Under the baobab: Celebrating, mending together this holiday season
God has made everything beautiful in its time.”- Solomon, Ecclesiastes
The holiday season is one of the most beautiful and poignant times of the year. It’s when we mourn the recent passing of friends and loved ones while celebrating the coming of a new year and life. We conclude a semester and begin another. We hunker down, trudging through winter, trying to keep our hearts warm with the promise of spring. The damp wind chills yet there are reasons to rejoice.
Brittney Griner is home. Thanks to President Biden and his administration for making it happen. May they continue their efforts to repatriate our other captured citizens. Congrats to Georgia Senator Warnock and the Democratic Party for working to build a moment of triumph. Congrats to the Rose Bowl bound Penn State football team. It is a time of joy for U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, selected to be chair of the House Agricultural Committee for the first time.
We continue to gather together again in the community. Jennifer Hamer, special advisor to the president for DEIB, held a Winter Brunch for Penn State faculty and staff involved in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) matters. It was intended to build social and professional networks and provide space for people to connect. Other sponsors of the event included CFW co-chairs Beth Seymour and Karen Armstrong, CLGBTQE co-chairs Brian Patchcoski and Barrett Scroggs; CORED co-chairs Terry Watson and Andrew Sandoval-Strausz, UELC member Adidi Etim-Hunting; In Educational Equity: Seria Chatters, assistant vice provost for educational equity and Ray Block, faculty coach, Midcareer Faculty Advancement Program.
Guests heard brief remarks from Hamer, Seymour, Watson, Chatters and Michael Wade Smith, senior vice president and chief of staff to the president. Others present included deans Steve Carpenter (College of Arts and Architecture); Kim Lawless, (College of Education); Clarence Lang, (College of Liberal Arts); Keith Gilyard, senior faculty mentor; Deborah Erthenthal, director, Social Science Research Center; Zoubeida Ounaies, director of the Convergence Center for Living Multifunctional Material Systems; Sita Frederick, director, Center for the Performing Arts; Prof. Jo Dumas and her partner and several directors, associate and assistant deans of DEIB, several members of LEAADS, several academic department heads, and academic program coordinators. It included folks from University Park and commonwealth campuses. The joyous and celebratory brunch gave many faculty and staff involved in DEIB a chance to meet and share ideas. Wade Smith publicly committed to hold the next get together.
The School of Music returned to presenting one of PSU’s treasured events, “Mosaic,” which showcased many talented students. Essence of Joy, under the direction of Anthony Leach, presented “Our Gift in Song.” They were joined by the Essence Alumni singers. Soloists Annabelle Smarth and Kiena Williams brought down the house.
The Community Diversity Group under the leadership of Carol Eicher and Naana Nti held an International Holiday Potluck, Cultural Conversations. Religious and community leaders presented brief remarks about the meaning of the holiday from their perspective. Pastor McKenzie of Unity Church of Jesus Christ spoke about the true meaning of Christmas from his family’s perspective. Rabbi Ostrich of Congregation Brit Shalom spoke about the origin and meaning of Hanukkah. This reporter spoke about the origin and purpose of Kwanzaa. Shih-In Ma brought various viewpoints including meditation together in an overview.
Sisters and brothers, it was a time to tear, now it’s time we mend. Happy holidays.