Division of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

3-4:45 pm
Sherman Function Hall, Hassenfeld Conference Center

Join us in welcoming everyone to our learning space and hear opening remarks from Elizabeth Solomon, from the Massachusett people, and Roaming Buffalo, from the Pawtucket/Pennacook/Abenaki peoples.

Indigenous Opening for the Circle and Our Hearts:
Roaming will offer a heart-centered Indigenous opening to a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging based conversation between Brandeis and Massachusett at Ponkapoag Elder Elizabeth Soloman. This will be Roaming's fifth Indigenous-centric opening on campus to welcome in the Ancestors of the Land where our campus sits and the Ancestors of those who have come to be with us and hold our hearts on opening night and throughout the three days of DEIS Impact campus engagement.

Building upon the opening offered by Roaming Buffalo, Ms. Solomon will lead an exploration of the millennial-long histories of this place, the peoples who have always lived with this place, and the opportunities (and challenges) of building right relationships with all who currently live with and in this place.

We will also hear from Interim President, Arthur Levine and Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, LeManuel "Lee" Bitsóí as well as our event organizers Peter Rojas, Director of the Intercultural Center, and Jamie Wire, Director of the Gender and Sexuality Center. 

5-6:45pm
Sherman Function Hall, Hassenfeld Conference Center

We will be screening Shared Legacies, Produced by Spill The Honey and Directed by Dr. Shari Rogers. 

The crucial historical lessons of Black-Jewish cooperation are revisited and revived in this utterly fascinating, urgent call to action.

Common cause was found in the turbulent ‘60s Civil Rights era, as Jewish leaders backed Dr. King’s efforts at racial equality and harmony. Yet, the relationship has frayed in recent years, as a once mighty bond of support and respect has seemingly faded, been forgotten or ignored.

Pivotal events come alive through a treasure trove of archival materials, narrated by eyewitnesses, activists, Holocaust survivors, and leaders of the movement, including prominent Atlantans such as Congressman John Lewis, Amb. Andrew Young, Rabbi Alvin Sugarman, Rabbi Peter S. Berg, Oscar-winning actor Louis Gossett Jr., members of the King family, and many others.

With divisive seeds of hate taking root anew in the American landscape, a new generation also affirms their pledge to actively promote the values of social justice. This potent, inspiring story of unity, empathy and partnership validates the ubiquity of the human experience, and how freedom and equality for all can be achieved only when people come together.

Awards

• Building Bridges Jury Prize - Atlanta Jewish Film Festival 2020
• ​Audience Favorite Award - Mayerson JCC Jewish & Israeli Film Festival
• ​Pittsburgh Jewish Film Festival - Best Documentary 

6:45-7:30pm
Sherman Function Hall, Hassenfeld Conference Center

Join us for a keynote speech by The Rev. Dr. William Joseph Barber II! 

“William Barber is the closest person we have to Martin Luther King, Jr. in our midst."
— Dr. Cornel West

• President - Repairers of the Breach
• Co-Chair - Poor People's Campaign
• NYT Best-Selling Author

Read The Rev. Dr. William Joseph Barber II's full biography. 

7:30-8pm
Sherman Function Hall, Hassenfeld Conference Center

Join us for a Question & Answer session with The Rev. Dr. William Joseph Barber II. We will be discussing the importance of coalition building, his life's work, and advice for young activists!

3-3:45pm
Hassenfeld Conference Center

• Lurias 1 - Accountability in Relationships: Harnessing Our Values to Create Healthy Relationships - Becca Van Spall-Hood, Julia Hardy, & Hedy Yang
  • This workshop will focus on the ways we are all capable of causing harm, and thus, we are all capable of creating safety and solutions in relationships.
• Lurias 2 - DE&I in Focus: Evolution, Impacts, and the Jewish Experience - Dr. Liora Norwich & Leora Kirk
  • This presentation examines the evolution of DE&I policies in the workplace, exploring their strengths, weaknesses, and real-world implications. We will define DE&I’s core principles, assess how these policies work to shape business environments, and address growing calls for reform or dismantlement.
• Lurias 3 - Pedagogy and Practice of Power: Movement Leaders and Stories They Lived to Retell - Cameron Samuels, Mazzi Ingram, & Gianna Crisha Saludo
  • By engaging policymakers, press, partnerships, and people, the most impactful and well-rounded social movements leverage meaningful relationships to generate power at the grassroots. Presented by internationally-recognized youth movement leaders in the field of LGBTQ+, education, and climate justice, this session will equip attendees with critical perspectives from the field to inspire creative outlooks on the world's most pressing issues. Policy change doesn't occur in a vacuum – we have lessons to learn across time and space. This presentation by seasoned student leaders will weave together the pedagogy and practice of power, encouraging participants to relate to and replicate social transformation.
• Levine Ross 1 - Is Triple Majoring Bad for Mental Health? Leveraging Awareness, Allyship, Advocacy and Activism to Improve Community Wellbeing - Erica Hwang, Rachel Spekman, & Leah Berkenwald
  • Mental health challenges affect all Brandeisians, but disproportionately impact people with marginalized identities. This workshop will address strategies to positively impact mental health and community wellness at each level of the socio-ecological model.
• Levine Ross 2 - Allyship in Action: Exploring Black Identity & Strengthening Coalitions - Elena Lewis, Lidia Ghebremeskel, & Divine Mebune Nkwelle
  • In her book ‘Race and Restorative Justice,’ Fania E. Davis says "Freedom is found not in separation but in the unity of communities coming together for justice and collective well-being.' Fundamentally, allyship should go beyond symbolic gestures to focus on coalition-building for inclusive advocacy. This session will explore historical struggles, the power of solidarity, and Black leadership success stories to strengthen relationships and promote restorative justice. Our focus would be on: Coalition building as a model for inclusive advocacy, Affirming personal uniqueness and identity as a driver of cultural agility, Using restorative practices to support both individual recovery and broader societal change.
• Geller - ACE in Education: Allyship, Community, and Empathy in Classrooms - Ria Escamilla-Gil &  Rachel Kramer Theodorou
  • Including personal reflections and sharing lessons as volunteers, educators, and community members, listeners will have an opportunity to reflect on their roles in allyship with immigrants in their community and beyond. This presentation will give an insight on how the classroom have a powerful impact in empowering and supporting immigrants. With diverse perspectives, this presentation will give a view into the intersectional field of education and how one can use their passions for community service and advocacy to uplift immigrants and provide them support that they need. In a time where it is especially needed, community members will receive a call to action and be provided with a space to think critically and learn.

4-4:45pm
Hassenfeld Conference Center

• Lurias 1 - An Introduction to LGBTQIA+ Allyship - Gender and Sexuality Center Peer Educators
  • In this workshop, participants will be introduced to LGBTQ+ identities and topics. The primary focus of this learning experience is exploring respectful and health behaviors for allies. This is a great place to start if the attendees have little to no background knowledge about the LGBTQ+ community. 
• Lurias 2 - Activism Beyond the Limits of Legislation - Kiwa Shinoda & Aviva Gornick
  • Our research aims to encapsulate the realities, both productive and restrictive, of legislation. The first component of the workshop focuses on presenting findings from our research. The results of our study point to the variable impact of state-level environmental justice designations on local climate action. The following segment will be an interactive discussion on tangible climate action that works beyond the legislative capacities of the state. Our workshop aims to encourage audiences to envision alternative ways to enact change without sole reliance on government actors.
• Lurias 3 - TB Disparities in Asian American Communities - Xudong Jiang
  • This workshop investigates why Asian Americans have the highest TB incidence in the U.S. despite overall lower health risks. Through analyzing case studies and immigration policies, participants will explore community-based and policy-driven solutions to reduce disparities. Ideal for those interested in infectious diseases, global health, and medical anthropology.
• Levine Ross 1 - "Unobscuring" the Complexities of Local Government - David Weinstein, Luke Farberman, & Rebekah Marvel
  • In this interactive VoteDeis Campus Coalition workshop, participants will learn about the different roles and people in local government, and will feature local government officials so they can directly inform the audience and take questions. By “unobscuring” the roles and duties of these local government positions, audience members will gain a greater understanding of how their vote is influential not just on a national stage (for president), but matter greatly on state and local levels.
• Levine Ross 2 - Social Justice in the Plural: Perspectives from Jewish Organizations - Edith Pick & Gabriella Chiquiar-Rabinovich
  • What do diversity and inclusion mean for Jewish activists and civil society organizations? What values guide their thinking? Which communities do they serve? What does justice mean for them? Jewish communities are politically diverse, and Jewish identity is multifaceted, spanning religious, cultural, ethno-racial, and national dimensions. Israel-Palestine plays a central and contested role in shaping diaspora life. This session explores how this case study illuminates the intersection of identity, diversity, and activism. We will share emerging questions and initial observations from research in progress and reflect on how U.S. political shifts and the painful war in the Middle East shapes Jewish diaspora activism, advocacy, and allyship.
• Geller - People Power Change: Intersectional Climate Justice Activism - Sabine von Mering, Emily Moreno, Lana Taffel, & Martaveous Gregory
  • After 2023 beat 100,000 years of heat records, 2024 beat that record yet again. Human activity is systematically making our planet uninhabitable. Although people around the world are already suffering the consequences of extreme weather events, many vote for candidates who deny or downplay the reality of climate change. Our panel we will discuss why climate change, even though it poses an existential threat to human survival on planet Earth, is often ignored even by social justice activists. We will illustrate and advocate for intersectional climate activism that reveals the connections between climate disruption and other forms of oppression and forges powerful alliances with advocates for racial, migrant, labor and gender justice.

5-5:45pm
Hassenfeld Conference Center

• Lurias 1 - Climate Café - Sami Aaron & Anne Melia from The Resilient Activist
  • Resilience grows from community. As we envision a greener Earth, the new year offers a chance to unite. Together, we’ll cultivate strength, nurturing our planet and each other. This shared mission transforms our work into a powerful force for renewal. The Resilient Activist Climate Café Gatherings offer a valuable opportunity to connect with a community that gets you, fill your cup, and gain resilience insights. Our community is full of folks who are experiencing many of the emotions that climate change has brought out in your heart and mind.
• Lurias 2 - Brandeis Fall 2024 Menstrual Product Access Survey: Quantitative Findings - ENACT Research and Advocacy Fellows: Jovita Bell ‘25, Happy Emmanuel ‘27, Rachel Gao ‘25, Vickie Hsieh ‘25, and Lev Sewald ‘26. With Dr. Charlotte Powley 
  • The ENACT Research and Advocacy Fellowship affords Brandeis students the opportunity to collaborate with a group of their peers to engage in on campus research followed by an on campus change project. In this presentation, the Fellows will describe their research, which includes quantitative data from the Brandeis Menstrual Product Access Survey. The Survey was administered in the Fall of 2024 and explored how Brandeis students are managing menstruation on campus.
• Geller - An Introduction to the Gender Identity Spectrum - Gender and Sexuality Center Peer Educators
  • In this workshop, participants will be introduced to the Gender Identity Spectrum and will learn about gender-expansive identities (transgender, non-binary, genderqueer, agender, etc). This educational experience is great for attendees who have some background knowledge about the LGBTQ+ community but want to learn more about gender identity. 

6-6:45pm
Hassenfeld Conference Center

• Lurias 1 - Climate Café - Sami Aaron & Anne Melia from The Resilient Activist
  • Resilience grows from community. As we envision a greener Earth, the new year offers a chance to unite. Together, we’ll cultivate strength, nurturing our planet and each other. This shared mission transforms our work into a powerful force for renewal. The Resilient Activist Climate Café Gatherings offer a valuable opportunity to connect with a community that gets you, fill your cup, and gain resilience insights. Our community is full of folks who are experiencing many of the emotions that climate change has brought out in your heart and mind.
• Lurias 2 - Brandeis Fall 2024 Menstrual Product Access Survey: Qualitative Findings - ENACT Research and Advocacy Fellows: Maria Antonio ‘26, Alyssa Golden ‘26, Aviva Gornick ‘25, Melora Hutcheson ‘25, Gerardo Enrique Rios Ramirez ‘27. With Dr. Charlotte Powley
  • The ENACT Research and Advocacy Fellowship affords Brandeis students the opportunity to collaborate with a group of their peers to engage in on campus research followed by an on campus change project. In this presentation, the Fellows will describe their research, which includes qualitative data from the Brandeis Menstrual Product Access Survey. The Survey was administered in the Fall of 2024 and explored how Brandeis students are managing menstruation on campus.
• Lurias 3 - Immigrant Organizing for Human Rights and Immigration Policy Reform - Prof. Alexandra Piñeros Shields & Chloe Morales
  • Come learn about the organizing networks and strategies immigrants use to work towards justice for their communities. The presenters, both immigrants, will share case studies from their own communities. Students will learn about the landscape of immigrant-led activism in the greater Boston area and how to get involved if they are interested. We will present the policy context for the current dynamics immigrants are experiencing now. We will also discuss the psychological toll of these policies, particularly how the fear of deportation, family separations, and barriers to healthcare access contribute to poor mental health outcomes such as chronic stress, anxiety, and trauma within immigrant communities.
• Levine Ross 1 - Organizing for Change: From Ideas to Action - David Weinstein, Nova Brent, & Yoni Kahn 
  • Through this interactive VoteDeis Campus Coalition activity, participants will learn how fellow Brandeis community members are already involved in organizing and advocating for change, will brainstorm ideas for creating change, and will draft action plans regarding campus/community-wide initiatives. Overall, this event will encourage participants to engage in community organizing/advocacy and show them that they have the skills to begin an initiative themselves or volunteer their efforts for ongoing initiatives on campus or locally.
• Geller - From Polarization to Dialogue: Bridging Divides Through Understanding - Nathan Subrahmanian & Lance Gutin
  • In an era of rising political polarization, the belief that those across the aisle are ignorant, blind, or bigoted has proliferated. This presentation argues that reunifying the U.S. requires understanding how opposing sides form their beliefs and worldviews. Condescension and dismissal often shut down rational dialogue and fuel emotional defensiveness, which stifles growth and empathy. To bridge divides, we must engage with the cultural backgrounds, daily lives, and influences that shape the perspectives of those we disagree with. By exploring how Americans in different communities live and think, we aim to foster understanding, find common ground, and create pathways for meaningful dialogue, even on the most contentious issues.

7-8pm
Sherman Function Hall, Hassenfeld Conference Center

We are ending our second day of DEIS Impact with an Alumni Panel in the hope that our attendees are inspired by the careers of our panelists to use their Brandeis education as a launching pad for social justice work. The panel will consist of Alumni from a variety of graduating years, degree programs, and career paths to give participants a broad understanding of the many ways people can engage with social justice. 

Featuring:

• Rev. Emmanuel "Manny" Daphnis '98 - Pastor & Community Advocate
• Audrey Etlinger '07, MPP'10 - Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health, Cambridge Health Alliance
• Jessica Sanon MBA'18 - Founder and CEO of sySTEMic Flow
• Talia Franks '18, MA'19 - Paralegal Studies Student at Boston University
• Jonathan Goldman '19 - Student Clinic for Immigrant Justice
• Alexandra Pineros Shields PhD'07 - Heller MPP Director & ACLU Board Member
• John Valinch MPP/MBA'20 - ESG Analyst

Rap and Redemption on Death Row: Seeking Justice and Finding Purpose Behind Bars,
A Conversation with Alim Braxton and Mark Katz

Hosted by Compact & BEJI

• 3pm - Lyric Workshop with Muslim Chaplin, Harun Spevack - Rapaporte Treasure Hall
• 4pm-5:30pm - Keynote with Mark Katz and Alim Braxton - Rapaporte Treasure Hall

3-5:30pm
Lurias, Hassenfeld Conference Center

Sami Aaron & Anne Melia from The Resilient Activist

This workshop guides participants to create a personal activism plan imbued with self-care techniques and strategies to boost personal well-being. Attendees will be equipped with the tools to reduce, reframe, and release activities that no longer bring them joy, allowing time and resources to be directed toward more uplifting, rewarding, and sustainable actions.

By reflecting on activities with clarity of intention and self-compassion, participants will create a more resilient life. Align your actions with your values and take home hope for the future.

What will participants learn?
Keys to being resilient and how they can help you thrive.
Ways to nurture optimism and joy in your life even during times of stress or overwhelm.
Strategies for gaining perspective and prioritizing what matters.
Tools for reducing anxiety and re-centering yourself and your activism.

Turn Despair into Determination
Anger into Action
Activism into Self-Care

5-7:30pm
Sherman Function Hall

Put all the knowledge you gained from DEIS Impact into use by connecting with local non-profits and organizations, as well as Brandeis service-oriented clubs, that are focused on creating positive community change. We will have ~20 organizations visiting from the greater Boston area. They will share with attendees their mission, strategies, and, most importantly, how you can get involved. There will also be a food truck provided as we close out this year's DEIS Impact social justice festival!

View our list of community engagement partners!

Brandeis Congress: Student-led Policymaking 101
Date & Time: March 12, 2025 12:00PM to 2:00PM | Location: Lurias, Hassenfeld Conference Hall

Want to make a real and lasting impact on campus and beyond?

Join the Brandeis Congress, an interactive policymaking experience that puts YOU in the seat of change. This hands-on workshop introduces students to grassroots legislation, participatory democracy, and real-world advocacy—giving you the tools to turn ideas into action.

What You’ll Gain:
Learn the fundamentals of legislation & policymaking—no experience needed!
Gain familiarity of Robert's Rules of Order for structured and effective debates.
Collaborate in issue-based committees to draft real bills & resolutions.
Experience the legislative process firsthand.
Build skills in public speaking, leadership, and policymaking.

The Brandeis Congress is a workshop designed to empower Brandeis students by introducing them to grassroots legislation and policymaking. Recognizing the gap in accessible policymaking education for students, this initiative addresses a critical need for democratic engagement on campus and in the broader community. The Brandeis Congress strives to enhance democratic participation in student governance and promote a student-led culture of participatory democracy. This program not only prepares students for active roles within Brandeis but also seeks to inspire sustained community involvement beyond Brandeis—shaping informed, engaged, and critical citizens.

1pm
Rose Art Museum

Join us at the Rose Art Museum for a tour highlighting works in Leonora Carrington: Dream Weaver and Hugh Hayden: Home Work which touch on themes of allyship, advocacy, activism, and action. Each exhibition engages with the Surrealist concept of the "uncanny" - how can we look at an off-kilter or broken world, and work together to make something perhaps unfamiliar, but new and hopeful? Learn more about the current exhibitions.