SBU News
SBU News > Diversity > Bridging the Racial Divide: Being an Ally

Bridging the Racial Divide: Being an Ally

Bridging racial divide artwork 1

Watch the Stony Brook “Beyond The Expected” Facebook Live Discussion on Thursday, July 30, at 1 pm

Stony Brook University is putting the spotlight on being an ally, with an honest and open dialogue about how to become a better advocate for others, while recognizing and accepting times that others will advocate for you.  Bridging racial divide artwork

Being an ally, according to The Guide to Allyship, is learning how to empathize with a particular group or person and taking on their struggle as your own — even if you don’t fully understand that struggle. Now, more than ever, allies are necessary to help enact the social change that needs to be made in the world.

“Faculty, staff, physicians, donors, employees, students — everybody is leaning in, wanting to be part of the solution and make meaningful differences. People need to learn allyship as much as people need to learn how to be allied,” said Dr. Judi Brown Clarke, PhD, Chief Diversity Office, Stony Brook University.

 The roundtable discussion will include:

  • Dr. Judi Brown Clarke, PhD, Chief Diversity Office, Stony Brook University
  • Dr. Adam Gonzalez, PhD, Director of Behavioral Health and Founding Director of the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center, Renaissance School of Medicine and a leader in “White Coats for Black Lives”
  • Juliette Passer, Esq., practicing NY attorney, a corporate diversity director and adjunct professor in the Political Science Department at Stony Brook University, who teaches classes on diversity and gender issues

During this discussion, the panelists will take on systemic oppression; give concrete examples of microaggressions; reveal causes and impacts of unconscious/implicit bias; and explain the difference between sympathy and empathy.

“Diversity is the good thing and the smart thing to do,” said Juliette Passer. “Differences don’t make us different; they make us interesting. We have to have this discussion at a grassroots level.”

Watch this discussion unfold live on Stony Brook University’s Facebook page. The roundtable starts at 1 pm.

Add comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Get the latest word on Stony Brook news, discoveries and people.

Subscribe to News

Get the latest word on Stony Brook news, discoveries and people.

Archives

Get the latest word on Stony Brook news,
discoveries and people.