Current Broadening Inclusion Projects

Broadening Inclusion Grant
2022-23

Disability, Arts and Sports (DARTS) – $5,000

Lead: Ricky Price, Department of Special Education, College of Education

Collaborators: Special Education Graduate Student Association (SEGSA), The Autism Program (TAP), College of Fine and Applied Arts, Applied Health Sciences Department of Kinesiology

Disability, Arts and Sports seeks to increase inclusive spaces and experiences for Illinois students, faculty, and staff with and without disabilities. The project expands a disability film festival that debuted in 2022 by creating a series of disability-focused events during Disability Employment Awareness month in October and Disability Awareness month in March that center persons with disabilities and highlight Disability Culture. Events will include dance and theater events, panel discussions with individuals with disabilities and siblings, disability art displays, and adaptive sports events.

The Welcome Mercadito – $5,000

Lead: Stephanie Peréz, Institute of Communications Research, College of Media

Collaborators: La Casa Cultural Latina

This project helps to offset the costs associated with transitioning to college for first-generation, low-income students by providing essentials such as sheets, towels, toiletries, dishes, etc. The project will help to alleviate some of the financial burden associated with obtaining basic necessities to attend college for students with limited income or who are homeless. “Shopping” opportunities will occur at least twice per year at the beginning of each semester.

Stop Asian Hate – $5,000

Lead: Sang Lee, Asian American Cultural Center, Student Affairs

Collaborators: International Education, Department of Asian American Studies, LAS Global Studies, and the Counseling Center API Roots team

“Stop Asian Hate” highlights the history of anti-Asian racism and violence in the U.S. The project seeks to create awareness of this history and build community solidarity against anti-Asian hate. The project will engage the community members in discussions on the impact of anti-Asian hate on inclusion and belonging. It will include a teach-in, a bystander training, educational materials that will be shared with local Champaign County high schools and student organizations, giveaway products for participants, and presentations about Asian American civil rights and activism with invited speakers. All events will include a discussion component.

The Environmental Justice Outreach and Research Initiative – $2,583

Lead: Shannon Anderson, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, College of ACES

Collaborators: College of ACES, Applied Research Institute, Indoor Climate Research and Training, Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment

The Environmental Justice Outreach and Research Initiative engages undergraduate and graduate students in for-credit academic scholarship and community outreach for environmental justice, with a focus on issues in environmental racism, intersectional ecofeminism, energy justice, and environmental health. The project introduces students to the broad issues of injustice in the environment and the many ways that institutional and systemic racism have resulted in a disproportionate burden of environmental harm on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. The long-term goal of the project is to develop an Environmental Justice Plan for the university and surrounding area. Participants will collaborate with community organizations to alleviate or mitigate the harm of environmental injustices to BIPOC people and communities.

Tastes of Cultures – $5,000

Lead: Yun Shi, International Education, Student Affairs

Collaborators: International Student and Scholar Services, University Housing, McKinley Health Center, Illini Union, Asian American Cultural Center

Tastes of Cultures (TOC) encourages dialogue, communication, and community building between international and domestic students throughout the year. The project fosters organic relationships between international and domestic students by offering regular opportunities for students to come together to mingle, learn about different cultures, try international snacks, cook cultural recipes, play international games, learn dances, and engage in intercultural dialogue. Events will take place over the course of the 2022-23 year at venues across campus.

Remembering Contested Campus Histories; Reviving Cross-cultural Dialogs for Transnational Solidarities – $5,000

Lead: Ken Salo, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, College of Fine & Applied Arts

Collaborators: College of LAS Intercultural and Global Learning Program, New American Welcome Center (University YMCA), Department of Spanish & Portuguese

Students from Urban Planning 160 (Race, Social Justice, and Cities), Urban Planning 260, (Social Inequalities) and FAA 110 (Exploring Arts and Creativity), and Urban Planning 428 (International Planning studio) will curate their final course projects centered on hidden and contested histories of campus protests for transnational solidarity into an exhibition. The exhibition will feature exhibition participants, domestic and international students and student organizations, and members of immigrant communities to share their internalized stereotypes and cultural assumption.