Summer Time is Meeting Time!

Around the RAPP Office, summer is a time for many projects.  Training, long-range planning, analyzing the previous year's programs' impact, Accelerating Racial Justice updates & preps, grappling with big questions, and more is tackled by all the great people who make RAPP happen - student staff, volunteers, and the Steering Committee.

Here are some of the big projects we've been working on lately:

• Working through how to effectively implement "year one" of Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation training through SALD.  With the support of the Diversity Council, RAPP Program Coordinator Rebecca Lehman was able to become a Level I certified trainer in this.  How do we make sure they made an excellent investment?
• "Refreshing" the curriculum, session plans, and materials of Accelerating Racial Justice.  Refreshing is what I call the process of reviewing and applying all of the feedback we gathered throughout the pilot week and during two-week, two-month, and eight-month follow-up surveys.
• Exploring whether and how we could further integrate faculty and staff into the RAPP's current programming.  There is an imperative to connect more with these groups, but RAPP lacks the resources to establish any new programming.

Much gratitude to the following people for all their work with these major projects!
Becca Hammond (Resident Education & Development)
Brice Mickey (XXV)
Corinne Patterson (Women in Leadership & Learning)
Ericka Duckworth Harrison (University Judicial Affairs)
Gregory Gamble (ARJ 2012)
Jamieson Williams (XXVII)
Kim Fulbright (Ombuds)
Lauren Clark (UC Learning Assistance Center)
Megan Kreaps (XXVII)
Nicole Mayo (Director, SALD)
Shyamal Ruparel (XXVI)
Susie Mahoney (SALD)
Terri Hurdle (SALD

Notes from the latest Kingian Nonviolence training planning meeting.

Announcing the Leadership Team for RAPP 2013-14!

The selection process for the limited leadership roles available in RAPP is a challenging one - each year, we have more more-than-qualified applicants than spots available.

Many thanks to the great campus leaders who helped make this imperfect process a manageable and even enjoyable one:  AJ E (RAPP XXVI), Ana M (RAPP XXVI), Becca H (RED), Farooq A (RAPP XXVII), Maggy F (RED), Shyamal R (XXVI), & Susie M (SALD)!

Many thanks also to the all of the great Bearcats who applied for the positions.  It was truly a talented group, making the selection process a difficult one.  All of the applicants are leaders in RAPP and around campus who work to make our campus a more just and caring community.

Please join me in welcoming those who were placed into formal positions:

Accelerating Racial Justice 2013
Peer Leaders:
Corinne Pattersion - Activists Coming Together (ACT), Women in Leadership & Learning (WILL)
Gregory Gamble - ARJ 2012, Social Justice League 2012-13
Jazmyn Battie - ARJ 2012
Maya Whyte - RAPP XXVIII

Process Observers:
Jojo Azevedo - RAPP XXIV, RAPP XXVI Peer Leader, ARJ 2013 & RAPP XXVII Student Facilitator, Social Justice League 2010-2013
Kevin Weber - RAPP XXVI, Social Justice League 2011-13

Student Facilitators:
Jamieson Williams - RAPP XXVII, ARJ 2013 Student Worker
Megan Kreaps - RAPP XXVII, Social Justice League 2012-13

RAPP XXIX
Peer Leaders:
Jalisa Holifield - RAPP XXVII, ARJ 2012 Peer Leader, Social Justice League 2012-13, ACT, WILL
Nathaniel Bell - RAPP XXVIII
Siva Nagi Reddy Inturi - RAPP XXVI

Student Facilitator/Worker:
Brice Mickey

RAPPORT
Student Workers:
Jamieson Williams - RAPP XXVII, ARJ 2013 Student Worker/Facilitator
Matthew Woodruff - RAPP XXVI, RAPP XXVII Peer Leader, Social Justice League 2011-13

ARJ 2014
Student Worker:
Meg Groat - RAPP XXVIII

Welcome the RAPP 2012-13 Leadership!

This year's selection of the formal RAPP leadership positions was the most difficult process I've been through yet.  We had twenty-three outstanding candidates for an intended ten positions.

Much gratitude is due to the folks who helped made the selections!  A team of staff and students from RAPP, SALD, Resident Education & Development, Academic Excellence & Support Services, and the LGBTQ Center carefully reviewed applications and worked together to make the final decisions.

Without further ado, here are the folks selected for the formal leadership positions:

Accelerating Racial Justice

• Facilitators:
• Ani Naik (XXVI, XXVI Social Committee Chair)
• Jojo Azevedo (XXIV, XXVI Peer Leader, XXVII Facilitator, Social Justice League 2010-12)
• Peer Leaders:
• Jalisa Holifield (XXVII)
• Laura Perez (XXVII)
• Matt Miller (XXVI, Social Justice League 2011-12)
• Process Observers:
• Matthew Woodruff (XXVI, Peer Leader XXVII, Social Justice League 2011-12)
• Melissa Meyer (Community member, owner Meyer Consulting)

RAPP XXVIII

• RAPP Facilitation Intern:  Brice Mickey (XXV, XXVI Peer Leader, Social Justice League 2010-12)
• Peer Leaders:
• Farooq Alkhateeb (XXVII)
• Krisin Myers-Young (XXV)
• Tianshu Lu (XXVI)

RAPPORT 2012-13

• RAPPORT Facilitation Intern: Jamieson Williams (XXVII)

Please extend congratulations and heart-felt wishes for success to these folks as they enter into their new positions!

Bi-Okoto Performance - Feb 21st!

Join us in celebration of both Black History Month and the ArtsWave campaign. Bi-Okoto is one of the many smaller arts organizations supported in part by ArtsWave. The performance is free and open to all of the University community. 

Tuesday, February 21

11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

MainStreet Cinema, TUC

Sponsors: Cincinnati ArtsWave; Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Services and Chief Diversity Officer; UC Women’s Center; Ethnic Programs and Services (EPS); and Resident Education and Development (RED).

Non-Violent Peacemaking Workshop: Oct 20th!

From Enough is Enough:

In recognition of International Conflict Resolution Day, please join us for:
Non-Violent Peacemaking Workshop

Thursday, October 20, 2011

7:00-8:30 pm, Daniels Residence Hall - North Lounge

Take one practical step towards a less violent world.

This workshop will introduce techniques you can use when faced with a conflict that might turn nasty or violent. By defusing the immediate situation, you create a space that gives everyone time to understand the root of the conflict and to resolve it in a peaceful way.

This interactive workshop will introduce you to basic nonviolent communication and conflict resolution methods and show you how to use these skills in everyday conflict situations.

Presented by: Kristen Barker, Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center

Sponsored by: Office of the University Ombuds, Resident Education and Development, and Enough is Enough

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta - May 5th!

Come party with LATINOS EN ACCION, Ethnic Programs & Services, and Residence Hall Association as they host the BIGGEST FIESTA of the SPRING!!!

Enjoy an afternoon full of..

*** FREE CHIPOTLE***

*** FREE FROZEN DRINKS***

*** MUSIC, DANCING, & PERFORMANCES ***

.... Oh and lets not forget our attraction, JOUSTING & MECHANICAL BULL!!!

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Race & Sexuality Program Follow-Up: Thoughts on Inclusion & Exclusion

On Wednesday evening, RAPPORT came together with members of UC Alliance, Genderbloc, Stratford Heights complex, RA Class candidates, ROTC members, The Edge House and other parts of our UC community for a workshop called "Race & Sexuality Dialogue."

The event was organized by Lisa Watkins, RAPP XXIV grad and RA in Stratford Heights.  UC Alliance and GenderBloc helped heavily promote it.  Thanks to everyone's hard work 55+ people participated in this two hour dialogue.

Participants worked through several activities where we explored and shared our experiences throughout life around race and sexuality.  Our final activity of the night involved reacting to a quote and talking about ways we create and/or combat the situation/feelings it describes.

Here's the quote, from Movement in Black by Pat Parker:

If I could take all my parts with me when I go somewhere, and not have to say to one of them, "No, you stay home tonight, you won't be welcome," because I'm going to an all-white party where I can be gay, but not Black.  Or I'm going to a Black poetry reading, and half the poets are antihomosexual, or thousands of situations where something of what I am cannot come with me.  The day all the different parts of me can come along, we would have what I would call a revolution.

In groups, participants reacted to the quote and shared their understanding of it and experiences related to it.

Then, each group compiled a list of things they've seen others do or done themselves that created situations where people felt like the poet described - where only part of themself was welcome rather than the whole.  Below is a word cloud of what the groups stated (the larger the words, the more groups that said it).  Click the picture to see the full image:

The groups also spent time recording things they've seen others do or done themselves that combat situations like the poet described, creating environments where people are welcome as the whole, complex being they are.  Here is a word cloud of that - again, click the image to see the full image:



Many thanks to all the people who attended and participated in the program on Wednesday!

Want a similar program?  Or, any other program?  Be sure to check out the RAPP Outreach page and see what we can do!

Movie Night Monday: 9500 Liberty Showing in Stratford Heights

As a reminder, the Minority Residents Coordinating Committee of Stratford Heights and RAPP are coordinating a film+discussion Monday, April 4th, at 6PM.

The film will be showing in Stratford Height Pavilion located at 2634 Stratford Ave., the Pavilion is Building 16. 

"9500 Liberty" is a compelling documentary about anti-immigration laws. It examines cases of racial profiling and their social and economic effects on a community in Prince William County, Virgina.

Following the film, there will be a group discussion led by a RAPPORT student and RAPP staff.

Check out the Facebook event page to see who else will be there!

Enough is Enough Anti-Violence Campaign - Apr 4-8!

From UC News:

UC Joins National Anti-Violence Campaign

Tragedies at Virginia Tech and other universities have inspired “Enough is Enough,” a national campaign to stop violence. The University of Cincinnati will support the national campaign with a week of activities.

Date: 3/25/2011 12:00:00 AM
By: Greg Hand
Phone: (513) 556-1822

   A week-long effort to halt campus violence will mark the beginning of spring quarter at the University of Cincinnati. From April 4 through April 8, the UC community will join together as part of a nationwide campaign to ensure peace and security throughout America’s schools.

The “Enough is Enough” campaign is coordinated across the country by NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. The campaign grew out of a call to action by Zenobia Lawrence Hikes, vice president of student affairs at Virginia Tech, whose analysis of the 2007 tragedy at that university inspired NASPA to chart a “new paradigm for safety and security on the nation’s campuses.” The "Enough is Enough" Campaign unites administrators, educators, and counselors from high schools and colleges, as well as parents and students. “The kind of violence that results in campus tragedies begins – and therefore must be addressed – long before it reaches our schools and campuses,” said Daniel S. Cummins, chair of UC’s participation in “Enough is Enough.”

At the University of Cincinnati, events each day will explore different aspects of violence prevention, safety and security.

On Monday, April 4, in a noon ceremony at Tangeman University Center, campus leaders will charge the university community to reflect on the roots of violence and to take action to prevent it. The cost of campus violence will be presented through a display in the Tangeman University Center lobby. Everyone in the UC community will be asked to sign a pledge to show solidarity to end violence in society and on campus. Each person who signs will receive a wristband to demonstrate their commitment.

Tuesday, April 5, will be a day of reflection as Dean Valerie Hardcastle describes how a violent act affected the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences. Her presentation at noon in the MainStreet Cinema will be followed by a question and answer session with the dean and UC Police Chief Gene Ferrara.

A call to action will highlight Wednesday’s agenda on April 6 with a clinic on civility and mediation presented by the University Ombuds at noon in MainStreet Cinema. UC’s residence halls will explore cyber bullying and the risks of online social networks with a 9:00 p.m. program in Daniels Hall.

Thursday, April 7, will focus on violence prevention, as nationally known self-defense expert Debbie Gardner offers a seminar at noon in the MainStreet Cinema.

The week will end Friday, April 8, with a Picnic for Peace on McMicken Commons from noon to 2:00 p.m., sponsored by Student Government.

Throughout the Enough is Enough Week, members of the university community who may wish assistance or desire counseling support are encouraged to contact

• UC Counseling Center (513-556-0648) 316 Dyer Hall
• Impact Solutions (800-227-6007)
• University Health Services (513-556-2564) 3rd Floor Lindner Center

Referrals to a member of campus ministry may be made through the Dean of Students Office (513-556-5250) 745 Steger Student Life Center.

Partners for the UC observance of “Enough is Enough” include the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences, the BearCAT (Community Action Team), Office of Ethnic Programs & Services, African American Cultural & Resource Center, Student Government, Graduate Student Governance Association, LGBTQ Center, University Ombuds, Office of Resident Education and Development, Office of Student Life, UC Police, and UC Women’s Center.

For more information on UC's "Enough is Enough" campaign, see http://www.uc.edu/conduct/enough.html
For more information about the national “Enough is Enough” campaign, see http://www.naspa.org/enough/

Black Women Rock - Feb 25th!

Stratford Heights Hall Government and

University of Cincinnati African Student Association Presents:

   Black Women Rock

We Ask everyone to bring a Photo to

     Honor Any African American Woman who has  

     INSPIRED YOU for the better. After giving the speech

You will ask the audience to have a

moment of Silence or to Clap in Celebration.

Free Food and refreshments will be served

Time: 6pm

Where :Stratford Heights Pavilion

When: Feb 25, 2010

Food Provided By: Island Fridays