, Ph.D., M.P.H., CHES., director of the Office of Health Promotion presented on Community Conversations. Community Conversations is a collaborative program which advances health equity by embedding mental health prevention efforts within identity-based spaces. Community Conversations is an interactive event that helps students understand the role of community in supporting their well-being and mental health. The conversations also highlight what it means to "show up" for others.

The abstract for Lee and Smith's NASPA presentation states, "institutions often face challenges in providing mental health prevention efforts that specifically address marginalized populations when their health promotion teams are small. This session will provide an overview of a health promotion and identity-based area collaboration focused on advancing health equity and holistic campus mental well-being using dialogue. This session will report on the development and evaluation of an initiative to reduce stigma and promote community care among marginalized identity populations."

Smith was recently interviewed for the February 2023 Baltimore Sun Education supplement story, "Health and wellness initiatives create strong sense of community on campus."

Information about upcoming Community Conversations can be found in the Office of Health Promotion myUMBC group.

*NASPA is the national organization for student affairs administrators in higher education.

Samantha Smith, Ph.D., M.P.H., CHES., director of the Office of Health Promotion was recently interviewed for the February 2023 Baltimore Sun Education supplement story, "Health and wellness initiatives create strong sense of community on campus." Smith discussed Community Conversations, a collaboration between the Office of Health Promotion and Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, and Belonging (i3b). Smith developed the program with Jasmine A. Lee, M.S.W., Ph.D., director of inclusive excellence and of i3b. 

Community Conversations advances health equity by embedding mental health prevention efforts within identity-based spaces. An interactive event that helps students understand the role of community in supporting their well-being and mental health, the conversations also highlight what it means to "show up" for others.

"When Smith was working on her doctoral dissertation, she recalled gaining an understanding that people were not getting a lot out of mental health, particularly in marginalized communities. To address that, Smith says she wanted to take the table to places where people were not offered a seat. She worked with i3b to bring deep conversations with 'radical levels of intensity' to students who come from marginalized backgrounds due to race, gender and sexual orientation."

Smith's interview begins on page 7 of the Education supplement.

David Hoffman, J.D., Ph.D. '13, director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life was recently interviewed for the February 2023 Baltimore Sun Education supplement story, "The importance of experiential learning." Hoffman discussed Alternative Spring Break, during which students spendsix days exploring the systemic and human dimensions of complex social issues in Baltimore and identifying pathways to long-term community engagement. 

Hoffman explains that "'students get to know Baltimore on a human and systemic level to get a deep understanding on the issues in the area....This year's topics are disability justice and the impacts of structural inequities on people with disabilities in Baltimore City; educational justice for youth impacted by intimate partner violence and the barriers to academic success resulting from IPV; and the racial and ethnic disparities in access to health care in Baltimore. Students will meet with various non-profits, residents, activists and city government officials to not only better understand the issues but also work collaboratively on solutions. 'We are fortunate that UMBC has the Shriver Center, so we already have various strong partnerships in place.'"

Hoffman's interview begins on page 1 of the Education supplement.