Block 1
12:50-1:35PM
LAKE HURON
Not Just Book-Learning: Bringing non-academic
work experience to academia
Presenters: Marissa Knaak (she/her/hers) & Sam Smith (she/they)
This workshop focuses on how experience in jobs outside of academia can inform and support academic labor on all levels--not just for graduate research projects, but also for undergraduate students learning in a variety of ways and for educators looking to collaborate in new ways. The presenters will also consider how work looks different in various spaces, to different people, and then highlight how broader understandings of experience and work have positive outcomes. Through conversation with attendees, the speakers aim to expand the ways people think about work inside and outside of academia and provoke thought about how those experiences shape how people understand their past, present, and future.
LAKE MICHIGAN
The Power Within: What is it Like to be a Woman in Emergency Medicine?
Presenter: Dr. Brittany Ladson (she/her/hers)
What’s it like being a woman in emergency medicine? It means you can work hard, sometimes even harder than your male counterparts, to receive the same recognition. It can often mean making less than your counterparts. It means a lot of sacrifice. Being a woman in medicine is a tough job, but it may be more tough in emergency medicine. As a collective of hard working physicians and professionals, it’s important to validate our experiences and form a support network.
LAKE ERIE
Ending Salary Inequality for Social Workers
Presenter: Bella Martinek (she/her/hers)
The social work profession is commonly thought to be a female controlled career. Why then are we still seeing unequal levels of pay that cater to a patriarchal society? In this workshop Bella will discuss the magnitude of the gender pay gap in the field of social work and many ways to work towards the diminishment of said pay gap.
LAKE ONTARIO
Casual Sexism and its Contribution to the Patriarchy
Presenter: Ian Mihm (he/him/his)
This workshop is focused on sexism that intercedes itself into college culture (or young adult culture) without being noticed/being widely accepted as the norm. Ian will describe what he means by casual sexism, present common examples of microaggressions, define the patriarchy, and then make connections about how this casual sexism contributes to sustaining a patriarchal society.
LAKE SUPERIOR
Gender and Clothing; Style, Costuming, and Drag
Presenter: Tristian Laney (he/him/his)
In this workshop, Tristian Laney shares his experience with gender and dressing through a lighthearted deep dive into what it means to express oneself through clothing. From drag performance to business clothing to punky streetwear, this workshop hopes to bring out the style icon in everyone.
Block 2
1:40 - 2:25 PM
LAKE HURON
Fortified and Fugitive: A Multiracial Movement for the Win
Presenter: Autumn Brown (she/her/her) [Keynote Speaker]
What if a vibrant, multiracial movement for justice is within our grasp? What practices make it possible for us to not only build this movement, but to be its courageous membership? In this session, participants will explore how to cultivate mutual resilience so that we can more effectively resist the ideology of racial capitalism and racial practice, and Autumn will offer a set of practices for moving in formation and sustaining human connection as we navigate a time of rapid change.
LAKE MICHIGAN
Supporting Survivors
Presenters: Sarah Ghazal (she/her/hers) & Avvan Sanjana
This workshop will focus on how to support survivors of sexual violence. The presenters will define different forms of sexual violence that occur, then aim to teach people how to respond to disclosures in an affirming way. Sarah and Avvan will also discuss the scope of services from Center for Survivors (who is eligible) and ways to get involved with the Center for Survivors office. CW
LAKE ONTARIO
Reclaiming Self-Care: An Act of Self-Preservation
Presenter: Lamia Bagasrawala (she/her/hers)
This workshop will focus on care as a value-driven, community practice and encourage participants to (a) deconstruct the idea of self-care, (b) engage with community-based ideas of accessible self-care, and (c) reflect on personal practices for self-care. The process will be rooted in tenets of narrative practices, and rights-based, non-oppressive practices. Through reflections, discussions, and visual arts-based activities, the group will engage with the idea of self-care and communities of care guided by principles of decoloniality and social justice.
LAKE ERIE
Supporting the First-Generation Students of Today
Presenters: Shaina Jansen (she/her/hers) & Marlene Villa (she/her/hers)
In this session, the presenters will discuss the importance of knowing and supporting first-generation students on a large college campus. Shaina and Marlene will discuss the idea that "we have a whole community who we can lean on and go to for support" only feels true for first-generation students when support is in place to build that community. First-generation students hold multiple identities, so we will touch on the concept of intersectionality. Identities have a huge impact on everyone, as individuals, and how they perceive others as well. Lastly the workshop will address how MSU has been and will continue building support for these students.
LAKE SUPERIOR
Building Healthy Relationships
Presenters: Lara Hayden (they/them) and Casey Miles (she/they)
This workshop aims to teach skills used to build and maintain all types of healthy relationships that people may experience (romantic, platonic, professional, sexual, roommate, etc). Lara will highlight what an abusive relationship looks like, and how to support those impacted by relationship violence. Lastly, this workshop will share information about campus and community resources that are available to community members impacted by relationship violence. CW
Block 3
2:30 - 3:15 PM
LAKE MICHIGAN
The Power of We
Presenter: Rick Shafer (he/him/his)
Restorative Practices (RP) borrow heavily from indigenous communities (namely Odawa and Maori) and the ancient African concept of Ubuntu ("I am because we are"). As social beings, humans are hardwired with a deep need for connection and to be in relationship with others. This workshop will expose participants to a specific Restorative Practice called circles as a way to build community and capacity for both individuals and groups. This session has a max of 15 attendees.
LAKE HURON
Women Leadership vs Leadership
Presenter: Anjam Chaudhary (She/Elle)
When discussing men in leadership positions, people often omit gender descriptors to emphasize their leadership roles. However, when addressing women/womxn in leadership positions, acknowledging gender becomes crucial. This workshop will delve into the biases present when examining leadership through a gendered lens. Participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences and explore tools for challenging and changing the existing norms.
LAKE ERIE
Advocacy for Emergency Contraceptives
Presenters: Harsna Chahal, Mackenzie Lovell, Julia Walters
Emergency Contraceptives, also known as Plan B or "the morning after pill", is known to be expensive and inaccessible. There is a lot of stigma around the topic of emergency contraceptives. We will be discussing how to become an advocate for accessible and affordable emergency contraceptives for college students as well as resources available at MSU. The workshop will also include a craft!
LAKE ONTARIO
Patriarchy: It's More Than Horses
Presenter: Garrett McAlister (he/him/his)
The Barbie Movie was one of this summer's biggest blockbusters, but critics have wrongly claimed it to be anti-men. However, this film simply and purposefully pointed out how inequities around gender show up in the media and the real world. In this session we will explore how this film utilized narratives around patriarchy, challenged restrictive masculinity, championed gender liberation for all, and how in a world full of Kens, we can try to be an Alan.
LAKE SUPERIOR
Intro to StartSmart: Salary Negotiation for Students
Presenters: Ashley Bustamante (she/they) & Heather Shea (she/her/hers)
Empower yourself with skills to negotiate your way to success! Join our Intro to StartSmart Salary Negotiation Workshop and pave the way for a brighter financial future. AAUW Start Smart is an in-person workshop designed for students who are about to enter the job market. It teaches students how to negotiate for their first job and create a personal budget.