Campus Currents

To learn more, or to register for any of these events, visit:

https://www.framingham.edu/the-fsu-difference/arts-and-ideas/public-self-citizen-as-change-agent/

I Shimmer Sometimes, Too: A Poetry Performance and workshop by Porsha Olayiwola
February 4, 2021

Workshop: 12:30-1:30.

Oftentimes, the world feels like a dark place, scarier than we could have ever imagined, tougher than we know to navigate. More often than not, however, conquering requires us to take a route contrasting our horror. For example, in order to slay Medusa, Perseus did not look directly into the monster’s eyes, but instead, used a mirror and reflection to map his triumph. As writers, we often engage traumatic or troubling experiences that require us to dig close to the bone, dive directly into the dark. In this writing workshop, participants will explore lightness as a tool, framework and pedagogy. Inspired by a lecture from Italo Calvino and using the work of Natalie Diaz and Chrysanthemum Tran, participants in this generative workshop will write poems that use lightness as an imaginative tool to enter and exit the poem. In doing so, we’ll discover what happens when we reconfigure lightness as a lens into our dystopia.

Poetry Reading: 4:30-6 p.m.

Porsha Olayiwola, is a writer, performer, educator and curator who uses afro-futurism and surrealism to examine historical and current issues in the Black, woman, and queer diaspora. Her poetry and performances as well as her activist work around poetry and art has earned her position as the poet laureate of Boston. She will be performing poetry from her book, I Shimmer Sometimes, Too.

Olivia A. Davidson Voices of Color Lecture: Eddie Moore, "America is Changing, Are You Ready?
February 17, 2021, 4:30-6 p.m.

The keynote will challenge the audience to examine and explore issues related to bias, privilege, supremacy and belief systems. Additionally, we learn how to take action against individual and systemic bigotry, privilege and oppression. We need #MooreLeaders committed to justice, equity and change across America. Are you ready? Now Is The Time for us to be #MooreWoke and #MooreFocused on inspiring #MooreGoodTrouble

Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr. has pursued and achieved success in academia, business, diversity, leadership and community service. In 1996, he started America & MOORE, LLC to provide comprehensive diversity, privilege, leadership and #BecomingAntiRacist training/workshops. Dr. Moore is recognized as one of the nation’s top speakers and educators. His interview with Wisconsin Public Radio won the 2015 Wisconsin Broadcasters Association's Best Interview in Medium Market Radio, 1st Place, he is featured in the film “I’m not Racist….Am I?” and in the article "5 Clear Ways to Tell Whether You'll Be a Good Leader in 2021." Dr. Moore was recently named one of Wisconsin's 51 Most Influential Black Leaders and he is also the Founder/Program Director for the national/international White Privilege Conference (WPC). In 2014, Dr. Moore founded The Privilege Institute (TPI) which engages people in research, education, action and leadership through workshops, conferences, publications and strategic partnerships and relationships.

This event is co-sponsored by Arts & Ideas and the Center for Inclusive Excellence.

(Un)Documents: A Solo Theater Performance by Jesús Valles
February 24, 2021, 4:30-6 p.m.

In their acclaimed solo show, (Un)Documents, award-winning actor and poet Jesús I. Valles journeys across both sides of a river with two names, moving between languages to find their place in a nation that demands sacrifice at the altar of citizenship. In doing so, they create a new kind of documentation written with anger and fierce love.

Thursday, Feb. 18, 1:30 p.m.
Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-boys-beyond-stereotypes-a-call-to-action-registration-136312260641

As part of our commitment toward becoming an anti-racist institution, in recent months members of the FSU community have been encouraged to watch the documentary film Black Boys. The film takes a powerful look at the dehumanization of black males in the United States through "an intimate, intergenerational conversation at the intersection of sports, education, and criminal justice." We now have an opportunity to have an important discussion about the film with students, faculty, and staff in the FSU community, as well as members of the public. This panel discussion will include two of the film's commentators: Dr. Travis Bristol, Assistant Professor of Education at the University of California, Berkeley, and Mr. Conan Harris, former Executive Director of My Brother's Keeper Boston. Also speaking as a panelist will be FSU Mathematics and Secondary Education student Dan Karanja '21.

Prior to the event, be sure to watch the film, free of charge at: https://www.blackboysfilm.com

This event will take place over Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link after registering.

February 3, 2021
5-6:30 p.m.

Deanna Belleny is the co-founder and Director of Programs at Diversify Dietetics. She was inspired to found Diversify Dietetics after several thought-provoking personal experiences as a student and a dietetics professional of color. Deanna's practice background is in public health and healthcare quality improvement. She has worked for close to 10 years planning, implementing and evaluating programs that impact underrepresented minority groups. Additionally, she has trained numerous allied health teams and leaders in both professional and interpersonal skill development. She is passionate about equity and supporting students and professionals of color who wish to pursue a career in nutrition and dietetics. Deanna is also a founding member and co-organizer for the Boston Alliance for Diversity in Dietetics (BADD), a program designed to organize social justice-minded students, interns, and professionals in dietetics in the Boston area towards achieving diversity in the field of dietetics.

Collegiality: So you think you’re collegial?

February 10th and February 24th, 12:30 to 2 p.m.

RSVP to Professor Joe D'Andrea: jdandrea@framingham.edu
ZOOM: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82111161494

FSU is committed to the development of a collaborative community, so how should university members go about creating an environment in which behavior like collegiality is both expected and developed in the classroom, in the library, and in the office?

Please join us in a lunchtime discussion series about collegiality: Feb. 10 and Feb. 24, on Zoom. Discussion facilitated by Shin Freedman, Jim Freedman, and Joe D’Andrea.

Welcome Our New Director of Career Services and Employer Relations Rich Davino

Stop by our virtual meet and greet with our newly hired Director Rich Davino, Friday, January 29, noon to 1pm. You will have an opportunity to make a future meeting with Rich or simply do a brief introduction.

Sorry – no refreshments this time around, but you can learn how CSER is working with our students during remote learning and check-in with the great team of career professionals.

Click Here for the Zoom Room Location or email Rachel Lucking (rlucking@framingham.edu) to receive a calendar invite for your records.

The Independent Association of Framingham State Alumni (IAFSA) is hosting a series of Coffee and Conversations virtually on Zoom.

The series continues January 26th with Debbie Cleveland discussing pioneer Massachusetts State Representative Barbara Gray and her memoir, A Woman's Ways and Means, which Debbie co-authored. This will be an interesting discussion of women in politics and Gray’s legacy.

Attendees are encouraged to engage in conversations after her presentation.

The Coffee and Conversations monthly series creates a forum for fellowship amongst FSC/FSU alumni and the larger community. Each session will showcase the accomplishments of one FSC/FSU alumni who will provide an overview of their work since graduating.

Please RSVP to receive the zoom link https://coffeeandconvojan21.eventbrite.com

-Dr. Thomas Koshy, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, and Dr. Zhenguag Gao, Associate Professor of Computer Science, have co-authored an article, titled "Extended Gibonacci Sums of Polynomial Products of Order 3." It appeared in The Fibonacci Quarterly, 58:4 (2020), pp. 291-299.