Building community. Fostering dialog.
July 14th, 2016 | SIT Graduate Institute
SIT faculty member Karen Blanchard recently led an in-depth dialog circle exploring spirituality and identity, as the latest session in the All SIT Social Justice series鈥攁n ongoing SIT community exploration of diversity and social identity issues.
Together with students, faculty, and others in attendance, Karen explored questions such as:
What does the word spirituality mean to you and how does it relate to your identity?
How does your spirituality influence the work you do in the world?
Karen asked participants to consider commonalities and differences between the concepts of religion and spirituality, drawing on research from the University of Minnesota鈥檚 Center for Spirituality & Healing. What is meant by 鈥渢he sacred鈥�? How do we foster connection, understanding, and well-being through the practices of storytelling and deep listening? Her talk also drew on the writings and practices of author Kay Lindahl, founder of The Listening Center.
Karen Stromgren Blanchard is associate professor and degree chair of SIT鈥檚 Intercultural Service, Leadership, and Management master鈥檚 program. She teaches the Journeys of Forgiveness course and courses on intercultural communication among other classes. Karen is the faculty advisor for SIT鈥檚 on-campus spirituality exploration group and the women and gender group.
Learn more about SIT鈥檚 Social Justice Series. Launched this fall, the All SIT Time Social Justice Series, coordinated by Student Affairs, is a time set aside each week for SIT students, staff, and faculty to explore and reflect on diversity and social identity through presentations, facilitated dialogue, and community meetings.
Past sessions in the social justice series have included:
鈥淒iverse Community Foundations鈥� facilitated by Julia Karpicz, Disability Services Coordinator, SIT Graduate Institute, and Stephen Sweet, Assistant Dean of Students for Campus Life, SIT Graduate Institute
Discussion with Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity executive director Curtiss Reed, Jr.
鈥淰alidating Lives and Affirming Experiences鈥� with Lindsay Whittaker exploring the broad scope of epistemic injustice
鈥淒isability and Identity鈥� with Julia Karpicz, Disability Services Coordinator, SIT Graduate Institute
Film screening of We Shall Remain paired with a presentation by Larry Spotted Crow Mann, internationally acclaimed writer, poet, Native American cultural educator, traditional story teller, tribal drummer/dancer, motivational speaker, and actor
鈥淪ocial Class, Classism, and Intersections鈥� with Mary Kay Sigda, SIT Graduate Institute; Celeste Hayes, current student (practicum phase), SIT Graduate Institute; and Debbie Lynangale, The Mediation & Training Collaborative
鈥淢asculinity, Gender, & Violence鈥� with Brattleboro Women鈥檚 Freedom Center staff member Anna Mullany