The program offers faculty, staff, and students the opportunity to develop ideas that advance opportunities to grow, learn, and belong together. \u201cInclusive excellence\u201d <\/em>is a research-based approach that encourages proactive, collaborative steps towards creating a community in which all belong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These grants are possible thanks to the generosity of Jose Koshy \u201876<\/strong> and Jean Koshy-Hertzler \u201879.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n EMU also awards an annual Hertzler-Koshy Faculty Fellowship. Read more about the 2023 fellowship recipients.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPlease join the Office of DEI in congratulating these 13 awardees for bringing our community together through their projects,\u201d said Jackie Font-Guzm\u00e1n<\/strong>, vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion. \u201cIt is exciting to see these programs grow in number and have an impact in our community.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n This project funds new elevator signs and adds braille menus for the Royals Den. $1,199<\/p>\n\n\n\n Co-leaders: Cassidy Walker and Christian Knight,<\/strong> students; Kathy Evans,<\/strong> professor of education; Jon Styer<\/strong>, director of creative services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n EMU Theatre will bring Anonymous Ensemble, a prominent NYC-based performace company, to campus to present two performances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The first is called \u201cLlon Top,\u201d which features the song-poems of Quechua poet and activist Irma Alvarez-Ccoscco, Anonymous Ensemble\u2019s Llontop <\/em>celebrates indigenous Andean culture and language. The piece is an intricately interactive installation of Peruvian objects and a live film performance for both in-person and virtual audiences followed by a lively conversation with the artists about the work and about Quechua empowerment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The second is Quechua Stories<\/em>, an interactive, multimedia show for young audiences. In this trilingual presentation, celebrated Quechua poet and indigenous language advocate Irma Alvarez-Ccoscco shares several tales from her culture in the Peruvian Andes mountains. These stories are translated live and brought to life by the Brooklyn-based experimental theater company, Anonymous Ensemble, with projections, music, and interactive elements. $1,200<\/p>\n\n\n\n Co-leaders: Justin Poole,<\/strong> Associate Professor and Program Director Theater; Celeste R. Thomas<\/strong>, director, Multicultural Student Services and advisor; Ariel Morales Bonilla<\/strong>, student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This project will fund events and convocations during Black History Month, led by Black Student Alliance in coordination with other affinity groups within the EMU as well as the greater Harrisonburg community. One goal is to share that \u201cthe Black experience is rich with firsts that the vast majority are not aware of.\u201d $1,200<\/p>\n\n\n\n Co-leaders: Celeste R. Thomas<\/strong>, director, Multicultural Student Services and advisor, Black Student Alliance; Nardos Haile<\/strong>, Nia Boyd, Brii Redfearn, Zavion Taylor, Avrie Shifflett, Rachel Saeli, <\/strong>and Donesha George,<\/strong> students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Latino Student Alliance will celebrate and share their heritage with the EMU community with a program highlighting music, education, food, dance, and storytelling with performances by students and LatinX community members. $1,200<\/p>\n\n\n\n Co-leaders: Ariel Morales Bonilla<\/strong>, student; Celeste R. Thomas<\/strong>, director, Multicultural Student Services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This project provides a container for campus conversations and dialogue related to topics and experiences of justice\/injustice, equity, inclusion based in the reality that EMU is a diverse community. The project will build community, create\/enhance connections across differences, and provide space for us all to practice dialogue. $1,200<\/p>\n\n\n\n Project co-leaders: Sabrina Bellar<\/strong>, Jessica Chisolm<\/strong>, and Reah Clymer<\/strong>, students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This project will address interfaith engagement as an integral part of EMU\u2019s work towards greater equity and diversity, actively dismantling oppression in our institution in order to build a multi-faith community grounded in justice and radical inclusion. Creating a religious and cultural holidays calendar page(s) on EMU\u2019s website will be a repository to increase religious and cultural literacy on campus. The calendar will host first-person narratives from multi-faith students, faculty, and staff, and brief informational write-ups on the featured holidays. The information will assist faculty and staff about potential student accommodations for holidays, and build a sense of community on campus around shared experiences, values, rituals and traditions. $1,200<\/p>\n\n\n\n Project co-leaders: Trina Trotter Nussbaum, <\/strong> associate director, Center for Interfaith Engagement; Brian Martin Burkholder, <\/strong> university chaplain, Office of Faith and Spiritual Life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sexual health intersects with many dimensions of health and wellness. Some sexual minority populations are more susceptible to experiencing stigma, which contributes to increased risky behaviors and underutilization of sexually transmitted infection (STI) health care services. The aim of this program is to improve access to and utilization of STI testing for EMU students. $1,200<\/p>\n\n\n\n Project co-leaders: Catherine Rittenhouse,<\/strong> professor of nursing; Sarah Moore, Natalie Brown, Will Blosser<\/strong> and Ashley Mellinger<\/strong>, student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This project addresses a growing number of students who are immigrants to the US, particularly within communities at the Intensive English Program, Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, and International Students Organization. Many of these students have the added challenge of growing accustomed to a radically different culture, the challenge of isolation from distant family, and\/or the challenge of being from a non-Christian religion who find themselves in a deeply Christian context. This program aims to pilot availability of an interfaith chaplain for conversation and one-on-one prayer, to facilitate shared prayer\/worship settings with accessible language, consult with local clergy of multiple religious traditions, and plan events that will foster spiritually enriching community. $1,111.11<\/p>\n\n\n\n Project co-leaders: Melissa May<\/strong>, instructor, Intensive English Program; Micah Shristi<\/strong>, International Student Services; Brian Burkholder<\/strong>, University Chaplain; Merlyna Bernal<\/strong>, student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Student Alliance, Latino Student Alliance and the Asian Pacific Island Alliance plan to host a \u201cPeople\u2019s Party,\u201d bringing the three groups together to celebrate their cultures with food, music, and fellowship. $1,200<\/p>\n\n\n\n Co-leaders: Ariel Morales Bonilla <\/strong>and <\/strong>Nardos Haile<\/strong>, students; Celeste R. Thomas<\/strong>, director, Multicultural Student Services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n EMU will host a keynote speaker who highlights the intersectionality of sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion during the Student Sustainability Summit April 1, 2023. The summit connects students from EMU, JMU, Mary Baldwin University, Blue Ridge Community College, and Bridgewater College around issues of sustainability, environmental justice, and food justice. Having a keynote speaker who emphasizes these intersections will lead to a greater community understanding of sustainability and its connection with justice. $1,200<\/p>\n\n\n\n Co-leaders: Jim Yoder<\/strong>, program director for biology, chemistry and environmental science; Olivia Hazelton<\/strong>, Mana Acosta<\/strong>, Micah Buckwalter<\/strong>, Ally Welty<\/strong> Peachy<\/strong> and Zach Bauman<\/strong>, students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This project supported the performance of a seldom-performed masterwork \u201cThe Passion of Martin Luther King, Jr.\u201d by Nicholas Flagello. Read more and watch here<\/a>.<\/strong> This work combines the forces of the EMU Orchestra and EMU University Choir, plus an African American soloist who sings direct texts from King\u2019s speeches. $1,107.01<\/p>\n\n\n\n Co-leaders: Benjamin Bergey<\/strong>, assistant professor of music; David Berry<\/strong>, associate professor of music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This collaborative project between the Intro to the Weight Room Program and EMU Residence Life will encourage more people to use the weight room. New equipment and welcoming signs will signal that this is a safe place to come and interact with others. $1,181.20<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/11\/21103658\/20221111-EMU-Music-Gala_DC-10-1024x683.jpg\")
\n\n\n\nAccessibility Within Text<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Anonymous Ensemble<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Black History Month Celebration<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Celebracion LatinX<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Circles in the Box<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Enhancing Religious Literacy<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Improving Health in Sexual Minority Students<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Interfaith Chaplain<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
People\u2019s Party<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Student Sustainability Summit Keynote<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
‘The Passion of Martin Luther King Jr<\/strong>.’<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Weight Room Education and Upgrades\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n