heritage and awareness challenges

Dr. Murphy's "Finding Common Ground" Challenge

January 18-31 

As our nation approaches Inauguration Day, January 20^th,, we are
navigating political polarization and waves of media disinformation, racism, and --oh, yes-- a global pandemic.  

At CSM, we are one community navigating all of this together. In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose birthday we celebrate on January 18^th, let’s aim for peace and mutual understanding. Let us begin by seeking and finding our common ground. 

Please join Dr. Murphy in taking the 5-Day Finding Common Ground Challenge. Devote some time, on any five days between January 18 and 31, to reading articles, watching videos, and doing activities that increase your understanding of conservatism and liberalism, of Republicans and Democrats. What do we stand for? What are we challenged by?  

What concerns and interests might we have in common that we simply haven’t noticed? 

Complete the challenge in five consecutive days or over the course of two weeks—your choice. On each day, complete as many activities as you have time for. No pressure. Follow your curiosity. Keep a journal of your thoughts and revelations. Then join our virtual discussion on Thursday, February 4, 2:30-3:30 pm. 

Faculty and staff who participate can earn formal recognition of professional learning. Permanent faculty can use professional development points for this year’s Faculty Development Plan. Eight hours of participation equals one point. Staff and adjunct faculty can earn certificates of participation for their employee files.  

Questions? Contact Dr. Sybol Anderson: ssanderson1@csmd.edu. 

Register for the Finding Common Ground Challenge.

Day 1:  Prologue: "You Are No Longer My Mother" by Tim Reid, Gabriella Borter, and Michael
     Martin
     Introduction: Conservatism, Modern Liberalism, and Their Common Ground -- Classical
     Liberalism

ALICE/Poverty Awareness Challenge

January 11-31 

Did you know that 34% of Southern Maryland households seriously struggle to make ends meet ... and that was before COVID hit? Did you know that three-quarters of those households are working families earning above the federal poverty level? They are ALICE families: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.

In January, as we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, we call attention to the quest for economic justice, Dr. King's final campaign. Join CSM's 5-Day ALICE/Poverty Awareness Challenge, and learn more about economic and social challenges faced by some of our most hard-working, talented, and resilient neighbors.

Register for the ALICE/Poverty Awareness Challenge.

Day 1:    Read: "The Poor People's Campaign" | The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education
               Institute
               Visit: The Meet ALICE website | unitedforalice.org
               Watch: "The Story We Tell about Poverty Isn't True" | TED Talk by Mia Birdsong

Day 2:    Read: "ALICE in Maryland: A Financial Hardship Study" (2020) | United Ways of Maryland
               Participate: "Making Tough Choices" Simulation Exercise | Connecticut United Ways

Day 3:    Watch: 30 Days, S01-Ep 01: "Minimum Wage" | Morgan Spurlock

Day 4:    Read: "CSM Hosts 7th Mobile Hawk Feeder Event" | CSM Newsroom
               Act: Donate to CSM's Help a Hawk Fund (choose "Hawk Feeder" on the drop down menu),
               or invite your church or organization to donate food and supplies!

               One of the very best ways to help "fuel the fire" of our hard-working students is through
               the Help a Hawk Fund (which includes the Mobile Hawk Feeder Program: "Take What You
               Need - Give What You Can"). Some ways Help a Hawk funds are used:  
                  ·   Hawk Feeder care packages
                  ·   Tuition assistance 
                  ·   Technology and educational supplies

               The CSM Foundation established the Help a Hawk Fund to ensure the COVID-19 crisis
               doesn't impede or derail our students from reaching their goals. No student should have to
               choose between affording to live and affording to learn.

               Checks for these funds/projects can be sent to: CSM Foundation, PO Box 910, La Plata, MD
               20646. Make checks payable to "CSM Foundation".

               Want to stock Hawk Feeders? Due to COVID, Student Life may only accept food donations
               from organizations or churches (not individuals). If your organization or church would like
               to donate food to the Hawk Feeder Program, please contact Ms. Erika Abell.

Day 5:    Listen: "The Power of Networks: A Documentary" | Jennifer Guerra, WUOM-FM    

Virtual Check-In: Thursday, January 28, 2:30-3:30 pm   
            An informal meeting to talk with others about the Challenge: What did you learn about
            ALICE and poverty that was unknown to you before the Challenge? How do you feel about
            what you learned? Advance registration required. Register here by January 28 at 12:00 noon.

Holiday Season Challenge!

December 10 - January 1 

December brings a wonderful season of celebrations! This year Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday, is observed December 10-18. On December 21 many celebrate the Winter Solstice. Christmas, a Christian holiday, is celebrated on December 25. And December 26-January 1 marks the annual Kwanzaa celebration, an African-American tradition. 

Join CSM's 5-Day Holiday Season Challenge, and let's celebrate together by learning together!

Register for the Holiday Season Challenge.


Day 1:    Read: "Hanukkah" and "Winter Solstice" on History.com

Day 2:    Read: "History of Christmas" and "Kwanzaa" on History.com

Day 3:    Explore: Chabad.org's website, "Celebrate Chanukah"

Day 4:    Explore: WhyChristmas.com's website, "Christmas Traditions & Customs"

Day 5:    Explore: "Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community, and Culture,"
               the official Kwanzaa website    

Virtual Check-In: Thursday, January 7, 2:30-3:30 pm   
            An informal meeting to talk with others about the Challenge: What did you learn about
            celebrations unknown to you before the Challenge ... and what more did you learn about
            those familiar to you? How do you feel about what you learned? Advance registration
            required. Register here by January 7 at 12:00 noon.

International Week Challenge: Korea!

November 16-20 

Join CSM's Global Initiatives Committee (GIC) in celebrating International Week by joining the 5-Day International Week Challenge: Korea! The GIC joins Maryland Humanities in celebrating its 2020 One Maryland, One Book selection: Lisa See's The Island of Sea Women. The book chronicles the lives of two girls, Young-sook and Mi-ja, who live on the Korean island, Jeju. Though having differences in family lineage, the two friends seem inseparable. Their friendship is tested to the breaking point during the Japanese occupation of the 1930’s and 1940’s, World War II, and through the Korean War. 

Explore with us the lived experiences, perspectives, concerns, and culture of Koreans and Korean Americans.

Register for the International Week Challenge.

Nov 16:  Visit: Maryland Humanities' One Book, One Maryland website. Learn about The Island of
                Sea Women and author Lisa See. Be sure to watch the video by First Lady Yumi Hogan!
                Watch: One Maryland, One Book Author Tour (Lisa See): Calvert   
                Visit: The Korean Cultural Center, Washington DC website. Be sure to explore the tab:
                 Korea Information!

Nov 17:  Attend: CSM's International Week Keynote Presentation: "Cell Phones in Two Koreas: A
               Window to Balanced Intellectual Curiosity? Mr. Yonho Kim, Associate Director, GW Institute
               for Korean Studies. 2:00 pm on Zoom. Advance registration required. Register here.
               Watch: Mojo's Top 10 Iconic K-Pop Songs  
               Reflect: What have you learned so far about Korean life and culture that you did not know
                before? What else would you like to know about Korea?

Nov 18:  Read: "It's Not Just 'Parasite': Korean Cinema has a Deep, Rich History," by Haeryung Kang
               Dinner and a Movie: Order take-out from Bonchon Chicken and join K-Cinema at Home:
               The Tiger hosted by the Korean Cultural Center, Washington, DC (free and available Nov.
               16-22). Advance registration required. Register here. 

Nov 19:  Attend: GIC Virtual Tour: The Old Korean Legation Museum in Washington, DC.  
               Attend: "Writing Empathy: A Conversation with Cho Haejin and Translator Ji-Eun Lee." 
               8:00-9:00 pm EST. Register here.
               Attend: The GIC's Discussion of "Writing Empathy," 9:00 pm on Zoom. Register here.
                Visit: The Missing Slate's website: Modern and Contemporary Korean Women Poets

Nov 20: Watch: Korean Series Baseball! Bears-Wiz winner vs. NC Dinos. 4:30 am EST on ESPN2.
              Watch: NBC LeftField's "What Is Mukbang?"

Dec 11:  Attend: The GIC's Rescheduled Virtual Korean Cooking Class sponsored by No Thyme to
              Cook, located in Solomons, Maryland. 6:00-8:00 pm on Zoom. Tickets: $25. Register here.

Virtual Check-In: Monday, November 30, 1:00-2:00 pm   
            An informal meeting to talk with others about International Week and the Challenge: What
            more did you learn about Korean life, society, and culture? How do you feel about what you 
            learned? Advance registration required. Register here by November 30 at 11:00 am.

Native-American Heritage Challenge

November 1-30 

Native Americans have observed American Indian Day to honor the contributions of First Americans since 1915. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush approved a resolution to designate November 1990 “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Proclamations have been issued every year since 1994.

Celebrate National Native American Heritage Month by joining CSM's 5-Day Native-American Heritage Challenge! Explore and engage the lived experiences, perspectives, and concerns of our Native-American community members.

Register for the Native-American Heritage Challenge.

Day 1:  Watch: The Canary Effect
             Reflect: What did you learn about the experience of Native Americans that you did not know
             before? How do you feel about what you have learned?

Day 2:  Visit: The National Native-American Heritage Month website.
             Read: U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo
             Watch: Interview with Poet Laureate Joy Harjoy  

Day 3:  Read: "Piscataway-Conjoy: Rejuvenating Ancestral Ties to Southern Parks" by the MD 
             Department of Natural Resources
             Visit: The UMD Libraries' website: Native Americans in Maryland: A Resource Guide
             Visit: The Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs website
             Reflect: What did you learn today about Native-Americans in Maryland? How will you use
             that knowledge?

Day 4:  Watch: "The Standing Rock Resistance and Our Fight for Indigenous Rights" - TED Talk by
             Tara Houska
             Watch: "America's Native Prisoners of War" - TED Talk by Aaron Huey
             Reflect: "How can you change the conversation for extremely oppressed and forgotten
             people?"

Day 5: Visit: History.com's Native American History website
             Visit: The Poetry Foundation's Native-American Poetry and Culture website. Be sure to check
             out the articles and podcasts at the bottom of the page!
             Reflect: What new things did you learn today about Native-American history, literature, and
             culture? How will you use your new knowledge?

Virtual Check-In: Friday, November 20, 2:30-3:30 pm   
           An informal meeting to talk with others about the Challenge: share new insights and new ideas! 
           Advance registration is required. Register here by November 20, 12:00 noon. 

Disability Awareness Challenge

October 1-31 

In 1988 the US Congress declared October National Disability Employment Awareness Month to raise awareness of the employment needs and contributions of individuals who happen to disabilities of many kinds. Currently about 61 million Americans (~26%) have disabilities. This month, we honor and recognize their many accomplishments and contributions.  

Celebrate National Disability Awareness Month by joining CSM's 5-Day Disability Awareness Challenge! Explore and engage the lived experiences, perspectives, and concerns of our community members who happen to have disabilities.

Register for the Disability Awareness Challenge.

Day 1:  Watch: "The Capitol Crawl: Taking a Crawl in History"
             Visit: "8 Famous People with Disabilities--Overcoming Disabilities and Following Passions" 
             Reflect: What did you learn about people with disabilities that you did not know before? How
             does that new knowledge inform your thinking about disability? 

Day 2:  Visit: CSM's Disability Support Services web page
             Read: "Universal Design for Learning: A Concise Introduction," by the ACCESS Project,
             Colorado State University
             Act: Take a "disability walk" around your home and wherever else you go today. Imagine
             you have to get around in a wheelchair, or are blind, deaf, or have other physical
             differences. Where do you have difficulty getting where you need to go? Imagine you are
             neurodiverse, e.g., you have Asperger's Syndrome, autism, or Attention Deficit Disorder. Do
             you feel you would be supported at work, in school, or in other places you go today? 

Day 3:  Visit: U.S. Department of Labor's National Disability Employment Awareness Month website
             Watch: CSM's ADA 30th Anniversary Commemoration: a special edition ODLI Lunch &
             Learn 

Day 4:  Read: Excerpt of "Normality, Power, and Culture," by Lennard Davis. (Full text.)
             Read: "Neurodiversity is a Competitive Advantage," Harvard Business Review
             Reflect: Think about all of humanity. What is "normal"? Why is that your view of normalcy?

Day 5:  Watch: "Our Fight for Disability Rights and Why We're Not Done Yet" - TEDx Talk by Judith
             Heumann
             Reflect: Have you ever experienced having less access than others to spaces or
             opportunities because of something different about your body or mind -- e.g., having to walk
             with crutches or having difficulty communicating a thought or feeling? Write a few sentences
             about what that was like and what might have made access easier for you.

Virtual Check-In: Thursday, October 29, 2:30-3:30 pm   
           An informal meeting to talk with others about the Challenge: share new insights and new ideas! 
           Advance registration is required. Register here by October 29, 12:00 noon. 

Italian-American Heritage Challenge

October 1-31 

Italian American Heritage Month was first celebrated in 1989, by a special proclamation of both Congress and President George H. W. Bush, to recognize the achievements and contributions of Italian immigrants and Italian Americans. More than 5 million Italians immigrated to the United States between 1820 and 2000. There are currently more than 26 million Americans of Italian descent in the US, making Italian-Americans the fifth largest ethnic group in the nation. 

Celebrate National Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month by joining CSM's 5-Day Italian-American Heritage Challenge! Engage the lived experiences, perspectives, and concerns of community members of Italian-American heritage.

Register for the Italian-American Heritage Challenge.

Day 1:  Visit: Italia Living: National Italian-American Heritage Month. Be sure to read the poem, "I
              am an Italian-American," by Angelo Bianchi, Esq!
              Visit: The U.S. Census Bureau: Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month
              Reflect: What did you learn today about Italian-American heritage? 

Day 2:  Watch: PBS' documentary episode, The Italian Americans - La Famiglia

Day 3:  Watch: City Talk: Italian Americans--John Maggio and Maria Laurino
             Reflect: What new insights have you gained about Italian American heritage from viewing
             the documentary? What new insights have you gained about the documentary from watching
             this interview?

Day 4: Read: "Baltimore's Italian-American Community Plans a New Statue to Honor Columbus," by
             Tim Swift
             Read: "Christopher Columbus: When Did the Hero Become a Villain?" by Janice Therese
             Mancuso 
             Read: "Why Some Italian Americans Still Fiercely Defend Columbus Day," by Christina
             Caron
             Reflect: Can we, as a country, "find better ways to utilize our history to eradicate racism
             instead of inciting it"? Can a "solution" be found "that considers all sides"? If so, what might
             that look like? If not, why not?

Day 5:  Visit: The Italian Sons and Daughters of America website. Explore articles under the Culture
             tab!

Virtual Check-In: Friday, October 30, 2:30-3:30 pm   
           An informal meeting to talk with others about the Challenge: share new insights and new ideas! 
           Advance registration is required. Register here by October 30, 12:00 noon. 

Hispanic Heritage Challenge

September 15 - October 15 

Established in 1968, National Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the contributions of those in the US whose ancestry can be traced to over 20 countries in Latin America, including Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. In the US, approximately 60 million people (~18% of the US population) have ancestries connected to these countries. September 15 is the date on which several Latin American countries celebrate their independence from Spain: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence on September 16 and 18, respectively.

Observe National Hispanic Heritage Month by taking CSM's 5-Day Hispanic Heritage Challenge! A variety of sources explore the lived experiences, perspectives, and concerns of community members of Hispanic/Latin@/Latinx heritage. 

Register for the Hispanic Heritage Challenge.

Day 1:  Visit: The National Hispanic Heritage Month website
             Read: "Decolonize 'Hispanic Heritage Month' or Get Rid of It,"
             by Adriana Maestas
             Reflect: What might it mean to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month appropriately? 

Day 2:  Read: "Nuestra América: Latino History as United States History," by Vicki L. Ruiz 
             Read: "Hispanic vs. Latino vs. Latinx: A Brief History of How These Words Originated," by
             Yara Simón

Day 3:  Read: The biography and poetry of Gabriela Mistral 
             Read: "Key Facts about U.S. Latinos for National Hispanic Heritage Month," by the Pew
             Research Center

Day 4:  Read: "Undocumented to Hyperdocumented: A Jornada ..." by Aurora Chang

Day 5:  Watch: "I Am Not My Status" - TEDx Talk by Ernesto Rocha
             Reflect: What does liberation mean to you? How might liberation mean something different
             for others, and how might you support their liberation?

Virtual Check-In: Friday, October 16, 2:00-3:00 pm   
            An informal meeting to talk with others about the Challenge: share new insights and new ideas!
            Advance registration is required. Register here by October 16, 12:00 noon.