Speaker Series & Events

This speaker series and other events will provide the opportunity to be in a community and learn something new through the DEIBJA lens. The speaker series will bring presenters from outside UC Berkeley as well as colleagues from across campus to share their knowledge and lived experiences. Feel free to share this information with anyone who might be interested.

Upcoming Speakers & Events

deib hands

bIT Weekly Meditation
Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m. 

Our amazing colleague, Janhavi Deshpande will be offering a monthly guided meditation practice! Some of you may remember this practice pre-pandemic, and we thought what a perfect time to bring this practice back to our community. Zoom link for meditation

Black History Walk

Black History Walking Tour
Wednesday, July 9 | 12 p.m.

Black History Walking Tour about the Black community at UC Berkeley! This tour was written and designed by long-time staff member and alumnaGia White(‘86). The tour draws from her extensive research about the earliest Black students at UC Berkeley (see "As I Walk These Paths"), a few of our many notable Black faculty members, and the special spaces that Black people have fought to create for Black people on the campus.

I have space for 12 staff to join this walking tour! Sign up ASAP if you want to join this amazing experience. The tour will begin at the Koret Visitor Center/Cal Athletic Hall of Fame, Memorial Stadium at 12:00 pm on July 9, and last for approximately 90 minutes.

safe space chat bubbles

Safe Space: A Monthly Drop-in Session
Tuesday, July 17 | 4 p.m.

Join us for our Monthly Safe Space Drop-In! This month, we want to explore ideas around how to incorporate rest into our days/weeks/months. We will discuss questions like, “How might you build in micro-moments of rest throughout your day? What would accountability for the rest look like with colleagues? How could you model rest and boundaries for your advising team?” Join us for this much-needed conversation!

Zoom link for July Safe Space

deib at 3

DEIB @ 3 |Tuesday, July 22 | 3 - 4 p.m.

This month and next month (August) Britt will be offering an hour-long presentation/workshop on stereotype threat. I will have limited spots for this workshop, so if you are interested, please sign up here! This workshop explores stereotype threat—the risk of confirming negative stereotypes about one's group—and its significant impact on staff performance and workplace dynamics.

By the end of this workshop, participants will have developed a deeper understanding of stereotype threat, practical tools for creating more inclusive working experiences, and actionable strategies for supporting staff retention through equity-minded practices. 

NESSA Logo

Non-Native English Speakers Support Association (NESSA) 
Last Wednesday of every other month at 11 a.m. | Next meeting is July 30

NESSA, which stands for "Non-Native English Speakers Support Association," is our identity-based staff support organization. In this group, we welcome multilingual speakers, native English speakers, and English language learners who are interested in supporting, mentoring, and learning from each other. Zoom link for NESSA

Our group wanted to share an amazing presentation and resource created by Padma Vemula, Inclusive Language Matters

DEIB Event Archive

deib at 3

DEIB @ 3
Tuesday, June 24 | 3-3:30 p.m.

The third Tuesday of each month (the 4th Tuesday this month), join Britt for a 30-minute collaborative conversation about a specific article/podcast/book chapter/video that they provide in the Newsletter (and the calendar invite)!

Why do people dig in deeper when presented with facts that challenge their beliefs? Rather than changing their minds, they often strengthen their original positions – a phenomenon known as the Backfire Effect. In our current climate of polarization and information overload, understanding this psychological tendency (and its related concept of backlash) offers valuable insights for navigating difficult conversations and examining our own thought processes.

Join us for an open exploration of how we process conflicting information and what this means for effective dialogue in our personal and professional lives.

  1. The Backfire Effect: Why Facts Don’t Always Change Minds

  2. Mind the Backlash

When you come to our DEIB @ 3 conversation, you need to have listened to/read the episode and come up with one thought or one question… that’s it! Looking forward to a midday thought partner session. Zoom link for DEIB @ 3.

safe space chat bubbles

Safe Space: A Monthly Drop-in Session
Tuesday, June 10 | 4 p.m.

Join us for our Monthly Safe Space Drop-In! We know how difficult change can be, and our community has experienced a lot of it within the last year. This month we want to explore some of the most recent changes from having a new CIO, a new Chancellor, and very soon a new UC President! Let's take some time to slow down and talk through how this is impacting our bIT community.

Please join us. Zoom link for May Safe Space.

colorful silhouettes

Open Office Hours with Britt
Wednesday, June 18 | 9-11 a.m.

Come check in with me! We can talk about anything (a DEIB idea for programming, inequitable systems, favorite snacks). You can sign up for a time, and I will send you the Zoom link; it’s that easy. Time slots are 15 minutes, but if you want 30 minutes, feel free to put your name twice. Looking forward to connecting!

colorful silhouettes

Open Office Hours with Britt
Tuesday, May 23 | 10:30-12:00 p.m.

Come check in with me! We can talk about anything (a DEIB idea for programming, inequitable systems, favorite snacks). You can sign up for a time, and I will send you the Zoom link; it’s that easy. Time slots are 15 minutes, but if you want 30 minutes, feel free to put your name twice. Looking forward to connecting!

NESSA Logo

Non-Native English Speakers Support Association (NESSA) 
Last Wednesday of every other month at 11 a.m. | Next meeting is May 28 

NESSA, which stands for "Non-Native English Speakers Support Association," is our identity-based staff support organization. In this group, we welcome multilingual speakers, native English speakers, and English language learners who are interested in supporting, mentoring, and learning from each other. Zoom link for NESSA

Our group wanted to share an amazing presentation and resource created by Padma Vemula, Inclusive Language Matters

deib at 3

DEIB @ 3 |Tuesday, May 20 | 3-3:30 p.m.

The third Tuesday of each month, join Britt for a 30-minute collaborative conversation about a specific article/podcast/book chapter/video that they provide in the Newsletter (and the calendar invite)!

This month, we are going to be exploring empathy in the workplace as well as the difference between empathy and compassion.

  1. It’s Cool to Be Kind: The Value of Empathy at Work

  2. Empathy vs Compassion

  3. Leading with Compassion has Research-Backed Benefits

When you come to our DEIB @ 3 conversation, you need to have listened to/read the episode and come up with one thought or one question… that’s it! Looking forward to a midday thought partner session. Zoom link for DEIB @ 3.

safe space chat bubbles

Safe Space: A Monthly Drop-in Session
Thursday | May 15 at 11 a.m.

Join us for our Monthly Safe Space Drop-In! This month, we will explore the question, “What makes someone credible/believable in our current work culture?” It is an important time to be in the community as thought partners discuss why credibility matters, who is gifted credibility, and who has to “work” for it. 

Please join us. Zoom link for May Safe Space.

deib hands

bIT Weekly Meditation
Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m. 

Our amazing colleague, Janhavi Deshpande will be offering a monthly guided meditation practice! Some of you may remember this practice pre-pandemic and we thought what a perfect time to bring this practice back to our community. Zoom link for meditation

NESSA Logo

Non-Native English Speakers Support Association (NESSA) 
Last Wednesday of every other month at 11 a.m. | Next meeting is May 28

NESSA which stands for "Non-Native English Speakers Support Association" is our identity-based staff support organization. In this group, we welcome multilingual speakers, native English speakers, and English language learners who are interested in supporting, mentoring, and learning from each other. Zoom link for NESSA

Our group wanted to share an amazing presentation and resource created by Padma Vemula, Inclusive Language Matter

colorful silhouettes

Open Office Hours with Britt
Tuesday, April 24 | 1-2:30 p.m.

Come check in with me! We can talk about anything (a DEIB idea for programming, inequitable systems, favorite snacks). You can sign up for a time, and I will send you the Zoom link; it’s that easy. Time slots are 15 mins. but if you want 30 minutes, feel free to put your name twice. Looking forward to connecting!

deib at 3

DEIB @ 3 |Tuesday, April 22 | 3-3:30 p.m.

The third Tuesday of each month (this month it’ll be the fourth Tuesday), join Britt for a 30-minute collaborative conversation about a specific article/podcast/book chapter/video that they provide in the Newsletter (and the calendar invite)!

This month we are going to be thinking about and discussing retention strategies.

  1. The Essentials: Retaining Talent
  2. This is what makes employees happy at work

When you come to our DEIB @ 3 conversation, you need to have listened to/read the episode and come up with one thought or one question… that’s it! Looking forward to a midday thought partner session. Zoom link for DEIB @ 3.

safe space chat bubbles

Safe Space: A Monthly Drop-in Session
Thursday | April 10 at 4 p.m.

Join us for our Monthly Safe Space Drop-In! This month, we will explore the topic of how to create safe and equitable spaces on Zoom. Remote and hybrid work is likely here to stay, so it is a good time to revisit the ways we can make virtual meeting spaces inclusive and caring. 

Please join us. Zoom link for April Safe Space

colorful silhouettes

Open Office Hours with Britt
Tuesday, March 18 | 12:30-2:00 p.m.

Come check in with me! We can talk about anything (a DEIB idea for programming, inequitable systems, favorite snacks). You can sign up for a time and I will send you the Zoom link, it’s that easy. Time slots are 15 mins. but if you want 30 mins., feel free to put your name twice. Looking forward to connecting!

deib at 3

DEIB @ 3 |Tuesday, March 18 | 3-3:30 p.m.

On the third Tuesday of each month, join Britt for a 30-minute collaborative conversation about a specific article/podcast/book chapter/video that they provide in the Newsletter (and the calendar invite)!

This month, in light of Women’s History Month, there are two 25-minute videos to watch for our upcoming conversation. Don’t fear, if you only have time for one that’s ok! Engage in at least one video… or both if you’d like. 

  1. Talent Leaders Driving Gender Equity in the Age of AI

  2. Evidential Currency: Proof of Skills as a Catalyst for Progress

When you come to our DEIB @ 3 conversation you need to have listened to/read the episode and come up with one thought or one question… that’s it! Looking forward to a midday thought partner session. Zoom link for DEIB @ 3.

safe space chat bubbles

Safe Space: A Monthly Drop-in Session
Thursday, March 13 | 4 p.m.

Join us for our Monthly Safe Space Drop-In! This month we will explore the question, “What makes someone credible/believable in our current work culture?” It is an important time to be in the community as thought partners discuss why credibility matters, who is gifted credibility, and who has to “work” for it. 

Please join us. Zoom link for March Safe Space.

Avril Epps

DEIB Speaker Series | Your Brain and AI with Dr. Avriel Epps
Tuesday, Feb. 25 | 1-2:00 p.m. 

We are excited to have Dr. Avriel Epps, computational social scientist and a Civic Science Postdoctoral Fellow at the Cornell University CATLab. She will be joining us for an hour to talk about: The Intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Social Equity, and Bias

Clear your schedules for this presentation which examines how artificial intelligence perpetuates systemic inequities and explores strategies for creating fairer, more inclusive technological systems.

Watch the recording.

colorful silhouettes

Open Office Hours with Britt
Wednesday, Feb. 19 | 2:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Come check in with me! We can talk about anything (a DEIB idea for programming, inequitable systems, favorite snacks). You can sign up for a time and I will send you the Zoom link, it’s that easy. Time slots are 15 mins. but if you want 30 mins., feel free to put your name twice. Looking forward to connecting!

deib at 3

DEIB @ 3
Tuesday, Feb. 18 | 3-3:30 p.m.

On the third Tuesday of each month, join Britt for a 30-minute collaborative conversation about a specific article/podcast/book chapter/video that they provide in the Newsletter (and the calendar invite)!

This month we will be listening to an episode from the popular podcast, Code Switch, entitled “The co-opting of MLK Jr. by… everybody

When you come to our DEIB @ 3 conversation you need to have listened to/read the episode and come up with one thought or one question… that’s it! Looking forward to a midday thought partner session. Zoom link for DEIB @ 3.

safe space chat bubbles

Safe Space: A Monthly Drop-in Session
Thursday, Feb. 11 | 4 p.m.

Join us for our Monthly Safe Space Drop-In! This month, in light of Black History Month, we will be talking about Black Joy: Resistance, Resilience, and Reclamation. Please join us to talk about what the Black joy movement is.

NESSA Logo

Non-Native English Speakers Support Association, (NESSA) 
Last Wednesday of every other month at 11 a.m. | Next meeting is January 29 

NESSA which stands for "Non-Native English Speakers Support Association" is our identity-based staff support organization. In this group, we welcome multilingual speakers, native English speakers, and English language learners who are interested in supporting, mentoring, and learning from each other. Zoom link for NESSA

Our group wanted to share an amazing presentation and resource created by Padma Vemula, Tips for Enhancing Presentation Skills for Non-Native English Speakers

safe space chat bubbles

Safe Space: A Monthly Drop-in Session
Thursday, Jan. 27 | 12-1 p.m.

We recognize that a lot has come up this week politically and imagine it could be impacting your day-to-day. We will hold a space, like we have in the past, to be in community together and give you an opportunity to express some of the things that may be making it difficult to show up at work and continue with business as usual.

Zoom Link

colorful silhouettes

Open Office Hours with Britt
Monday, Jan. 21 | 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Come check in with me! We can talk about anything (a DEIB idea for programming, inequitable systems, favorite snacks). You can sign up for a time and I will send you the Zoom link, it’s that easy. Time slots are 15 mins. but if you want 30 mins., feel free to put your name twice. Looking forward to connecting!

deib at 3

DEIB @ 3 | Returns in January … with a twist!
Tuesday, Jan. 21 | 3-3:30 p.m.

The third Tuesday of each month, join Britt for a 30 minute collaborative conversation about a specific article/podcast/book chapter/video that they provide in the Newsletter (and the calendar invite)!

Next month we are going to discuss this Ted Talk by Celeste Headlee called 10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation

When you come to our DEIB @ 3 conversation you need to have watched the Ted Talk and come with one thought or one question… that’s it! Looking forward to a midday thought partner session. Zoom link for DEIB @ 3.

safe space chat bubbles

Safe Space: A Monthly Drop-in Session
Thursday, Jan. 16 | 4 p.m.

Join us for our Monthly Safe Space Drop-In! This month we will revisit our topic around mental health in the workplace. We are specifically going to talk through 2025 hopes and intentions for our teams, our daily work routines, and/or our personal routines. It’ll be a nice way to set the tone for the new year! Zoom link for January Safe Space.