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Diversity & Inclusion California State University, Sacramento

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Antiracism and Inclusion Convocations

On February 14th, 2022 Sac State had its second Antiracism and Inclusion Convocation: A Call to Action: Eradicate, Resolve, and Liberate. It called to action our entire Sacramento State community to join in on our cammpus commitment to be an antiracism and inclusive campus. The Convocation served as an opportunity for our community to come together with a singular focus and a shared understanding of our Antiracism and Inclusive Action Plan. The 2022 Convocation featured keynote speaker, Dr. Bettina Love (Georgia Athletic Association Professor in Education at the University of Georgia). It also offered eight breakout sessions exploring the topic of liberation in praxis.

On September 29th 2020, Sac State had its inaugural Fall 2020 Convocation, Advancing Our Commitment to Antiracism, which brought together the campus community for important discussions and presentations on moving forward on the path to antiracism and inclusion. Sacramento State must now build upon what we have learned and move toward transformational change.The Convocation featured keynote speakers Ibram X. Kendi, author of the national bestseller How to Be an Antiracist, and Shaun Harper, director of the University of Southern California’s Race and Equity Center. It also offered 20 breakout sessions exploring subjects including: the intersection of race and disability; creating a safe campus for undocumented students; racism and antiracism in education; and the intersection of race, mental health, and COVID-19.

The keynote speakers and many of the breakout sessions were recorded and can be accessed for on-demand viewing in the table below.

Spring 2022 Convocation Sessions

Session Title  Speakers/Presenters Description Session Recordings
Opening Ceremonies  Dr. Rose Soza War Soldier, Dr. Steven Crum, Dr. Crystal Martinez-Alire   Link coming soon
Joint Welcome Dr. Robert Nelsen (President, CSUS), Dr. Mia Settles-Tidwell (VP for Inclusive Excellence and University Diversity Officer), Samantha Elizalde (President and CEO of ASI), Joseph Sais (Executive VP of ASI), Dr. Elvia Ramirez (Professor, Ethnic Studies), Dr. Adam Rechs (Professor, Biological Sciences)   Link coming soon
Panel Discussion: Paying Homage Dr. Melinda Wilson Ramey (Moderator), Samantha Elizalde (panelist), Dhruvisha Budhani (panelist), Laura De La Garza Garcia (panelist), Dr. Alma Flores (panelist), Dr. Tim Fong (panelist), Jerry Blake (panelist), Dr. Annete Reed (panelist), Marietess Masulit (panelist), Rheena Munoz (panelist) A moderated panel discussion that explores where we have been as a University when it comes to antiracism and inclusion work, where we are currently, and where we want to go in the future. Link coming soon
Performance by Sacramento Poet Laureate Andru Defeye   Watch recording
Keynote Address with Q&A Dr. Bettina Love  The struggles and the possibilities of committing ourselves to an abolitionist goal of educational freedom, as opposed to reform, and moving beyond what Dr. Love calls the educational survival complex. This session was not recorded
1A: Liberation in Praxis: Leading Change Management of an Antiracism Campaign Dr. Carlos Nevarez, Dr. Khanh Dinh, Dr. Cassie Donnelly Participants are introduced to the Leadership Change Model as a tool to aid individuals in becoming agents of change. The model serves as a comprehensive resource in articulating the foundational, conceptual, and interpersonal leadership skills warranted to facilitate institutional change. The model affords leaders the ability to be critically introspective and employ varied leadership styles in advancing institutional change. More specifically, the following questions will guide our discussion on institutional change. What are the necessary steps for successful institutional change, and how are these steps advanced? How can the following four leadership styles be used to facilitate institutional change? a. Management b. Democratic c. Political d. Transformative Watch recording
1B: Liberation in Praxis: Decolonizing the Classroom & Curriculum Dr. Lina Rincon, Dr. Rebekkah Mulholland, Dr. Mya Dosch, Dr, Rachel Miller, Dr. Kim Mulligan, Dr. Kelly McDonald, Dr. Christopher Towler, Dr. Kristina Victor  In this multidisciplinary panel, faculty members from Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences and STEM disciplines will discuss the crucial importance of inclusive pedagogies in the context of the Sac State classroom. Panelists will also reveal how and why inclusive classroom practices are rooted in revolutionizing and decolonizing the curriculum and the classroom. Link coming soon
1C: Liberation in Praxis: Respect the Process, Examining our Social Justice Perspectives  Dr. Bettina Love This workshop will help participants examine their own perspectives of their social justice work and ideas about diversity, privilege, and intersectionality. Participants will gain a better understanding of how institutional power that reproduces injustice, social exclusion, and oppression, despite our best efforts, is embedded in our social justice work. This session was not recorded
1D: Liberation in Praxis: Understanding Power, Agency, and Participation in Policy Antonia Peigahi, Dr. Amber Gonzalez, Dr. Kristen Alexander, Dr. Kevin Ferreira van Leer, Dr. Nadxieli Toledo Bustamante Policy is a tool that expresses institutional culture — and thus it is crucial that it reflect our antiracist and inclusive goals at Sacramento State. The purpose of this workshop is to provide an overview of institutional mechanisms to transform policy in support of equity and inclusion. Strategies for Sacramento State faculty, staff, and students to advocate for antiracist and inclusive policies and practices will be presented. Additionally, panelists will provide an overview of the policy creation and revision process and discuss the importance of mobilizing individual agency in these processes This session was not recorded
Plenary: Co-Constructing Tomorrow, Today Dr. Mia Settles-Tidwell (VP of Inclusive Excellence and University Diversity Officer), & Dr. Deborah Hunt (Director, Conferences, Trainings and Organizational Development, College of Continuing Education, Sacramento State)    Watch recording
2A: Liberation in Praxis: Equity and Opportunity  Dr. Marcellene Watson-Derbibny, Dr. Chao Vang, Ruth Evangeline Williams, Kaifa Yates, Hakeem Croom, Jose Mejia  This session will explore the varied ways in which the campus supports and elevates communities of color in advancing their degree attainment goals. The session will explore the signature best practices of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center, the APIDA Center, Native Center, and the DEGREES Project. Together, these Centers and program areas will provide a vibrant exploration of the strategic ways that together as a campus we can transform student lives and liberate and empower our communities through education. Watch recording
2B: Liberation in Praxis: Whiteness, Accountability, & Shifting from Ally to Co-Conspiratorship  Dr. Andrea Terry, Dr. Vajra Watson During this session, participants will discuss what it means to become a co-conspirator in antiracist efforts on campus and in our community. We will engage in open and honest discussion about assessing our own antiracist practice, elevating the work of historically marginalized people, and ways that white folks can hold each other accountable in moving from knowledge, to personal growth, to meaningful antiracist action. This session was not recorded
2C: Liberation in Praxis: We Can't Talk Antiracism without also Talking Anti-Ableism Dr. Mary Lee Vance, Rahsaan Ellison-Johnson, Katherine Betts Three panelists will share their personal and professional experiences as they rose through the ranks to be among the few disabled administrators of color at Sac State. The session will provide a brief historical glimpse of how the Civil Rights Movement led the way for the Disability Rights Movement, and why the intersection of race and disability, racism and ableism are intertwined. Watch recording
2D: Liberation in Praxis: Reflecting Sac State's Values Through Communications and Engagement Jeannie Wong, Brian Blomster, Jessica Vernone, Becky Repka Connecting with our community is a crucial step in raising awareness and building relationships as we strive to  become antiracism leaders. With the ever-changing ways we interact and communicate, we are constantly evolving how we work. Hear about the strategies and best practices used by University Communications and join us in discussing ways to enhance our approaches as we seek to engage audiences, today and in the future. Watch recording
Closing Session and End Credits Performance from S/BAD (Sacramento Black Art of Dance), Closing address, Performance from University Chorale   Watch recording

Fall 2020 Convocation Sessions

Session Title Speakers/Presenters Description Session Recordings
Welcome and Opening Remarks Robert Nelsen (President Sacramento State), Diana Tate Vermeire (VP Inclusive Excellence, Sacramento State), Noah Marty (President and CEO Associated Students, Inc.) Opening remarks from President Nelsen, VP Diana Tate Vermeire, and ASI President Noah Marty  Watch Recording of the Welcome and Opening Remarks
Keynote and Facilitated Q&A Ibram X. Kendi (Professor & Director, Boston University Cetner for Antiracist Research) Ibram X. Kendi is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, professor of history and international studies, and the Director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research. He is an Ideas Columnit at the Atlantic, and a correspondent with CBS news. He is the author of four books including Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, which won the National Book Award for Nonfiction, and the New York Times bestsellers: How to Be an Antiracist, and STAMPED: Racism, Antiracism, and You, co-authored with Jason Reynolds. His newest book, Antiracist baby, was published on June 16th, 2020. To request access to this recording, please email diversity@csus.edu
Keynote and Facilitated Q&A Shaun Harper (Professor and Executive Director, USC Race and Equity Center) Shaun R. Harper, PhD, is the current President of the American Educational Research Association, Provost Professor of Education and Business, and Executive Director of the Race and Equity Center at the University of Southern California. He is an expert on racial, gender, and LGBT issues in corporations, law firms, Hollywood production companies, and universities. He also is an expert on college sports. He offers organizations live, and high-quality virtual experiences on a range of topics pertaining to equity, diversity, and inclusion in business and on campus. Dr. Harper has consulted with more than 200 businesses and institutions on strategies related to equity, diversity, and inclusion. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and other academic publications, and procured $13 million in research grants. He is presently working on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Business, his 13th book. His research has been cited in over 12,000 published studies. The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Fortune, Washington Post, Black Enterprise, and several thousand other news outlets have quoted Professor Harper and featured his research. Prior to becoming a faculty member, he was Assistant Director of MBA Admissions for the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. Dr. Harper spent a decade at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a tenured full professor. Watch Recording of the Closing Keynote and Remarks from Shaun Harper
Combatting Anti-Asian Hate During the COVID-19 Pandemic Russell Jeung (Chair and Professor Asian American Studies, San Franciso State University) This session will address why and how Asian Americans have been scapegoated and targeted in relation to COVD-19 and how the Asian American community has resisted racism. The presenters will situate this form of racism in the context of White Supremacy and the Black Lives Matter movement.  Watch Recording of session: Combatting Anti-Asian Hate During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Creating a Safe Campus for Undocumented Students, Staff, and Faculty Lilia Contreras (Program Lead, Dreamer Resource Center, Sacramento State) Erik Ramirez (Program Coordinator, Dreamer Resource Center, Sacramento State). This session will focus on creating a safe campus for undocumented students, faculty, and staff at Sacramento State. The emphasis will be on the university’s Policy to Protect Undocumented Individuals.The session will educate attendees on the policy and what it looks like in practice. Recommendations for creating safe spaces in the classroom, in offices, etc., will also be offered. Watch Recording of session: Creating a Safe Campus for Undocumented Students, Staff, and Facutly
Colorism and Anti-Blackness in the Latinx Community Patsy Jimenez (Program Coordinator, Multi-Cultural Center, Sacramento State) Noel Mora (Program Coordinator, Serna Center, Sacramento State) Erica Perez (Coordinator, College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), Sacramento State) This interactive workshop will critically address anti-Blackness and Colorism in the Latinx community. The workshop will explore how elements of Latinx media promote a preference for lighter skin and how consuming this type of media contributes to and reinforces anti-Blackness. We will also discuss how to confront anti-Black sentiment that manifests in everyday interactions with Latinx family members including parents, grandparents, and older generations. Facilitators will work with participants to develop strategies to engage in productive conversations with Latinx elders and others in order to disrupt anti-Blackness and promote antiracism. Watch Recording of session: Colorism and Anti-Blackness in the Latinx Community
Ubuntu: Collectivism as a counter-action to Anti-Blackness Hakeem Croom (Program Coordinator and President, MLK Center & Black Staff and Faculty Association, Sacramento State) Andrea More (Associate Professor & Director, Cooper Woodson College Enhancement Program, Sacramento State) This workshop will focus on the ways in which the various entities that specifically serve the Afrikan Diaspora community at Sac State have intentionally, strategically, and collaboratively provided virtual support to the community in response to the campus closure and the racial injustices that have been exacerbated by it. Watch Recording of session: Ubuntu: Collectivism as a counter-action to Anti-Blackness
Educational and Community Empowerment: A CRISJ Social Justice Mission Herman Barahona (Lead Community Organizer, United Latinos) Stan Oden (Professor, Department of Political Science, Sacramento State) Christopher Towler (Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Sacramento State) Faye Wilson Kennedy (Founding Member, Black Parallel School Board This session features aCenter for Race, Immigration, and Social Justice (CRISJ) panel and discussion about building bridges for social justice and community empowerment. CRISJ works for educational and community empowerment through community engagement, mentorship, research, and academic programming that is guided by a social justice framework. Watch Recording of session: Educational and Community Empowerment: A CRISJ Social Justice Mission
Street Dance Activism Dr. Shamell Bell (Lecturer of Somatic Practices and Global Performance, Dartmouth College Dr. Bell's Street Dance Activism workshop provides foundational tools for the use of street dance as a form of radical joy, healing, resistance, and coalition building. Using exercises such as "Embodied Check Ins" and somatic techniques, this virtual community creates a network of dance activists co-choreographing and healing alongside each other, educating, and taking on oppression through dance by choosing to embody liberation. Watch Recording of session: Street Dance Activism
White Anti-racist Accountability Erin Ellison (Assistant Professor of Psychology, Sacramento State) Rachel Flamenbaum (Assistant Professory of Anthropology, Sacramento State) Cara Jones (Assistant Professor of Women's Studies, Sacramento State) In this breakout session, panelists will briefly discuss their experiences with white anti-racism and offer recommendations for developing white anti-racist praxis on campus. The goal is to foster a space where white people can learn to recognize our complicity in racism and begin the continual, life-long process of unlearning socialized racism. The session may also include some reflective writing based on accountability questions developed by Academics 4 Black Lives. This session was not recorded.
Black Ableism: Can We Come Back Home? Rahsaan Ellison-Johnson (Associate Director, Services to Students with Disabilities, Sacramento State) Leroy Moore (Founder, Krip-Hop Nation) Dr. Mary Lee Vance (Director, Services to Students with Disabilities, Sacramento State) This panel presentation followed by Q/A will discuss concepts associated with race, disability and sexual orientation identities. In particular, panelists will address ableism, which they define as discrimination that favors the non-disabled. Black ableism, as defined by the panelists,is the discrimination and social prejudice against Black people with disabilities or Black people who are perceived to have disabilities. It is imperative that Black Disabled people tell their own stories and share new terminology, definitions, art, music, and political views in order to provide awareness and resources to dismantle Black Ableism. Watch Recording of session: Black Ableism: Can We Come Back Home?
Working Out Your Stress: Self-Care at the Intersection of Race, Mental Health, & COVID-19 Jasmine De Alba (Counselor, Student Health & Counseling Services, Sacramento State) Mia Espinoza (Active Minds, Peer Health Education Mentor, Sacramento State) Courtney Hughes (Counselor, Student Health & Counseling Services, Sacramento State) Nik Jones (Counselor, Student Health & Counseling Services, Sacramento State) Danielle Munoz (Case Manager, Crisis Assistance & Resource Education Support, Sacramento State) Gloria Petruzzelli (Counselor, Student Health & Counseling Services, Sacramento State) Brian Yu (Counselor, Student Health & Counseling Services, Sacramento State) Participants will have the opportunity to learn about tools and resources to support the intersectionality of BIPOC Mental Health and self-care during this unprecedented time while physically distancing in their space. Watch Recording of session: Working Out Your Stress: Self-Care at the Intersection of Race, Mental Health, & COVID-19
Radically Reimagined: A Discussion on Racism and Antiracism in Education (Parts 1 & 2) Paula Austin (Professor of History and African American Studies, Boston University), Bernard Brown (Assistant Professor of Dance, Sacramento State), Amber Gonzalez (Associate Professor, Child and Adolescent Development, Sacramento State), Tristan Josephson (Associate Professor, Women's Studies Department, Sacramento State), Aishah Patterson (Assistant Profesor, Communication Sciences & Disorders, Sacramento State), Joshua Wiscons (Assistant Professor, Mathematics & Statistics, Sacramento State) This session brings together current Sacramento State faculty with a guest facilitator for a discussion on racism and antiracism in higher education, with a focus on Sacramento State. The conversation explores topics such as the historical context of the “typical” university classroom; the varied ways in which power, privilege, and oppression operate in higher education; the difference between teaching for liberation vs. assimilation vs. oppression; and antiracist pedagogies/actions to employ and policies to advocate for. This session was not recorded.
COVID-19 and AntiBlackness Have Out Raged Us Dale Allender (Associate Professor, Teaching Credentials Branch, Sacramento State) Margarita Berta-Avila (Professor of Education, Sacramento State) Jose Clinton (Professor Emeritus of Education, Sacramento State) Mimi Coughlin (Professor of Education, Sacramento State) Aaminah Norris (Associate Professor, Teaching Credentials Branch, Sacramento State) During this session, we examine the impact of racial violence and COVID-19 on complex trauma for Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) students and faculty. Participantswilldiscuss the complexities of racism, and how it harms us as individuals and a collective community. We will invite participants to do the work of becoming antiracist and envision a North Star as we reflect on our own experiences. We will 1) reclaim rage as a healing practice for BIPOC 2) define allies, accomplices, and co-conspirators and share specific suggestions to address the trauma of racism and discrimination, and 3) learn to address and disrupt racism and antiblackness in ourinstitutionalpractices, programs, and policies. Watch Recording of session: COVID-19 and AntiBlackness have Out Raged us
Interrogating Anti-Mexican and Anti-Latinx Racism in the Trump Era Gerardo Cabral (Student and Recent Graduate Engagement Officer, Sacramento State Alumni Association), Alma Flore (Assistant Professor, Sacramento State), Rosa Martinez (Assistant Professor of English, Sacramento State), Marcario Ortiz (Lecturer of Ethnic Studies, Sacramento State), Elvia Ramirez (Professor of Ethnic Studies, Sacramento State), Osvaldo Ramirez (Lecturer, Department of Dance and Theater, Sacramento State), Maria Elena Vargas (Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies, Sacramento State) The Chicanx/Latinx Faculty and Staff Association will facilitate a conversation about historical and contemporary anti-Mexican and anti-Latinx racism in the U.S. Panelists will examine how systemic racism and other social inequalities shape the experiences of Chicanxs/Latinxs in various social institutions. Panelists will also discuss strategies for transformational antiracist and social justice work on campus and in the broader community. Watch Recording of session: Interrogating Anti-Mexican and Anti-Latinx Racism in the Trump Era
Advocating for Inclusion: Disability and Mental Health Alivia Gok (Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Sacramento State), Jamie Hoffman (Interim Department Chair, Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Administration, Sacramento State) Are you interested in learning how to support our Hornet communities' overall Mental Health and well-being while encouraging inclusion? Learn how Recreational Therapy supports our Hornet family through purposeful goal-oriented recreation and leisure designed to reduce depression, stress, and anxiety, while helping build confidence and theskills needed to cultivate positive relationships to promote an inclusive community. Join our session to learn about how inclusive Recreational Therapy supports Mental Health. Watch Recording of session: Advocating for Inclusion: Disability and Mental Health
Your Experience is Valid: Discussion Circle Mykaila Garcia (Student Assistant, Pride Center, Sacramento State), Ethan Hanf (Student Assistant, Pride Center, Sacramento State), Jackie Longino (Student Assistant, Pride Center, Sacramento State), Lola McCoy (Student Assistant, Pride Center, Sacramento State), Clara Silva (Student Assistant, Pride Center, Sacramento State) 2020 has been a year of change and constant evolution. From maneuvering virtually during a pandemic, toembracing technology in an educational environment, all of us have been empowered to lean into flexibility while being reminded that we are all human and deserve equity and inclusion. This session will give participants the opportunity to share about their experiences and what they’ve learned during this time in a safe space. The session will be led by the Pride Center student assistants who will share campus resources and ways the Pride Center continues to support and explore social justice accountability. This session was not recorded.
Public Scholarship as Disruption & Antiracism: An Interactive workshop Kevin Ferreira van Leer (Assistant Professor of Child & Adolescent Development, Sacramento State) This session will provide an overview of public scholarship and the ways that collectives of students and scholars can research and dismantle institutional racism. This interactive workshop will draw on public scholarship from antiracist student movements in 2015, such as Eradicate Boston College Racism, to demonstrate the way students and scholars can utilize public and institutional data to illuminate how institutions perpetuate racial inequity. Specifically, the session will highlight infographics, blogs and briefs as forms of public scholarship. Workshop participants will be able to identify common sources of information as well as applications and tools that can be used to develop and disseminate anti-racist public scholarship. Watch Recording of Session: Public Scholarship as Disruption & Antiracism: An Interactive Workshop
ASI Student Open Forum Noah Marty (President and CEO, Associated Students, Inc.), Joshua Bozarth (Director of Business Administration, Associated Students, Inc.), Samantha Elizalde (Vice President of Academic Affairs, Associated Students, Inc.), Joseph Sais (Board of Director of Arts & Letters, Associated Students, Inc.), Prabhjyot Shinh (Vice President of Finance, Associated Students, Inc.), Donna "BasicTaq" Walters (Vice President, Associated Students, Inc.) In this Open Forum with members of the ASI Board of Directors, participants will have the opportunity to learn about what roles the ASI Board of Directors can play in student representation on issues of racism, diversity, and inclusion. Additionally, during the open discussion period, participants will be encouraged to speak on the issues they feel are most present on campus, and discuss what solutions can be implemented. Watch Recording of session: ASI Student Open Forum
Asian Pacific Islander American Anti-Racist Activism 1969-2020 Timothy Fong (Professor of Ethnic Studies, Sacramento State), Bao Lo (Assistant Professor, Sacramento State), Gregory Mark (Professor Emeritus of Ethnic Studies, Sacramento State), Winnie Tam Hung (Lecturer of Asian American Studies, Sacramento State) Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) Anti-Racist Activism from 1969-2020 charts the evolution of Asian American and Ethnic Studies movements, and its present-day incarnations. We will start with the student movements in 1969 and how they link to current social justice movements on the national level (Black Lives Matter solidarity, Asian Pacific American Labor Association, anti-Asian racism amidst COVID-19). Our discussion will end with a focus on APIA students at Sacramento State. This session was not recorded.
Uprooting Racism and Intersectional Oppression in Higher Education Stacey Ault (Assistant Professor in the Social Work Division, Sacramento State), Manual Barajas (Professor of Sociology, Sacramento State), Kristina Flores (Assistant Professor of Political Science, Sacramento State), Susan Nakaoka (Assistant Professor with the Division of Social Work, Sacramento State), Heidy Sarabia (Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Sacramento State) Dr. Heidy Sarabia, Sociology, and Dr. Kristina Victor, Political Science, will co-facilitate a live zoom panel and discussionorganized by theCenter for Race, Immigration, and Social Justice (CRISJ) about how systemic racism and intersectional oppressions in higher education affect historically underrepresented students/faculty, illuminating institutional dynamics/trends and exploring/proposing solutions for social justice. About 30 minutes of the session will be used to present the topic, background, and relevant themes, and 20-30 minutes will be dedicated to discussion/Q&A. Watch Reording of session: Uprooting Racism and Intersectional Oppression in Higher Education
Resisting Anti-Black Culture Teiahsha Bankhead (Associate Professor, Division of Social Work, Sacramento State) In this session we will contextualize the racialized uprising of the summer of 2020 and be introduced to a brief history of anti-black culture in American society. We will explore how we are all impacted by white supremacist ideas, beliefs and aspirations. We will then explore how we can resist this culture in the service of our individual and collective liberation. Participants will be asked to respond to critical questions during breakout groups within the session. Watch Recording of session: Resisting Anti-Black Culture
Cultural Taxation and Burnout among Higher Education Professionals Aisha Engle (Program Coordinator, Women's Resource Center, Sacramento State), Erik Ramirez (Program Coordinator, Dreamer Resource Center, Sacramento State) This session will create a space for honest conversation about the taxation experienced by professionals of color, and by others who come from historically underrepresented backgrounds. The session will include a facilitated discussion on experiences with taxation, followed by sharing of best-practices for self-care and preventing burnout. This session was not recorded.