Culture of Care Series
In May 2021, the University Office for Diversity and Inclusion, in partnership with the Center for Faculty Excellence and Student Affairs, introduced “Culture of Care: Racial Trauma, Healing, and Community Resilience,” a three-event series that provides space for education, coping, healing and community resilience around issues related to identity-based and racial trauma.
This series supports our collective efforts to align with the Build Our Community Together primary strategic initiative of the Carolina Next strategic plan as we seek to understand the individual and cumulative impact of identity-based and racial trauma on the health and wellbeing of our community. All faculty, staff, students and alumni were invited and encouraged to attend.
“Identity-Based Trauma: Understanding What’s Ailing, So It Can Be Healed.”
Cheryl Woods Giscombe, PhD, PMHNP, FAAN, the LeVine Family Distinguished Associate Professor of Quality of Life, Health Promotion, and Wellness at the UNC School of Nursing, focused on understanding identity-based trauma, its symptoms and relevance in our lives. (Recorded May 3)
“Caring for Myself is Not Self-Indulgence: Navigating Vicarious Trauma and Potential Burnout.”
School of Social Work faculty Andrea Murray-Lichtman, MSW, LCSW and Tauchiana Williams, MSW, LCSW will offer practical advice for faculty and staff balancing personal and professional demands in challenging times. This presentation was followed by a presentation by Ed Fisher, PhD, Global Director of Peers for Progress and Samantha Luu, MPH, Associate Director of UNC Peer Support Core—both from the Department of Health Behavior from Gillings School of Public Health. They provided an overview of Peers for Progress and Carolina Peer Support Collaborative. (Recorded May 12)
“Care in the Midst of Chaos: Providing Reasonable Flexibility.”
An unprecedented year has created the need for increased flexibility in our care for students, but what does this “flexibility” look like? In a panel discussion, colleagues from across UNC provided examples of “reasonable flexibility” in their work with students, beginning with presentations by Dr. Charla Blumell, Assistant Director of Health Promotion and Prevent Strategies in the office of Student Wellness, and Suzie Baker, MA, Senior Assistant Dean of Students, Director of the COVID-19 Student Care Hub and Chair of the Student Care Team. (Recorded May 25)