Welcome to our February 2025 newsletter. Apart from being the month of love across the world, February is the month to honor the contributions of African Americans and their roles in U.S. history. For most Black people it is also a time to reflect on the pride of being Black and to celebrate the Black culture.
Also, this month is the time to reflect on the sacrifices and triumphs of Black Americans, and to recognize their central role in American history. Most importantly, this month is a time to recognize the unifying power of Blackness and to invite others to join in the celebration.
The University of Vermont community did not lose sight of celebrating this important month. That is why we have so many activities organized by different groups of people who identify as blacks and one of them was the Black Student Union Fashion show. The Black Student Union was established in 2003 at the University of Vermont for students who are interested in learning about Black Culture. Black Student Union serves as a refuge for students of color to express their views and ideas, and also to help facilitate cultural and worthwhile works amongst people from all backgrounds in an academic and community environment. They welcome all students (not just students of color) to become educated in our history and to find ways to better community and society. I was fortunate to celebrate this year’s fashion show with them and I felt so fulfilled to be there. Below is a picture of the leadership to feed your eyes.
(Photo above: UVM Black Student Union leaders.)
Last week, we heard from our interim president, Dr. Prelock, that “We pride ourselves on the bonds we share as Catamounts. That unity doesn’t take days off—especially the difficult days.” Despite the political climate and the uncertainties, UVM is moving forward with its regular activities around Inclusive Excellence and the fulfillment of Our Common Ground. As you know, it is that time when prospective students visit college campuses to get a firsthand feel for the campus environment, assess if it's a good fit for them by experiencing the facilities, interacting with current students and faculty, learning about academic programs, and gaining a better understanding of campus life, which can significantly influence their decision on where to attend college. This month, I was honored to join Tammy Bender’s CNHS advising team to welcome some of our prospective students.
(Photo below: Sefakor with Grace, Kaylee, and Jamie)
(Photo above: Sefakor discusses her memoir, I'm ABLE, on Town Meeting TV.)
On the international level where I also belong, two special things happened to my memoir, and I would like to share them with you. First, as a member of Polio Survivors Network, my memoir, I’M ABLE: A Woman’s Advice for Disability Change Agents was reviewed by the Polio Network in the USA and shared with the world. I also joined my other international advocates to celebrate the World Peace and Understanding Day, which comes every February 23rd but seems to be a very invisible day. This year, I was honored and empowered at the Town Meeting TV to talk about my memoir, I’M ABLE, as the first African woman author with a disability in Vermont. On this platform, I talked about Wholistic Care for Persons with Disabilities as much as whole health (physical, mental, social, spiritual, community, and ecological well-being). Wellness is aligned with social connectivity and community building in Ubuntu. To some of us, we strongly believe that “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that” by Martin Luther King, Jr., and that is why World Peace and Understanding Day reminds us of the crucial role understanding and dialogue play in achieving a peaceful world, especially in the lives of people with disabilities. As you know, by embracing understanding, empathy, and collaboration, we can build a more peaceful and harmonious world for everyone.
Finally, as I announced to you the last time during our faculty and staff meeting, there are some exciting partnerships on the horizon between CNHS, LCOM, and UVMMC to further our ability to host speakers and events, and to support our students in finding mentorship and a sense of belonging. I will soon send you the request form to send me your favorite speakers from each department to facilitate this inter-college partnership. As I always say, I have been continually uplifted by our Committee of Inclusive Excellence (CIE) and motivated by our CNHS community, seeing how much people care about inclusive excellence, health equity, our mission at CNHS, and advancing our initiatives. Thank you all for being part of this journey with me.
“Cross the river in a crowd, and the crocodile will not eat you.” - an African proverb
In my health promotions class this week, we discussed tools developed by Dr. Phil Stutz while exploring the ‘Theory of Stress and Coping,’ which I think are worth sharing here. One of his key points is that there are three aspects of reality no one can avoid: 1) pain, 2) uncertainty, and 3) constant work.
Right now, it feels like these truths are especially amplified! Embracing these realities helps us continue to move forward and reminds us that, even in adversity, there is great opportunity.
I also want to remind everyone to please fill out the campus climate survey! Like all surveys, there are limitations, but it is an important tool in understanding how we—faculty, staff, and students—experience and perceive our UVM community. The more voices we have, the more accurate the results will be, and the clearer our understanding of the larger picture.
Finally, let us remember that we are stronger together. As we work towards advancing health and health equity, we must acknowledge the harm that has been inflicted upon some populations while also celebrating all that we have in common. In the wise words of Dr. Sandro Galea, “Diversity and inclusion are central to creating a healthier world. Fundamentally, health is concerned with supporting the well-being of populations, and by ‘populations,’ we mean as many people as possible. We cannot effectively promote health among such a diverse constituency without reflecting and learning from the people we serve.”
In solidarity,
Noah Barclay-Derman
(Photo above: Members of FAM.)
Faculty Corner
This month, we are hearing about the wonderful work of our Nursing Department.
FAM Program: Supporting BIPOC Students in Nursing and Medicine
We are thrilled to kick off the second year of the University of Vermont Health Professions Finding Affinity and Mentorship (FAM) Program, a transformative initiative aimed at supporting BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) students in our nursing, medical and allied health programs at UVM. This innovative mentorship program fosters a sense of community while enhancing the mentorship skills of participants.
The FAM Program uses a cluster-based mentorship model, bringing together BIPOC mentors from diverse graduate education levels, including graduate nursing and medical students, residents, fellows, faculty, and working professionals. These mentors support first-year medical students and third- and fourth-year undergraduate nursing students in small, regular pod meetings. This approach creates an inclusive, supportive environment where participants can grow both personally and professionally.
Benefits for Mentees:
Receive guidance from mentors with similar experiences and backgrounds.
Build a sense of belonging within the BIPOC community at UVM.
Participate in interprofessional learning and networking opportunities.
Benefits for Mentors:
Enhance mentorship skills through formal training workshops and informal role modeling.
Contribute to fostering a supportive environment for BIPOC students.
Gain valuable experience in interprofessional collaboration and leadership.
Program Structure:
Cluster Meetings: Pods meet monthly, with additional one-on-one or smaller group meetings as needed.
Social Events: Quarterly events designed to build community and connections.
Mentorship Skills Development: Workshops and presentations to enhance mentorship skills for both mentors and mentees.
January and February Highlights:
In January, FAM members gathered at Zero Gravity for a dinner and discussion focused on mental wellness during Vermont's winter season, providing both support and valuable insights. In February, FAM, in partnership with the Racial Equity and Cultural Humility (REACH) Employee Resource Group at UVMMC, supported the screening of Everybody’s Work: Healing What Hurts Us All. Two of our FAM members, Islane Louis and FAM co-director Tony Williams, participated as panelists in the discussion following the screening. Looking ahead, FAM is also sponsoring a Mentoring Skills Workshop on February 19th, led by the Stanford Medicine Teaching and Mentoring Academy. This workshop will focus on enhancing active listening and feedback skills for health professions, ensuring continued growth for both mentors and mentees. The FAM Program is committed to cultivating an inclusive and empowering environment, supporting CNHS BIPOC students in their academic and professional journeys. We look forward to another year of collaboration, mentorship, and shared growth.
Student Corner
Recently, Kaleidoscope came up with a very great idea to have a Kaleidoscope Happy Mornings with coffee and donuts to create more awareness about their existence despite all odds. Our first coffee/donuts outreach initiative was a huge success! They realized that majority of people who stopped in were Physical Therapy students, but that’s still about 30 CNHS students who now know about Kaleidoscope who weren’t aware of it before. That is a good sign and a great start. Here is their flyer for the current information designed by V. Vaughn , Nursing and Health Sciences.
Kaleidoscope meets on Mondays at 2-3 PM in 301 Rowell Building.
What's Happening
FOR ALL CNHS STUDENTS: The Public Health Science Department is hosting a listening session on Wednesday, March 19th from 1 - 2:30 p.m. in Rowell 107. Share with us how you are doing, concerns about your future in our current climate, ways that we can support each other, or just stop by, say hi, and eat some food!
Film Screening Oscar-Nominated ‘No Other Land’ hosted by Public Health Advocacy Club and UVM’s Humanities Center on February 28th at 6 p.m. in Billings Ira Allen Lecture Hall.
2025 Celebration of Gender Equity Lecture - Leading as Women in the 21st Century: Shattering the Glass Ceiling Without Needing Stitches by Charity Clark, JD Attorney General, State of Vermont. Thursday, March 6, 2025, 12-1:30 p.m., Med Ed Center 200, Sullivan Classroom and Zoom.
UVM’s Inclusive Excellence Symposium: HEALING THROUGH HOPE. March 18 - 21, 2025. This four-day symposium will bring together scholars, performers and multi-media educators to explore ways to find hope and resilience during tumultuous times. Attendance is free for students and $10 for faculty and staff. Register in advance.
The summer 2025 internship applications to both the Burlington and D.C. offices are now open and are due by the end of the day on Monday, March 24, at 11:59 p.m. More information about both internship opportunities and how to apply can be found at Internships | Senator Welch (senate.gov). For questions about the state office internship, send an email to Interns_Welch@welch.senate.gov. Questions about the D.C. office internships can be sent to Cora_Smith@welch.senate.gov.
