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Staff Story Circles The Staff Story Circle emerged in response to the stated need of Staff members to have a supportive place to come together and share experiences at the university as these relate to their professional roles and functions. It is designed as an informal professional network in which members learn to help themselves, and then reach out to help other peers across campus, in relationship to successfully negotiating workplace responsibilities and climate concerns. It offers inspiration, seeks to enable individuals to build interpersonal motivation to excel, and provides assistance with challenging work-related tasks. Currently, Angie Bass facilitates one Staff Story Circle, which is held monthly during lunchtime at a local College Park restaurant. Any Staff member is welcome to join this Story Circle. Additionally, new Staff Story Circles can be organized for any group of employees, on any theme of relevance, and at the time most convenient for those interested in participating. Intergroup Dialogue Program The Staff Intergroup Dialogue Program brings together two or more groups of Staff members where there is a history of tension or conflict, with the goal of working to diminish cross-group hostility through establishment of a climate for open communication called “dialogue” regarding perceived racial, ethnic, linguistic, religious, and other cultural differences and, subsequently, through interrogation of stereotypes that each group holds about the other. Dialogue participants are “facilitated” in finding common ground based on the identification of their shared family, spiritual, and community values. Angie Bass co-facilitates Staff Intergroup Dialogues with Mr. Mark Brimhall-Vargas, ODI Assistant Director; Ms. Mary Graham-Fisher, ODI, Coordinator; and Ms. Gloria Aparicio, Office of the Vice President for Administrative Affairs’ Assistant to the Vice President. The Dialogues run for two hours, once a week for six weeks, scheduled at a time most convenient for the participating unit or department. It concludes with a graduation ceremony and reception. If you have any questions about staff programming, please contact: Mark Brimhall Vargas |