DEIB Speaker Series & Events

Upcoming Speakers & Events

bIT Monthly Meditation | Nov. 20 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.

Safe Space: A Monthly Drop-in Session
Thursday | Nov. 21 at 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 explore staff burnout, the ways it shows up, and the different ways we positively address it. We will also make some space to process the difficulties and stresses of the election. Zoom link for September Safe Space.

DEIB Speaker Series | Your Brain and AI with Stella Collins
Thursday | Nov. 21 at 10 a.m.

“As AI reshapes our world, the excitement is undeniable. But when you’re an IT professional in academia alongside innovation comes personal challenges: pressure to keep up to date, fear of being replaced, ethical dilemmas, and resistance or unrealistic expectations from faculty and students. Through the lens of neuroscience, you’ll explore how your brain can navigate the stress and excitement of working with AI, ensuring you not only succeed but stay balanced and human in this fast-changing landscape.”

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

DEIB Event Archive

Open Office Hours with DEIB Lead, Britt McClintock
Tuesday | Nov. 19 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 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! 

Non-Native English Speakers Support Association, (NESSA) 
Last Wednesday of every other month at 11 a.m. | Next meeting is Oct. 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, Tips for Enhancing Presentation Skills for Non-Native English Speakers

Open Office Hours with DEIB Lead, Britt McClintock
Wednesday, Oct. 9 | 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 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 are wanting 30 mins feel free to put your name twice. Looking forward to connecting!

Safe Space: A Monthly Drop-in Session
Tuesday, Oct. 15 | 11 a.m.

Join us for our Monthly Safe Space Drop-In! This month is our OPEN MIC session. We welcome the bIT community to join this space and bring any burning topics that are coming up at work. This will be facilitated by DEIB Lead, Britt McClintock. Zoom link for September Safe Space.

Non-Native English Speakers Support Association, (NESSA)
Wednesday, Aug. 28 | 11 a.m.

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

DEIB @ 3 for Berkeley IT (Recorded)
Britt will be uploading some new DEIB @ 3 content on August 20!

Join Britt for a 30-minute crash course on a DEIBJA workplace topic. This month they will be talking about some of the reasons DEI doesn’t “stick”. They will be exploring questions/issues like DEI fatigue, why DEI programming struggles to be consistent and forever prioritized, and the long road we travel for real sustainable change. 

Safe Space: A Monthly Drop-in Session
Thursday, Aug. 14 | 4 p.m.

Join us for our Monthly Safe Space Drop In! True to our promise we are going to hold space quarterly to talk about mental health in the workplace. We will take August to create a safe space for our community to open up about the importance of talking about mental health and how we can support and advocate for this topic to be prioritized at work. Zoom link for August Safe Space.

DEIB @ 3 for Berkeley IT (Recorded)
Tuesday, June 25 | 3 p.m.

Join Britt for a 30-minute crash course on a DEIBJA workplace topic. This month they will be talking about some of the reasons DEI doesn’t “stick”. They will be exploring questions/issues like DEI fatigue, why DEI programming struggles to be consistent and forever prioritized, and the long road we travel for real sustainable change. Zoom link for DEIB @ 3

Non-Native English Speakers Support Association, (NESSA)
Tuesday, June 26 | 11 a.m.

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.

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: A Monthly Drop-in Session
Tuesday, June 11 | 11 a.m.

Join the Safe Space Sub-committee (a part of the Action Team). This month we are discussing the question, ‘What does accessibility mean to you and how do we discuss this in the workplace?’ Zoom link for Safe Space

Neurodiversity Support Association, (NDivSA)
Tuesday, June 11 | 4 p.m.

The Neurodiversity Support Association meetings are here! We will be meeting once a month to talk about neurodiversity in the workplace. We will share stories, articles, and resources, and maybe even have some guest speakers! Please fill out this Google Interest Form for NDivSA, this will ensure you are invited to our first meeting! You can also access the Zoom link for this meeting here (zoom link for NDivSA)

Non-Native English Speakers Support Association, (NESSA)
Wednesday, May 29 | 11 a.m.

If you would like to attend a NESSA (Non-Native English Speakers Support Association) meeting please reach out to me or Padma Vemula and we will happily add you to the invite list. 

Safe Space: A Monthly Drop-in Session to Acknowledge, Process, Humanize, & Restore
Tuesday, May 14| 4 p.m. 

Join the Safe Space Sub-committee (a part of the Action Team). This month we are discussing psychological safety. This is a term often thrown around with the true meaning being understood. Join us to discuss the importance and complexities of this term. 

Non-Native English Speakers Support Association, (NESSA)

Wednesday, April 24 | 3 p.m.

If you would like to attend a NESSA (Non-Native English Speakers Support Association) meeting please reach out to me or Padma Vemula and we will happily add you to the invite list. 

Safe Space: A Monthly Drop-in Session to Acknowledge, Process, Humanize, & Restore
Thursday, April 25 | 4 p.m. 

Join the Safe Space Sub-committee (a part of the Action Team). This month we are discussing psychological safety. This is a term often thrown around with the true meaning being understood. Join us to discuss the importance and complexities of this term. 

Non-Native English Speakers Support Association, (NESSA)
Wednesday, March 27 | 3 p.m.

If you would like to attend a NESSA (Non-Native English Speakers Support Association) meeting please reach out to me or Padma Vemula and we will happily add you to the invite list. 

Safe Space: A Monthly Drop-in Session to Acknowledge, Process, Humanize, & Restore

Thursday, March 28 | 4 p.m. 

Join the Safe Space Sub-committee (a part of the Action Team). This month we are discussing psychological safety. This is a term often thrown around with the true meaning being understood. Join us to discuss the importance and complexities of this term. 

Non-Native English Speakers Support Association, (NESSA)
Wednesday, Feb. 28 | 3 p.m.

If you would like to attend a NESSA (Non-Native English Speakers Support Association) meeting please reach out to me or Padma Vemula and we will happily add you to the invite list. 

bIT DEIB Speaker Series: "Psychology research proposes bias is input into machine learning and how this can apply to IT professionals"
Thursday, Feb. 22 | 3 p.m. | Watch Video

I'm so thrilled to announce our February DEIB speaker is Dr. Merrick Osborne. Dr. Osborne is the Inaugural Racial Equity Postdoctoral Scholar at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. He studies how our positions in social hierarchies are influenced by how we address prejudice. Recently, he has begun to explore how these dynamics influence the ways we produce, and use technology. Merrick will discuss how psychology research proposes bias is input into machine learning and how this can apply to IT professionals. 

Safe Space: A Monthly Drop-in Session to Acknowledge, Process, Humanize, & Restore
Thursday, Feb. 15 | 4 p.m. 

Join the Safe Space Sub-committee (a part of the Action Team). This month we are discussing psychological safety. This is a term often thrown around with the true meaning being understood. Join us to discuss the importance and complexities of this term.