We would like to acknowledge that we are located on the unceded and occupied traditional territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of xʷməθkwəyəm ̓ (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səlílwətaɬ (Tsleil H -Waututh).
Virtual community circle for IBPOC woman and IBPOC non-binary people in STEM units at UBC
If you identify as IBPOC (Indigenous, Black, People of Colour) woman (both cis and trans identities) or IBPOC non-binary faculty, staff, post-doc or graduate student within STEM units at UBC, this year we invite you to ongoing supportive community conversations about your experiences within STEM.
These sessions will provide the space for IBPOC women and IBPOC non-binary people to come together and share their thoughts, experiences and feelings. We hope that these sessions will address the isolation that we face and will allow for community support and healing.
This is a pilot project that was initiated by Zoology Department’s EDIT (EDI for Trainees) and funded by the Faculty of Science with support from the Equity and Inclusion Office.
Details of the sessions
- Each 1.5 hour session will have a maximum of 15 participants and will be conducted over Zoom with a counsellor(s) who themselves will be an IBPOC woman.
- For this pilot, people will have an option of participating in a repeated cohort model in which the same group of participants will meet with the same counsellor to build a sense of community. This cohort can then be an ongoing resource to each other during months when there is no counsellor session.
- There will be separate sessions for trainees (post-doctoral fellows and graduate students) and for faculty and staff.
- We will ensure that we create a safe space for participants. For example, although people will be provided opportunities to speak, there is no requirement to speak and people can attend and just listen if they wish.
- These sessions are not formal structured group therapy sessions. Instead we work together to define our collaborative space.
- There is no requirement to be an expert or knowledgeable in equity and inclusion. People are all experts in their own lived experiences and we will provide an open and empathic space for all participants.
Why create a space for IBPOC Women and non-binary people within STEM?
- Many of us have identified the value of having a space to share how we are being impacted by events around us locally and globally.
- There seems to be an absence of these conversations within our faculty and departments.
- By working together, we may be able to support each other in communicating to our departments our experiences and needs.
- We hope to break down some of the silos across departments and further develop our network and community in solidarity.
Upcoming sessions
There are no upcoming sessions at the moment. We'll keep you posted!
