Diversity, Coffee and Conversations
Tuesday, May 3 | 8:30 a.m.-10 a.m. | Intercultural Diversity Center, 2100 Student Center
(Cultural Exploration/Social Enrichment)
The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s monthly Diversity, Coffee and Conversations program will highlight Asian American Pacific Islander Native Hawaiian Heritage Month. Dr. Nahree Doh, associate director of Clinical and Outreach Services of UA’s Counseling Center, will discuss the history of AAPI Heritage Month, its evolution and what it has become today, ways to be supportive of the AAPI community as a campus and serve as allies through various resources.
To learn more about the AAPI community, view Dr. Michael Chwe’s keynote lecture held April 27 via Zoom. Chwe is a native of Tuscaloosa now living in California. He is an author and professor of political science at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Hispanic-Latino Student Graduation Celebración
Friday, May 6 | 9 a.m. | Camellia and Yellowhammer Rooms, Gorgas Library
(Cultural Exploration/Social Enrichment)
The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in collaboration with the Latinx Faculty and Staff Association and the Hispanic-Latino Association will host the inaugural Hispanic-Latino Student Graduation Celebración. This program will celebrate the Spring 2022 graduates and their families, highlighting Hispanic-Latino culture and their achievements. For more information, contact the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at diversity@ua.edu.
‘Saving Face’ Movie Screening
Monday, May 9 | 3-5 p.m. | Safe Zone Lounge, 2418 Student Center
(Cultural Exploration)
The Safe Zone Resource Center will host a screening of “Saving Face.” The film focuses on Wilhelmina, a young Chinese American surgeon; her unwed, pregnant mother; and her dancer girlfriend. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu.
TEDTalk Tuesdays: ‘Behind the Great Firewall of China’
Tuesday, May 10 | Noon-1 p.m. | Intercultural Diversity Center, 2100 Student Center
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will continue its TEDTalk Tuesday Series in observation of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month featuring, “Behind the great firewall of China.” Michael Anti (aka Jing Zhao) has been blogging from China for 12 years. Despite the control the central government has over the Internet—”All the servers are in Beijing”—he says that hundreds of millions of microbloggers are in fact creating the first national public sphere in the country’s history and shifting the balance of power in unexpected ways. For more information, contact the Intercultural Diversity Center at ua_idc@ua.edu.
Safe Zone Hangouts: Painting
Tuesday, May 10 | 1-2 p.m. | Safe Zone Lounge, 2418 Student Center
(Social Enrichment)
The Safe Zone Resource Center will host its weekly Safe Zone Hangouts series throughout the month of May. For this event in the series, attendees will be provided a canvas and painting supplies and will follow a painting tutorial as a group. Participants will learn about LGBTQIA+ resources at UA and connect with other LGBTQIA+ individuals on campus. This group meets weekly on Tuesdays from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Safe Zone Lounge. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu.
Safe Zone Ally Training Program
Wednesday, May 11 | 9-11 a.m. | Zoom
(Educational Engagement/Cultural Exploration)
The UA Safe Zone Ally Training Program provides a visible network of allies for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) individuals. Safe Zone Allies distribute information regarding sexuality, gender identity, campus and community resources, and methods for reporting harassment and/or discrimination. The Safe Zone Ally Training Program is a two-hour training session that allows participants to: develop a working knowledge of appropriate and respectful LGBTQIA+ terminology; recognize the impact that a campus climate has on individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+; and identify areas of personal growth as a member of the UA community. Following the training program, participants are invited to sign-up to serve as UA Safe Zone Allies. Registration is required. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at 205-348–7297 or safezone@ua.edu.
Safe Zone Book Club: ‘ACE’ Part 1 and 2
Friday, May 13 | 1-2 p.m. | Zoom
(Educational Engagement/Cultural Exploration)
The Safe Zone Resource Center will host a book club for the month of May. Participants will read and discuss “ACE: What Asexuality Reveals about Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex” by Angela Chen. The book explores the experiences and nuances of asexuality and asexual relationships. Copies of the book are available in the Safe Zone lounge while supplies last. Registration is required. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu.
‘Far East Deep South’ Screening
Friday, May 13 | 7 p.m. | Virtual
(Cultural Exploration /Educational Engagement)
For Asian American and Pacific Islander Month, the Intercultural Diversity Center will offer a virtual screening of “Far East Deep South.” A Chinese American family’s search for their roots leads them to the Mississippi Delta, where they stumble upon surprising family revelations and uncover the racially complex history of Chinese people in the segregated South. This film explores a personal and eye-opening perspective on race, immigration and American identity and sheds light on the history of Chinese immigrants living in the American South during the late 1800s to mid-1900s. Registration is required. For more information, contact the Intercultural Diversity Center at ua_idc@ua.edu.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Exhibit
May 16-31 | 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays | Intercultural Diversity Center, 2100 Student Center
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement)
In commemoration of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Intercultural Diversity Center will house a monthlong exhibit featuring information on the challenges, contributions and achievements by Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians. In 1978, the U.S. Congress recognized Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week and passed a law expanding the observance to a month in 1990. The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese people to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. Participants will learn about the creation of AAPI, and prominent figures in military, education, art and inventions we use today. For more information, contact the Intercultural Diversity Center at ua_idc@ua.edu.
TEDTalk Tuesdays: ‘My Escape from North Korea’
Tuesday, May 17 | Noon-1 p.m. | Intercultural Diversity Center, 2100 Student Center
(Cultural Exploration /Educational Engagement)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will continue its TEDTalk Tuesday Series in observance of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month by featuring, “My Escape from North Korea.” As a child growing up in North Korea, Hyeonseo Lee thought her country was “the best on the planet.” It wasn’t until the famine of the 1990s that she began to wonder. She escaped the country at 14, to begin a life in hiding, as a refugee in China. Hers is a harrowing, personal tale of survival and hope—and a powerful reminder of those who face constant danger, even when the border is far behind. For more information, contact the Intercultural Diversity Center at ua_idc@ua.edu.
Safe Zone Hangouts: Board Games
Tuesday, May 17 | 1-2 p.m. | Safe Zone Lounge, 2418 Student Center
(Social Enrichment)
For this event in the series, attendees will be able to choose from a selection of board games in the Safe Zone Lounge. Participants will learn about LGBTQIA+ resources at UA and connect with other LGBTQIA+ individuals on campus. This group meets weekly on Tuesdays from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Safe Zone Lounge. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu.
Safe Zone Hangouts: Crafting
Tuesday, May 24 | 1-2 p.m. | Safe Zone Lounge, 2418 Student Center
(Social Enrichment)
For this event in the series, attendees will be provided crafting supplies and various crafting tutorials will be available. Participants will learn about LGBTQIA+ resources at UA and connect with other LGBTQIA+ individuals on campus. This group meets weekly on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Safe Zone Lounge. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu.
Safe Zone Book Club: ‘ACE’ Part 3
Friday, May 27 | 1-2 p.m. | Zoom
(Educational Engagement/Cultural Exploration)
Participants will read and discuss “ACE: What Asexuality Reveals about Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex” by Angela Chen. The book explores the experiences and nuances of asexuality and asexual relationships. Copies of this book are available in the Safe Zone lounge while supplies last. Registration is required. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu.
‘Waiting for John’ Movie Screening
Friday, May 27 | 7 p.m. | Virtual
(Cultural Exploration /Educational Engagement)
An indigenous community worships American materialism on the tiny Pacific island Tanna. When the American military arrived during World War II, the islanders were amazed by America’s fantastic cargo—planes, trucks, refrigerators, canned food. They thought such goods could only come from the Gods. Led by the mysterious prophet John, a religion was born, the John Frum Movement, also known as a Cargo Cult. “Waiting for John” explores this extraordinary religion from the perspective of the last village of believers, the depth of the John Frum Movement and their struggles to preserve their way of life. Registration is required. For more information, contact the Intercultural Diversity Center at ua_idc@ua.edu.
Lunch and Learn: Queer Inclusive Mental Health
Tuesday, May 31 | Noon-1 p.m. | Zoom
(Educational Engagement/Cultural Exploration)
The Safe Zone Resource Center will host a panel discussion in observance of Mental Health Awareness Month in partnership with the UA Counseling Center, the Magic City Acceptance Center, and 5 Horizons. This panel will discuss characteristics of queer inclusive mental health resources and strategies for finding LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy and mental health services. Registration is required. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu.
Safe Zone Hangouts: Video Games
Tuesday, May 31 | 1-2 p.m. | Safe Zone Lounge, 2418 Student Center
(Social Enrichment)
For this event in the series, attendees will be able to choose from a selection of video games in the Safe Zone Lounge. Participants will learn about LGBTQIA+ resources at UA and connect with other LGBTQIA+ individuals on campus. This group meets weekly on Tuesdays from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Safe Zone Lounge. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu.
Celestia Morgan: Disparities Exhibition
Continues through May 20 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon-8 p.m. First Fridays | Paul R. Jones Museum
Celestia Morgan’s new work continues within her series of critically acclaimed photos and visual works titled “REDLINE.” In visually frank images, Morgan’s work displays and discusses historically deep-rooted inequalities related to housing and other basic life necessities. She works across several artistic mediums, incorporating sculpture, map-making and community engagement as well as photography and video into her work.
Celestia Morgan , a postdoctoral research associate at UA, was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. She earned her BFA in photography from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2012 and her MFA from The University of Alabama in 2017. Morgan’s work is in the permanent collections of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Birmingham Museum of Art and in many private collections across the country. This exhibit has been made possible by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
For more information, call 205-345-3038.