September 18 - 19, 2024
Student Union Ballroom and Campus Center
Registration is Closed
With its large and diverse population of students, faculty, and staff, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is committed to building a community where every individual feels a sense of belonging.
To kick off the new academic year, the UMass community is invited to participate in the third annual Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) conference. JEDI features a series of educational workshops, talks, panels, and networking events.
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
Registration for JEDI 2024 is closed, however walk-ins are welcome for the Wednesday, September 18 keynote sessions if space permits. Attendees may also tune in via livestream on this day.
Registration for workshops on Thursday September 19th are also closed, and walk-ins cannot be accommodated, but we will provide resources from presenters on the OEI website.
Watch the Livestream
The livestream will begin at 12:00 PM on Wednesday, September 18th.
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
11:00 AM, Student Union Ballroom
11:00 - 12:00 PM, Student Union Ballroom
Elena Li, Manning College of Information and Computer Science and Psychological Brain Sciences
Fostering Belonging: An Intergroup Contact Intervention in Public Parks
Samyuktha Badri, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
US Cannabis Social Equity Programs and State Legal Cannabis Market Performances
Lunch and Opening Remarks
12:00 - 12:30 PM, Student Union Ballroom
12:30-1:30 PM, Student Union Ballroom
This year we welcome new leadership to the UMass Community! Join us in this panel discussion moderated by Vice Chancellor Marsha McGriff to learn about the values, vision, and mission of our new leadership. Panelists include:
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Fouad Abd-El-Khalick, Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
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Nandita S. Mani, Deputy Chancellor for Institutional Effectiveness
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Sheri Neshiem, Vice Chancellor and Chief Human Resources Officer
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Shelly Perdomo-Ahmed, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life
1:45 - 2:45 PM, Student Union Ballroom
What is dialogue? How is it different from discussion or debate, and how can dialogue practices foster understanding and build bridges across divides when guided by skilled facilitators? This session will introduce participants to various streams of dialogue, highlight key practice principles, share examples of how dialogue is currently being utilized at UMass, and provide information about how community members can learn more and get involved! The team of presenters includes:
- Dave Neely, Director of Diversity Education and Training, Student Affairs and Campus Life
- Cheryl Ponder, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Advocacy, Inclusion, and Support Programs
- Penn Pritchard, Senior Director for Education and Development, Office of Equity and Inclusion
- Ximena Zuniga, Professor of Education, Social Justice Education
This presentation is designed to explore the critical impact and harms of social media/technology on mental health and community wellbeing. It explores how the emergence of social media correlates with significant increases in a range of individual mental health outcomes, including anxiety and loneliness as well as flourishing. This session will also explore the relationship between technology, focus, and learning and consider how social media impacts the critical elements of community such as engagement and belonging, and also polarization and social unrest. Finally, this talk will encourage individuals to implement tools and strategies for technology use that supports wellbeing, and to discuss what structures and strategies can be created to mediate the negative impacts on community.
Presented by Betsy Cracco, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Campus Life and Wellbeing and Dr. Kofi-Charu Nat Turner, Department Chair of Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies in the College of Education
, Student Union, Room 405
Full JEDI Program
For a comprehensive program of JEDI 2024 talks, workshops, poster sessions, exhibits, and more, please view our detailed schedule online or download our program [PDF].
