- October 5, 2020–October 9, 2020
UNLEARN Week is our kickoff event for our year-round program series: UNLEARN 365. During this week, we will be providing a safe campus-wide forum for conversations designed to UNLEARN stereotypes, biases, and racism.
Join us for a week’s worth of student, faculty/staff, and community-speaker-led events.
Monday, October 5, 2020
10:00–10:20 a.m.UNLEARN Chapel
Presenter: Michelle Loyd-Paige
Online
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. A Conversation with Grand Rapids Police Department.
OUR APOLOGIES! DUE TO SCHEDULING CONFLICTS, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THIS AS AN UNLEARN 365 EVENT LATER THIS YEAR.
12:30–2:30 p.m. Unity Rock Painting
Presenters: Amanda Impens and Paula Manni
In person - Commons Lawn
*Please wear a mask and follow all the Calvin guidelines for in-person interactions
We invite you to join in a collaborative arts experience and paint rocks with us. We will write words of encouragement, healing and love to unite our campus community in the fight against systemic racism. The purpose of this time together is for listening, reflecting and creating. You will hear readings of poetry, book excerpts and lyrics as we reflect and share what words to paint on our rocks. We hope you walk away with feelings of belonging and connection. We want all people from all different backgrounds, especially those who feel marginalized, to see that we believe wholeheartedly in Calvin's community being a tribe of many nations.
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
10:00–10:20 a.m. Chapel: Lament for Racism in the US
Presenter: Mary Hulst
Online
10:30–11:30 a.m. “Learning about How Cultural Values Shape Schools and Churches: Reflections”
Presenter: Calvin Institute for Christian Worship
Panelists: Kai Ton Chau, Satrina Reid, Joanna Wigboldy, and John D. Witvliet
Facilitator: María Eugenia Cornou
Online: Zoom
12:00–1:00 p.m. “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace”
Moderator: Dr. Sandra Upton, Vice President of Global Diversity Practices, Cultural Intelligence Center
Panelists: Shaquanda Gordon, Vice President, Human Resources, Talent & Diversity, SpartanNash; Cordell Zachary, Diversity Recruitment Specialist, Steelcase; and Luis Avila, Attorney and Partner at Varnum.
Get your complimentary tickets for this event at EventBrite
3:30–5:00 p.m.“Reformed and Always Reforming ... the Police?”
Presenter: Joseph Kuilema
In person - CFAC Recital Hall
*Please wear a mask and follow all the Calvin guidelines for in-person interactions
For those who cannot join in person, here is the livestream link.
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. "Internalized Racial Identity and Caucusing”
Presenter: Stacia Hoeksma, Victoria Gibbs, and Susie Dixon
Online: Zoom
We have all internalized misshapen identities and messages based on living in a racialized society. This workshop will invite you to begin the process of UNLEARNING and redeeming those racialized internalizations through the powerful experience of caucusing work. Caucusing is processing your own internalized racial damage within your own racialized group. All ethnicities encouraged to attend.
12:30–1:30 p.m. Unity Rock Painting (DIY)
Presenter: Amanda Impens and Paula Manni
In person - Outside Commons Dining Hall
*Please wear a mask and follow all the Calvin guidelines for in-person interactions
We invite you to join in a collaborative arts experience and paint rocks with us. We will write words of encouragement, healing and love to unite our campus community in the fight against systemic racism.
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. "Anti-Racism in the Classroom”
Panelists: Emily Helder, Stacy De Ruiter, Steve Staggs, Tracy Kuperus, Chad Engbers, Joe Kuilema, Herb Fynwever, Elizabeth Oommen and Pennylyn Dykstra-Pruim
Online: Webex
4:00–6:00 p.m. THE EXPERIMENT
Presenter: Multicultural Student Advisory Board
In person - DeVos Lobby
*Please wear a mask and follow all the Calvin guidelines for in-person interactions
Come join us for an escape room type, socially distanced diversity simulation game. This simulation illustrates important lessons about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Sign Up Required. Sign up Here
7:00–9:00 pm GATHER Film and Panel Discussion
Presenter: Stephen Staggs
Panelists: Courtney Lewis, Michelle Lloyd-Paige, Geert Heetebrij, David Dornbos, and Will Katerberg
Virtual Film Screening (75 minutes starting at 7:00 p.m.): Story Spaces
Discussion (45 minutes starting at about 8:15 p.m.): Web Ex
You are cordially invited to join us on Wednesday, October 7 from 7-9 p.m. for a remote screening and discussion of the recently released film Gather. A New York Times critic's pick, Gather offers "an intimate portrait of the growing movement amongst Native Americans to reclaim their spiritual, political and cultural identities through food sovereignty, while battling the trauma of centuries of genocide."
As part of the Unlearn Week program, the screening of Gather is co-sponsored by the Center for Intercultural Student Development; the departments of Biology, Communication, Historical Studies, Philosophy, and Sociology; and the Mellema Program in Western American Studies at Calvin University. Thanks to the generosity of the Mellema Program, admission is FREE, but you must request a free virtual ticket in advance. To view the trailer and request a free ticket to this virtual screening, see our Story Spaces event page. Once you register, a link to the screening page will be sent to you via email.
Thursday, October 8, 2020 (Advising Break)
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.“The Church’s Role in Racial Justice” (Pre-recorded)
Presenter: Christina and Mika Edmondson
Online
A conversation with Dr. Christina Edmondson and Dr. Mika Edmondson on racial justice and the role of the church. Christina has worked a number of years in the field of Diversity and Inclusion, both here at Calvin and internationally. Mika serves a pastor and completed his doctoral work in King cultural studies.
12:30–1:30 p.m. Unity Rock Painting (DIY)
Presenters: Amanda Impens and Paula Manni
In person – Outside Knollcrest Dining Hall
*Please wear a mask and follow all the Calvin guidelines for in-person interactions
We invite you to join in a collaborative arts experience and paint rocks with us. We will write words of encouragement, healing and love to unite our campus community in the fight against systemic racism.
3:00–5:00 p.m. “Changing the Subject: Seeking Racial Justice Through the Library”
Presenter: Amanda Mathysse
Panel-Group Discussion featuring the Hekman Librarians
Online: Web Ex
In a fight that began over 5 years ago, students at Dartmouth College took up a challenge to change a divisive cataloging term and sparked a movement in the immigration debate that went all the way to Capitol Hill. The story offers a snapshot of the library's role in our ongoing work for racial justice. How do we unmask the racial bias embedded in library and information systems? How do we move forward to create a learning community that is truly welcoming? Join a discussion with our own Calvin librarians who will share their unlearning experience to unpack the big conversation of racism in the library world and in our information-driven lives.
5:00–6:30 p.m. Ta-Nehisi Coates Discussion: “Between the World and Me”
Presenter: Paula Tangsirisatian
Online: Zoom
Meeting ID: 499 657 4514
Friday, October 9, 2020
12:30–1:30 p.m. Unity Rock Painting Installation
Presenters: Amanda Impens and Paula Manni
In person – Johnny's Patio
*Please wear a mask and follow all the Calvin guidelines for in-person interactions
We invite you to join in a collaborative arts experience and paint rocks with us. We will write words of encouragement, healing and love to unite our campus community in the fight against systemic racism. On this day we will create an installation from all the rocks painted throughout the week.
3:00–5:00 p.m. Antioch Podcast: Conversations About Biblical Antiracism
Online: Web Ex
The Antioch Podcast is a multiethnic group of Christian friends and antiracism educators who gather every week to record a conversation about Biblical Antiracism. Join them on October 9 for a live recording of their podcast conversation, followed by an interactive time of storytelling, questions and answers as the podcast team welcomes your questions on race, faith, activism and friendship.
CLICK HERE for promotional video
5:30–6:30 p.m. Moving from Knowledge to Action: Healthy Coping in Justice Advocacy
Presenter: Shayne McNichols (Center for Counseling & Wellness)
Online: Zoom (Passcode: 9x8Zxd)
7:30–9:30 p.m. If Beale Street Could Talk (screening and discussion)
In Person: CFAC Auditorium (Also available on Hulu and available to rent on Prime Video if you are unable to attend in person).
Discussion Following (attendance required if you want the credit towards an Unlearn shirt)
*Please wear a mask and follow all the Calvin guidelines for in-person interactions
*Attend three UNLEARN events and receive a Free UNLEARN 365 T-shirt!
