The Campus Climate Conversations series features events throughout the year that provide opportunities for staff to engage in authentic dialogue about our campus, with a focus on equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Upcoming Events
National Coming Out Day Panel
U-SU LA Rooms B&C
Friday, October 11th
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
The Staff Working Group for Belonging, Community, and Diversity would like to invite you to our National Coming Out Day Panel on Friday, October 11, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the University-Student Union, Los Angeles Rooms B&C.
The event will open with welcome remarks from the Director of the Cross Cultural Centers, Dr. Christopher Jackson, and will feature a panel of fellow staff members who will share their experiences, reflections, and advice in celebration and acknowledgement of National Coming Out Day.
All are welcome, including LGBTQ+ folks and their allies, even if you don't have experience related to coming out.
The panel will feature:
- Turi Daoust (she/her), Director of Change Management and Strategic Initiatives, Office of the VP for Administration and Finance
- Erik Frost Hollins (they/them), Executive Director of Strategic Communications, Office of the President
- Mario Pizarro Rojas (they/them), Gender and Sexuality Resource Center Coordinator, Cross Cultural Centers
- Joseph Sedlacek (he/him), Associate Director of Administration for Human Resources Management, University-Student Union
- Dianne Taylor (she/her), Buyer III, Procurement and Contracts
- Dr. Frangelo Ayran Boquiren (he/him), Senior Associate Dean of Students, Office of the Dean of Students (Panel Moderator)
All campus staff and administrators are invited to attend. Register today. When you register, you may also submit questions for our panelists. Lunch will be served.
Stay tuned for additional upcoming events! In the meantime, we welcome your questions (or requests or ideas!) for the working group at StaffBelonging@calstatela.edu.
Previous Event Highlights
Chicanx/Latinx Heritage Month Celebration - The event included welcome remarks from Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Claudio Lindow, a panel featuring: Hildebrando Dominguez, Mario Galarza, Dr. Gustavo L. Giraldo, Maria Ubago, and was moderated by Laura Longoria. We ended the event by playing a few rounds of Loteria and having fun.
Welcome Back Tabling- The event allowed for the Staff Working Group members to meet and welcome back new and returning staff members to the campus. Postcards with information about the group and upcoming events were distributed as well as custom made buttons.
Summer Gathering - The event featured a poster showcase which displayed educational posters from the past Staff Working Group events, allowing participants to view them again if they didn't get to see them at their original event. Participants were also able to participate in a game of people bingo, which allowed for mingling and fun story sharing. The event concluded with words of encouragement for staff as we embark on a new academic year.
Cal State LA Staff Pride Month Celebration - The event featured opening remarks from Dr. Mitchell Fryling (Interim Dean of the College of Education) and an exciting game of trivia! Boba from Milk+T was provided while staff were able to decorate swag items or create their own button pin.
AAPI Heritage Month Celebration - The event featured welcome remarks from Dr. Harkmore Lee, Associate Vice President for International Programs and Global Engagment and Dean for the College of Professional and Global Education (PaGE). The event also included a panel discussion with Kris Arceo, Dr. Frangelo Ayran Boquiren, Dr. Lena Chao, Anh Huynh-Nelson, Sgt. Allen Nguyen, Malia Otuhiva and was moderated by Gretchen Villaluz-Picazo.
Women's History Month Tabling - The event featured postcards for participants to take for themselves or others to show appreciation for the women in their lives. There also was quick reference resources related to Women's History Month.
Black History Month Celebration - The event featured welcome remarks by Interim Vice President for Student Life, Patrick Day, and President Eanes as well as a panel discussion with Marjani Chidinma, Queen King, Dr. Isis Stansberry and Dr. Karin E. Brown. The panel discussed topics around staff experience over time, mentorship, balance and mental health. Lastly, the event concluded with an exciting game of trivia about Black History!
Season’s Greetings Gathering - The event featured our signature educational poster displays that focused on various winter traditions, including cultural holidays, self-care during breaks, and thankfulness. The gathering also included gratitude takeaways that you could personalize.
Chicanx Latinx Heritage Month celebration - The event featured opening remarks from Interim President Leroy M. Morishita and a welcome from Vice President of University Advancement Robert Avalos. The celebration also included educational activities and conversations centered on the Chicanx Latinx diaspora.
Juneteenth Celebration – The event featured a keynote address by Dr. David B. Green Jr., assistant professor in the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. President William A. Covino and Interim Vice President for Administration and CFO Queen King offered opening remarks. The celebration also included educational activities, conversations, and a performance by African Soul International, a nonprofit arts and education organization that specializes in the dances, rhythms, and cultures of Africa and Africans of the Diaspora.
Pride Celebration – June is pride month, a time when the nation acknowledges and celebrates the resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community in its struggle for equality and freedom. The feeling of belonging—or being valued, heard, and accepted—can lead to higher motivation and satisfaction within the campus environment. Pride month is not only a time to celebrate but also to further educate LGBTQIA+ community members and allies. This event featured information stations about pride and LGBTQIA+ topics, and an opportunity to decorate your Cal State LA swag with various pride colors to share your pride (or allyship) throughout the year!
Lunch and Learn: DEIB in the Media - This Lunch and Learn event explored diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in media. This was the second event in the lunchtime conversation series hosted by the Staff Working Group on Belonging, Community, and Diversity. During this Lunch and Learn discussion, we used examples from TV shows, movies, and social media to explore issues such as sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and xenophobia that we may also observe or experience as staff. We engaged in group discussions to explore ways to “call someone in” versus “calling someone out.”
Lunch and Learn: Black History Month and Book Club Introduction – The kickoff for the Lunch and Learn series on Feb. 17, 2023, including a brief introduction to the Lunch and Learn series and the staff book club, followed by a fun game of CSU-inspired Black history trivia over lunch from a local Black-owned restaurant. The books for this semester are So You Want to Talk About Race and Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria.
Campus Climate Conversations: Belonging – The feeling of belonging—or being valued, heard, and accepted—can lead to higher motivation and satisfaction in the workplace. On Dec. 2, 2022, staff gathered to reflect on their overall sense of belonging at Cal State LA. The event was an opportunity for staff to discuss this topic and connect with fellow staff members through authentic dialogue about our campus.
Lift Every Voice: Campus Climate Experiences – Juneteenth – Staff gathered on June 30, 2022, to reflect on the insights shared during the CSU’s Inaugural Juneteenth Symposium.
CSU Juneteenth Symposium Livestream Watch Parties – On June 15-16, 2022, staff watched the CSU’s Inaugural Juneteenth Symposium at watch parties in the Student Services Building and the University Club.
