Perspectives is a monthly dialogue series open to all members of the Washington University community. The goal of Perspectives is to strengthen our community’s ability to discuss important topics related to diversity, inclusion, and equity in meaningful ways. Such programs are widely used at workplaces across the country as a tool in building a diverse and inclusive culture.
Each 60-minute session is dedicated to a specific topic, and some feature a guest speaker. Attendees discuss the topic, moderated by a facilitator from the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Attendees will
- Practice speaking across differences in perspective and identity
- Explore personal experience with societal issues
- Develop skills for navigating differences
- Build empathy muscle – the ability to feel ‘with’ people
- Advance understanding of how to be a diversity, equity and inclusion ally
Session format
- Introductions
- Brief presentation of topic
- Small group discussion
- Full group discussion
- Takeaways and next steps
- Monthly open sessions. View our calendar to find a session.
- Custom sessions: If scheduling is a challenge for your group or you would like to address a specific topic, we are happy to schedule a session customized to your group’s needs. We need at least eight participants per session.
- Gender Roles: Socializing Masculine and Feminine
- Supporting our Trans Community
- Generational Differences
- Invisible Disabilities in the Workplace
- Intersectionality
- Exploring Differences Between Introverts and Extroverts
- Deserving & Undeserving: Classism and the Socialization of Compassion
- They said What?: Microaggressions and Why They Hurt
- The Model Minority Myth
- Walking Our Talk: Integrity in Diversity, Inclusion and Allyship