Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Resources

Faculty and Staff Current Reading

Not Light, but Fire: How to Lead Meaningful Race Conversations in the Classroom (1st Edition) by Matthew R. Kay is a practical guide for educators who want to engage students in meaningful discussions about race. The book addresses the challenges teachers face when facilitating conversations on such a sensitive and complex topic. Kay emphasizes that these conversations are not about creating discomfort or conflict, but about fostering understanding, empathy, and critical thinking.

The central idea of the book is that educators need to approach discussions of race with intentionality, preparation, and care. Kay provides specific strategies for creating a safe and respectful classroom environment, guiding students through tough discussions, and using race-related issues as a tool for deeper learning. The book is framed around real-world classroom scenarios and includes practical advice for handling resistance, managing conflict, and ensuring that all students feel heard and respected.
Key elements of the book include:
  1. Creating the Right Classroom Culture: Kay discusses how to establish a classroom environment that encourages openness, respect, and curiosity about race and identity.
  2. Building Trust and Community: The importance of establishing trust with students so that they feel comfortable engaging in vulnerable conversations about race.
  3. Addressing Emotional Reactions: Kay offers strategies for navigating the emotional intensity that often accompanies discussions about race, both from students and teachers.
  4. Facilitating Productive Conversations: The book provides techniques for framing and guiding conversations in ways that promote reflection, empathy, and critical thinking rather than division or defensiveness.
  5. Dealing with Resistance: Kay offers advice on how to handle students who may be resistant to engaging in race discussions, including strategies for overcoming defensiveness and fostering a growth mindset.
Throughout, Kay draws on his own experiences as a teacher, offering both theoretical insights and practical tools to help educators lead impactful, thoughtful, and inclusive conversations on race in the classroom.

Overall, Not Light, but Fire is a resource aimed at equipping teachers with the skills and knowledge necessary to create a classroom environment where meaningful, challenging, and transformative conversations about race can take place.


Professional Development

    • Lunch and Learn

A "lunch and learn" is an informal training session or presentation that takes place during the lunch break at work, where Notre Dame employees gather to learn about a specific topic while eating lunch, often provided by the company, allowing for a casual setting to share knowledge and develop skills with colleagues.

Key Points of Lunch and Learn:
  • Informal setting -
The main characteristic is a relaxed atmosphere where employees can openly discuss and ask questions. 

  • Learning opportunity -
The focus is on acquiring new knowledge or skills related to work, personal development, or company initiatives. 

  • Interest/Topics - Employees typically choose to attend based on their interest in the topic. 

  • Can be presented by anyone - Colleagues with expertise on a subject can present information during a lunch and learn. 

  • Benefits for the company - Can boost employee morale, foster collaboration, and promote knowledge sharing across teams. 



Topics Covered:
  • Neuro-Diversity and Accommodations
  • Introduction to Social Justice Standards
  • How does our Faith call us to respond? A Guide to Catholic Social Teaching
  • Engaging in Difficult Conversations about Race- Avoiding Micro Aggressions and Utilizing MicroInterventions
  • Building an Inclusive Library: And Other information to help with classroom Instruction
  • NAIS POCC/Share out
  • Gender and Underrepresentation in STEAM
  • How to Talk about Gender and Pronouns in the Classroom
  • Art & Activism: Teaching Students to Use Their Agency
  • Supporting Students in Crisis: Addressing Mental Health Challenges
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