Charles Gibson: Building Belonging on College Campuses
Charles Gibson is the Chief Engagement and Belonging Officer at Randolph College. He visits the Inclusion Catalyst to talk about fostering a culture of belongingness and home for Randolph Students.
Key Takeaways
Engagement and belonging work aims to make everyone feel at home on campus, focusing on authentic self-expression and learning from differences
Private colleges have more latitude in DEI efforts compared to public institutions facing political pressures
Religious/spiritual life on campus requires careful policy development to balance inclusivity with religious freedom
Assessment, active listening, and adaptability are crucial for effective DEI and interfaith initiatives.
This episode is produced in partnership with the Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center.
Inclusion Catalyst invites you to become our next guest host. Learn more here: http://inclusioncatalyst.com/join-us-as-a-guest-host/
Nadia Mian is the Senior Program Director at the Ralph W. Voorhees Center for Civic Engagement at Rutgers University. She visits the Inclusion Catalyst to discuss a very innovative faith-based housing initiative.
Key Takeaways
Dr. Mian is leading research on faith-based affordable housing, including a database of congregational housing projects across the U.S.
California's SB4 legislation allows houses of worship to bypass local zoning laws for affordable housing development, setting a potential model for other states.
Faith-based organizations are repurposing underutilized assets like parking lots for affordable housing and community services.
Internal congregational discussions and community engagement are crucial first steps before pursuing development projects.
This episode is produced in partnership with the Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center.
Inclusion Catalyst invites you to become our next guest host. Learn more here: http://inclusioncatalyst.com/join-us-as-a-guest-host/
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Theresa Lau: Exposing the Harmful Cuts in the 'Big, Beautiful' Budget Bill
Theresa Lau, Senior Policy Counsel, Eradicating Poverty at the Southern Poverty Law Center, visits with Mickey again to discuss the proposed federal budget cuts and their potential impacts on social programs and states.
The budget bill passed by the House contains massive tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, while making deep cuts to social safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP that help low-income families.
The SNAP (food stamps) program would see $300 billion in cuts over 10 years, leading to 4.6 million people losing benefits. States would be forced to pay 5-25% of SNAP costs, leading to harder decisions about who to cover.
Medicaid would see nearly $1 trillion in cuts over 10 years, resulting in 13.7 million people losing health coverage. Work reporting requirements and frequent renewals would also make it harder for eligible people to access Medicaid.
The bill also makes it harder for federal judges to hold government officials in contempt for ignoring court rulings, reducing accountability.
There is still time to influence the Senate version of the bill and push for fewer harmful cuts. Theresa recommends calling/emailing Congress, sharing personal stories, and supporting advocacy organizations like SPLC to fight these provisions.
This episode is produced in partnership with the Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center.
Inclusion Catalyst invites you to become our next guest host. Learn more here: http://inclusioncatalyst.com/join-us-as-a-guest-host/
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Federal Budget Cuts & Social Program Impact: Teresa Lau
Theresa Lau is Senior Policy Counsel, Eradicating Poverty at the Southern Poverty Law Center. Theresa and Mickey discuss the proposed federal budget cuts and their potential impacts on social programs and states.
Key Takeaways
Proposed budget includes hundreds of billions in cuts to critical human needs programs like Medicaid and SNAP
Cuts aim to fund tax breaks for corporations and wealthy individuals
Changes will disproportionately impact low-income families, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups
Public awareness and engagement is crucial to oppose these cuts and protect essential programs
This episode is produced in partnership with the Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center.
Inclusion Catalyst invites you to become our next guest host. Learn more here: http://inclusioncatalyst.com/join-us-as-a-guest-host/
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SB-17 Is Changing The Nonprofit Landscape
Dr. Johanna Moya Fábregas visits the SnapCast. Dr. Fábregas is the Executive Director of Con Mi MADRE, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering Latina girls and their loved ones through education and emotional support. We talk about Texas State Bill-Seventeen, which is known informally as “the anti-DEI law,” shutting down diversity, equity and inclusion offices like university LGBTQ+ centers. Among the things we discuss:
SB-17 is changing the nonprofit landscape, it's important to "SB-17 proof" your organization to continue doing the work
Difficult decisions must be made when you lead a nonprofit and the important thing is looking at the big picture and moving towards the decision that will ensure sustainable growth
Even during difficult times, the goal is to continue supporting all participants to the best of our ability
How can an organization that's run for 20 years continue to run for the next two decades?
Inclusion Catalyst invites you to become our next guest host. Learn more here: http://inclusioncatalyst.com/join-us-as-a-guest-host/
Welcome to Inclusion Catalyst, with your host Mickey Desai. We bring diversity leaders to the table to hear about current issues in diversity and inclusion, deconstructing complex social justice issues to showcase the best practices in our workplaces and our communities.
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