Spread the Word Tip #2: Become a Mythbuster!

With Accelerating Racial Justice 2013 applications due this Friday, we're reposting this short series from August 2010:

Our first Spread the Word Tip was about wearing your RAPP t-shirt.

Today I want to talk about another way to help spread the word about RAPP: Mythbust for us!

In my past four years in RAPP, I've found some common misconceptions people have about RAPP. Let's debunk them now:

Myth #1: Grad students can't do RAPP. Bzzzt! Wrong! I personally know this to be incorrect because I did RAPP while completing my masters. Every year that I've been involved with RAPP, we've had great graduate students amongst our members. We've had people who've completed their bachelors and are completing pre-requisites to enter a masters program. We've had PhD candidates. RAPP is open to all students!

Myth #2: RAPP is only for liberal arts majors. Bzzt again! The last year RAPP members have represented ten different colleges of UC and the year before they represent eight. You can see the majors and colleges of RAPP XXV here. One of the areas of diversity we strive for in recruitment is academic diversity. Last year's RAPP represented 44 majors in fall quarter. While Psychology and Communications were the two most common, they were closely followed by Criminal Justice and Finance.

Myth #3: RAPP is only about race. Bzzt at third time! While race is a large component of what we discuss, I like to say that RAPP is a "race AND" program - meaning we talk about race AND other areas of difference. RAPP has formally included gender in its work since RAPP IX (though the discussion began in RAPP VIII). Sexuality was formally included in the curriculum in 2000 and we've used the concept of intersectionality as a foundation of our work since 2003. We still follow a general race->gender->sexuality format through the three quarters, but we intentionally include other topics and encourage the group to wander through what they're interested in.

By helping break down these three myths, you can help us reach more students because they can see that they're eligible for RAPP and that their interests are welcome.

Spread the Word Tip #1: Wear That Shirt!

With Accelerating Racial Justice 2013 applications due this Friday, we're reposting this short series from August 2010:

Jojo at MainStreet Stride 2010

To help promote RAPP, you don't have to be like Jojo (XXIV) here and carry a sign everywhere. If you think about it, he has TWO signs in that picture - the one he's carrying and the one he's wearing.

I can't count how many times my RAPP t-shirt has started a conversation. This is true both with people I already know and with complete strangers.

More than once, someone on the bus or out at a park has read the quote on the back and sparked up a conversation with me.

Friends and strangers alike often ask me about the logo... or the Roman numerals... or what the second P is for.

Wear your RAPP t-shirt to classes. Wear it to student group meetings. Wear it to community events, religious services, work (if you can), and just out-and-about. Even if you don't talk with someone about it, it creates visibility.

Also, a few times a year we'll have "RAPP T-Shirt Days" where we ask folks to wear their t-shirt.  I hope to see you in your shirt then and on other days - I'll be wearing mine!

Apply to Be a RAPP Leader! Applications Due This Friday

There are several ways to be involved in RAPP as a student leader!  Participation in RAPP's intensive programs - either the 9-month RAPP or 5-day Accelerating Racial Justice - is strongly encouraged as a first step.  Participation in similar programs is recognized as well, though.

Summer 2013 Opportunities:

• Accelerating Racial Justice Peer Leader:  Serve as a mentor to participants in the 5-day summer program, participating in all ARJ sessions as well as pre-service training and staff meetings during the August 12-16 intensive. (anticipated 3 positions)
• Accelerating Racial Justice Facilitator:  Serve as volunteer student facilitator in the 5-day summer program, participating in pre-service planning and training as well as facilitating during all sessions and participating in staff meetings during the August 12-16 intensive.  (anticipated 1 position)  
• Accelerating Racial Justice Process Observer:   Serve as a silent observer during the 5-day summer program recording information for immediate and long-term use, participating in pre-service planning and training as well as taking detailed observations for evaluation and training purposes during all sessions and participating in staff meetings during the August 12-16 intensive. (anticipated 1-2 positions)

2013-14 Academic Year Opportunities:

• RAPP XXIX Peer Leader:  Serve as a mentor to participants in the 9-month program, attending a minimum of ten of the meetings and two of the retreats as well as participating in pre-service and semesterly trainings.  RAPP XXIX schedule is available here. (3 positions)
• RAPP XXIX Student Worker: Serve as a student facilitator for RAPP XXIX, working an average of 15 hours/week doing planning, administration, and facilitation work for pay.  Read the position description here. (1 position)
• RAPPORT Student Worker:  Serve as an student facilitator for RAPPORT 2013-14, working an average of 15 hours/week doing planning, administration, and facilitation work for pay.  Read the position description here. (1 position)
• Accelerating Racial Justice 2014 Student Worker: Serve as a student coordinator and facilitator for Accelerating Racial Justice 2014, working an average of 10 hours/week doing planning, recruitment, administrative, and facilitation work January-September 2014.  Read the position description here. (1 position)

Apply Now!
To apply for one or more of the above positions, please download and complete the application HERE.

Peer Leader candidates are evaluated primarily through their written application, though candidates who have not participated in RAPP may receive a follow-up phone interview.

Successful candidates for the facilitator roles (RAPP, RAPPORT, ARJ) and the ARJ Process Observer may be asked participate in an interview.

RAPP XXVIII: Recognizing Participation

RAPP XXVIII started out the year strong in terms of attendance.  They got the same message all groups in recent years get:

The RAPP commitment is being present in body and mind at all meetings and retreats.

This commitment is featured heavily in the application, the RAPP interview, the RAPP Orientation, the actual group-created RAPP Agreement, and they get inundated with print and digital copies of the schedule with the above refrain repeated over and over.

I've been tracking member participation since RAPP XXIV and found a disturbing trend - steadily declining attendance across the board.  Many hours were spent by SALD and RAPP staff and leaders sorting through the issue.  It was part of the motivation for returning to one RAPP group and creating Accelerating Racial Justice.

RAPP XXVIII changed the game!  The retention of members over the year held steady and strong: 85% of those who committed to the process completed it.  The participation of members returned to a high level: Members averaged attending 88% of the sessions.

This is no small feat! We've got a group of busy people: they're all students, most work at least one job, most are involved in other organizations, and everyone has a lot of commitments to manage.  On top of that, there are the unexpected events like illness, accidents, family issues, and schedule changes.

Every year a core group shows us that being at everything is possible.  At our banquets and here online, we recognize those who were able to fulfill the commitment they signed up for to "be present in mind and body" in at least the "body" portion.  This year's group was a little bigger than previous.

L to R: Leah, Kalilah, Lindy, Marquez, and Nathaniel

Near-Perfect Attendance
These people attended all RAPP XXVIII meetings and retreats except one:
Kalilah Montgomery
Leah Baccus
Lindy Zeff
Marquez White
Nathaniel Bell

L to R: Abbey, Anthony, Bridget, Kahvah, Maya, Rebekah, Sabria, and Shawnee

Perfect Attendance
These people attended all RAPP XXVIII meetings and retreats:
Abbey Falcone
Anthony Foster
Bridget Parham
Kahvah YisraEL
Maya Whyte
Rebekah Clinger
Sabria Berry
Shawnee Haslon

In front, our Peer Leaders Kristin Myers- Young, Farooq Alkhateeb, and Tianshu Lu.  Photobombing in back, Facilitator Brice Mickey.

Student Leaders
Our Peer Leaders are indispensable to the group and the process.  Their commitment blows me away!

They have already completed a full year of RAPP with great attendance and then sign up for another. With that in mind, the commitment they sign on to is to participate in 3/4 of the sessions.  All three of our leaders went above and beyond this year!  Tianshu even had perfect attendance and Farooq missed only one session while he was out-of-town at a professional conference.

Our Student Facilitator is also pivotal.  Facilitating sessions is actually less than half of his role - Brice participates in the recruitment of members, planning the sessions through which we implement the curriculum, participating in assessment and utilizing feedback, administrative tasks, supporting Peer Leaders, and participating in his own training.  Whew!  He did this with perfect attendance, too!


Many thank you to all these phenomenal RAPPers!

Why Did You Join RAPP Ep. 6

Why Did You Join RAPP?

We asked a few RAPPORT members why did they initially join RAPP.
Lastly, we have RAPP XXVI member, Kevin Weber!

Snapshots from the RAPP XXVIII Banquet

Last week, we celebrated the members of RAPP XXVIII for their challenging and successful year together.  Here are some shots from the evening.  Head over to Rebecca's Facebook to see the full album.

RAPP celebrations involve a lot of fun!

We had a delicious dinner together in Mick & Mack's Cafe.  We were grateful to be joined by many campus dignitaries:

• Debra Merchant, Interim Vice President of Student Affairs & Services
• Dr. Bleuzette Marshall, Interim Chief Diversity Officer and RAPP VI alumna
• Dr. Robin Martin, Associate Vice Provost of Diversity & Inclusion
• Frank Bowen, Dean of Students
• Daniel Cummins, Assistant Dean of Students, Director of University Judicial Affairs, and RAPP VIII facilitator
• Dr. Nicole Mayo, Director of Student Activities & Leadership Development (SALD)
• Dr. Nicole Ausmer, Assistant Director of SALD
• Leah Howell, Program Manager of Fraternity & Sorority Life in SALD
• Dr. Terri Hurdle, Program Coordinator of Student Activities Board and Emerging Ethnic Leaders (SALD)
• Dr. Susie Mahoney, Program Coordinator of Club Sports (SALD)
• Portia Watkins, Program Coordinator of University Funding Board and Student Safety Board (SALD)

Dinner with dignitaries!
L to R: Kristin, Debra Merchant, Sabria, Meg, Dr. Susie Mahoney, Leah

Dinner with dignitaries!
L to R: Maya, Leah Howell, Lindy, Oge, Dean Bowen, Nathaniel

Dinner with dignitaries!
L to R: Tianshu, Dioncia, Dr. Hurdle, Shawnee

Our Peer Leaders Farooq, Kristin, and Tianshu kicked off the program with leadership reflections on the year.  This was followed by remarks from the RAPP XXVIII members recognized with the Terence L Jones Diversity Award, Kalilah and Nate.

We then recognized people with near-perfect and perfect attendance with special certificates of appreciation:

Thanks for ALWAYS being there!
L to R: Abbey, Anthony, Bridget, Kahvah, Maya, Rebekah, Sabria, and Shawnee

We then thanked our dignitaries for their generosity with their time spending dinner with us and moved into the private-to-the-group portion of the evening: RAPPmate presentations!

Many thanks to RAPP XXVIII for a celebration that was as meaningful AND fun as the whole year together!

Anthony & Nathia smile post-celebration.

Iman & Kahvah smile post-celebration.

Post-celebration "men of RAPP XXVIII" photo!
L to R: Oge, Nathaniel, Anthony, Marquez, Farooq, and Brice

Sarah reminded us that RAPP forever impacts your perspective! :)

Snapshots from the RAPPORT Year-End Celebration

Last week we celebrated the 2012-13 academic year of RAPPORT - a year of learning, growing, leadership, and fun!  Here are some snapshots of the evening.

The more-than-two-dozen participants enjoyed a dinner from Deep India.

While filling our stomachs, we shared fun memories from the many RAPPORT activities throughout the year.  Then we wrote how we'll each apply something we learned from our interactions in RAPP/ORT this year.

Alexis plans to join RAPP XXIX!

Allison has several takeaways: paying attention to context & semantics, looking for opportunities to better the world, and appreciating good friends!

Vicky will always meet people with an open heart and an open mind!

We ended with recognizing each Bearcat who had earned a RAPP Social Justice Peer Educator Certificate - they shared what the process had meant to them and then participants all shared reflections on the positive impact the person had had on them and/or the group process.

Laura receives her RAPP Social Justice Peer Educator Certificate!

Sharing memories generated lots of laughs, some tears, and a celebration of continual learning!

The evening was facilitated and emceed by Jojo!