Equity Events and News for Fall 2022
Dear Community,
As we find ourselves immersed in the busyness of Fall, we’re energized by the vibrancy that’s returning to campus and the many events and opportunities we’re planning for you this year.
We’re especially excited to be hosting the 20th Annual Latinx Youth Summit in November, when we’ll be welcoming Latinx high school students from surrounding counties to Evergreen for a day of college exploration and fun. We’re also excited about the renewal of our Upward Bound grants for 2022-2027, and our recent award of a Title III grant in Holistic Advising.
We’re pleased to welcome several new staff to our division—they bring new vision and energy to our student-centered equity work. Please read on for details about staff updates, our upcoming events, and community-building and educational opportunities for students, staff, and faculty.
In solidarity,
Therese Saliba
Interim Assistant Vice President for Inclusive Excellence & Student Success
20th Annual Latinx Youth Summit
Tuesday, November 22
Evergreen and the Hispanic Roundtable are proud to be this year’s host for the annual Latinx Youth Summit. We’ll be welcoming several hundred high school students, their parents, and their educators from Thurston, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Grays Harbor Counties to this college and career focused event.
The Summit will include workshops, speakers, and musical guests. If you’d like to volunteer for this fun event, please sign up using our form in English, or in Spanish by November 4.
Staff & Faculty Professional Development Opportunities with Dr. Leticia Nieto
Social Justice Skills Labs for Equity Practitioners
(12-1pm on Zoom)
- Monday, November 14
- Monday, December 12
Throughout the academic year, monthly sessions will provide an interactive, invitational space for faculty and staff to address specific equity challenges, practice anti-oppressive social analysis, strengthen liberatory leadership skills, and increase their repertoires of strategies for change.
Engagement for Liberation & Belonging
(3-5pm on Zoom)
- Monday, November 7
- Monday, January 23
These online workshops focus on deepening understanding of the foundational concepts of anti-oppression and applying them in our classrooms and workspaces.
Weekly Events in the Social Justice Center
Social Justice Center Open House
Wednesdays 12-1pm through Week 10 in the Social Justice Center (Evans Hall 2205)
Please join us in the Social Justice Center in Evans Hall 2205/2207 for light refreshments and conversation. Learn about what the center offers and meet others involved in equity work at Evergreen.
Journaling and Creative Practice
Mondays 3-4pm through Week 10 in the Social Justice Center (Evans Hall 2205)
The Social Justice Center is partnering with Student Wellness Services to this weekly space for journaling and creative practice. Everyone is welcome!
President’s Equity Fund Accepting Applications for Winter
The President’s Equity Fund provides grants up to $2000 to current students, staff, and faculty to fund grassroots programming in support of equity and inclusion at Evergreen. Applications for Spring quarter are due on Friday, December 30 at 5pm.
See the funding guidelines and submit an application.
Save the Date: 2023 Equity Symposium
Wednesday, April 19 – Thursday, April 20
Every year, the Evergreen Equity Symposium brings us together with speakers, performances, workshops, and social events to inspire, teach, and celebrate. This year’s Symposium promises to be a very exciting one, and the Symposium planning group will release more information as it becomes available.
Evergreen Receives $2.1 Million In Title III Grant to Improve Student Access and Success
In September, the U.S. Department of Education awarded more than $2 million in Title III grant dollars to The Evergreen State College for its Strengthening Institutions Program.
The grant money funds a five-year project that will continue Evergreen’s work to increase college capacity in student access and success for historically underserved students through holistic advising and coordinated wrap-around services. The funding will also help leverage technology to strengthen Evergreen’s student support services and expand community- and career-connected learning.
Read more on the Evergreen News site.
IESS Staff Updates
Welcome to Adriana Veloza, Academic and Career Advisor
Originally from Colombia, Adriana moved to the U.S. as a teen and grew up in Pennsylvania. She has a BS and MS in Marine Science and an MS in Education. As a first-generation college student, Adriana believes in the impact of higher education to enrich our lives and wants to support students in their journeys to get a college education and follow their passions. Adriana enjoys painting, gardening, trying new recipes, reading, running, spending time with her pets (1 dog, 2 cats, 1 parrot, and 8 chickens) and exploring the beautiful PNW.
Welcome to Cleressa Brown, TRiO Academic Specialist
Cleressa was born and raised in Seattle, but has recently moved back from Virginia. As a low-income and first-generation college student, Cleressa knew at a young age, education was her way out of her environment and her way to make change in her community. Cleressa is proud of her roots and background graduating from a HBCU, Hampton University, and obtaining her masters from Antioch University.
Cleressa taught in public school and has served in multiple capacities that allowed her to case manage, advocate, and support students from K-12. Cleressa is excited to be at Evergreen, working in the TRiO office, as she is a TRiO alumna herself. Cleressa enjoys music, socializing, and good food!
Welcome to Diego Lopez, Undocumented/Underserved Student Support Specialist
Diego joined Evergreen in 2022 as an undergrad student and is pursuing a BAS in Computer Science. Diego currently serves as Chief Justice of the Geoduck Student Union and is a Computer Science tutor at the Quantitative & Symbolic Reasoning Center. He joins us after working as a Computer Science instructor at various schools in the Puget Sound area. Diego grew up in the Los Angeles area and received his Associates Degree from Pasadena City College. In his time there, he was part of the Associated Student Body, various Latinx and Undocumented Student Clubs, and worked with the College Safe Zone Committee that supported UndocuQueer students. In his free time, he considers himself a gamer and helps organize online gaming tournaments. Diego uses he/him pronouns.
Farewell to Pavielle Dawson, Director of Clover Park Upward Bound
Many thanks to Pavielle Dawson, who started a new position as English Language Arts Teacher at Timberland High School in September. Pavielle served as Director of Clover Park Upward Bound for the past five years, and prior to the that led Evergreen’s Tacoma Upward Bound programs. She provided dedicated and tireless leadership to our UB students and staff, and you may have seen her leading jazz dance in Red Square or the CRC. Pavielle also played an important role in our successful UB Grant renewal for both Classic and Math/Science grants, now extended to 2027. Martina Lockridge, Assistant Director of Clover Park Upward Bound, is stepping in as interim Director.
Inclusive Excellence and Student Success
The Evergreen State College
