{"416941":{"#nid":"416941","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Diversity Roundtable Gets Theatric in Sixth Year","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EMicro-messages were one of the many topics explored at the Sixth Annual Diversity Roundtable on June 10.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003E\u201cStorytelling Salons\u201d took center stage during the morning portion of the event at the Ferst Center of the Arts, followed by a luncheon at the Student Center Ballroom.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EBoth the Storytelling Salons and luncheon highlighted how lived experiences are important aspects of diversity.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EDuring the morning session, storytellers explored a variety of diversity topics, including race relations, sexual violence, body image, class, shame, gender expressions, male oppression, and identity dichotomies. Storytellers included Jennifer Edwards, Mark Gindick, and Susan O\u2019Halloran, who are nationally acclaimed speakers and performers, and Tech\u2019s own Sonia Alvarez-Robinson and LaJauna Ellis.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003E\u201cI appreciate that Georgia Tech is providing us with an opportunity to discuss diversity and cultural issues,\u201d said Lisa Mitchem, senior associate director of the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. \u201cThese stories \u2014 and their potential impact in the workplace \u2014 were phenomenal.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EThis year, Institute Diversity\u2019s Staff Diversity, Inclusion, and Engagement (SDIE) team invited a more expansive audience to the Diversity Roundtable, which included Georgia Tech faculty and staff; community, civic, non-profit, government, industry, and professional organization leaders; and fellow diversity and inclusion practitioners. The theme of the luncheon was \u201cDeath by 1,000 Cuts: The Impact of Giants\u2026and Very Small Stings.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003E\u201cTogether, the programs were designed to juxtapose the lingering and detrimental impact of \u2018giant\u2019 life experiences with the insidious nature of \u2018small, yet stinging\u2019 micro-events that we repeatedly endure,\u201d said Cheryl Cofield, director of inclusion and engagement at Institute Diversity and primary choreographer of the event.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EPearl Alexander, executive director of SDIE at Institute Diversity, expanded on this idea.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003E\u201cMicro-messages are the little things that we do from a behavioral standpoint that diminish the way others feel,\u201d she said. \u201cConversely, when our intentions are not full of pretense or ego, these messages can be affirming, creating positive, inclusive, and inspiring interactions.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EThe SDIE team will continue to use the annual roundtable as one way to facilitate connection, engage employees in growing together, and enable diversity of talent to thrive on campus.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003E\u201cAs an ongoing initiative designed to help Georgia Tech reach its goal of inclusive excellence, the Diversity Roundtable is an experiential event, which features a series of powerful stories and small group dialogues,\u201d said Archie W. Ervin, vice president of Institute Diversity. \u201cThrough a uniquely crafted methodology, participants are able to safely, courageously share experiences that encourage them to notice the impact of behaviors on relationships.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EMany attendees were moved by the sharing of stories that took place.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003E\u201cI learned about the power of sharing stories and how these community conversations can bind together people who are hearing these stories, thus lowering barriers and enabling us to communicate better with one another,\u201d said Paul Goldbart, dean of the College of Sciences.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003ESusan O\u2019Halloran, one of the storytellers, explained why storytelling is so effective.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003E\u201cIt goes right to the heart,\u201d she said. \u201cYou can\u2019t argue with someone else\u2019s experience. Once you understand someone\u2019s experience, you can start to make connections.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EAs a follow-up to the Diversity Roundtable, Institute Diversity\u2019s SDIE team will host a conversation series that further explores micro-messages on July 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Center Crescent Room, and August 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Center Peachtree Room. To register for this conversation series, visit \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.c.gatech.edu\/micro-july22\u0022\u003Ewww.c.gatech.edu\/micro-july22\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.c.gatech.edu\/micro-aug14\u0022\u003Ewww.c.gatech.edu\/micro-aug14\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p6\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u2014 Christine Kapurch, Office of Human Resources, contributed to this story.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMicro-messages were one of the many topics explored at the Sixth Annual Diversity Roundtable on June 10.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Micro-messages were one of the many topics explored at the Sixth Annual Diversity Roundtable on June 10."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2015-06-22 09:38:08","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:18:41","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2015-06-22T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2015-06-22T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"416961":{"id":"416961","type":"image","title":"Cheryl Cofield at Diversity Roundtable 2015","body":null,"created":"1449254269","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 18:37:49","changed":"1475895155","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:52:35","alt":"Cheryl Cofield at Diversity Roundtable 2015","file":{"fid":"202567","name":"15c9017-p1-058.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/15c9017-p1-058_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/15c9017-p1-058_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":755696,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/15c9017-p1-058_0.jpg?itok=veMiVSQg"}},"416951":{"id":"416951","type":"image","title":"Mark Gindick at Diversity Roundtable 2015","body":null,"created":"1449254269","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 18:37:49","changed":"1475895155","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:52:35","alt":"Mark Gindick at Diversity Roundtable 2015","file":{"fid":"202566","name":"15c9017-p1-016.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/15c9017-p1-016_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/15c9017-p1-016_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":630975,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/15c9017-p1-016_0.jpg?itok=b0rTDAby"}}},"media_ids":["416961","416951"],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/diversity.gatech.edu\/","title":"Office of Institute Diversity"}],"groups":[{"id":"1313","name":"Institute Diversity"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"736","name":"diversity"},{"id":"10351","name":"inclusion"},{"id":"15362","name":"Office of Institute Diversity"},{"id":"8653","name":"Roundtable"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:annette.filliat@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAnnette Filliat\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EInstitute Diversity\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["annette.filliat@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}