Concurrent Sessions
Concurrent sessions will be offered 11 a.m.-noon and 3:45-4:45 p.m. Click on each dropdown menu for details.
"All are welcome, but do we all belong?" — Old Main 332
Hosted by Heidi Rogers and Chad Lystad
It's easy to say that inclusion is important to us as a campus and, of course, we want everyone to feel like they belong. However, we know that belonging is not universally experienced on campus and that certain populations (BIPOC, first generation, international, LGBTQIA+) disproportionally feel as if they don't belong. This session will examine what it means to belong and will offer different ways of looking at the individual's responsibility for the campus climate. Finally, we will provide concrete strategies to practice inclusion on a daily basis.
"Feeling Heard and Seen in Your Campus Home” — ISC 301
Hosted by Residence Life — Mikal Kenfield, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life
During this interactive session, students from all identities are invited to join and talk about their experiences living on campus. Do you feel heard and seen in the residence halls? What makes you feel like it's your home? What makes you feel like you don't belong? How can we work together to make these spaces feel like home to everyone?
"White Supremacy Culture on Our Campus” — Old Main 331
Hosted by Grace Vetrone and Emily Moyer
What is white supremacy culture and how does it show up on our campus? Through this session, you will learn about the 13 pillars of white supremacy culture, discuss our campus climate, and learn possible ways to combat the issues we see.
"Let New American Voices Be Heard” — Jones A/B, Knutson Campus Center
Hosted by Inquiry 100 students (from the course In Search of Home), Campus Ministry, Better Together, Justice Journeys
Inquiry 100 students spent the fall working on a poetry project in partnership with English Language Learners at Adult Basic Education in Moorhead. Our A.B.E. partners and their families are invited to this session to share about the learning experience in large and small group discussions. Programming will be formal and informal, allowing participants to connect and learn from Moorhead residents that come from around the globe and call our city home.
"Let Your Voices Be Heard — Justice and the Core at Concordia” — ISC 201
Hosted by Justice Critical Issues Course Task Force
Help us shape what the upcoming Critical Issues: Justice courses will look like at Concordia. Share your perspective on what we should value in teaching, experiencing, and learning about justice as a student, staff member, or faculty. Your input will help to guide the creation of learning outcomes and pedagogical expectations for the upcoming justice courses beginning in Fall 2024.
"United Together: Voice and Advocacy for Immigrants in Fargo-Moorhead” — ISC 132
Hosted by Anna Kronbeck, sophomore political science and global studies student, will facilitate a conversation between various community members who have experienced moving to the United States.
With Fargo-Moorhead welcoming more immigrants to the community every year, cross-cultural interaction has become increasingly important. During this session, members of our Fargo-Moorhead community will share their experience immigrating to the United States, what life was like pre- and post-move, and what they wish native-born Americans knew about immigration. We welcome dialogue and Q&A with the audience toward the end of our session.
"What have we learned and what do we still need to learn? A conversation for and with Cobber student-athletes” — ISC 260
Hosted by Ben Schneweis, Cobber Athletics
This session will serve as an opportunity to reflect on what we have individually and collectively learned regarding DEI and Concordia, what we must yet learn, and how we can collaborate to make our campus and community better.
"Using our voices and works to serve others” — Jones C, Knutson Campus Center
Hosted by Student Government Association
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy to serve the community, we will be making care packages for women and children at the YWCA. All materials will be provided to make the care packages.
"Let’s Talk About Race: Big Topics for Little People” — ISC 201
Hosted by Emily Meyer, Assistant Director for Residential Education (mom to two littles), and Jennie Archer, First-Year Experience Librarian (mom to one little)
For caregivers of young children or students who will be educating young children.
Join us for a small group discussion about how we engage with our children around the topic of race, challenges we faced, and mistakes we've made. We'll also share some books we've found helpful, kids' shows we enjoy, and other ways we try to incorporate discussions around race (and other identities) into conversations with our children.
"Feeling Heard and Seen in Your Campus Home” — ISC 301
Hosted by Residence Life — Mikal Kenfield, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life
During this interactive session, students from all identities are invited to join and talk about their experiences living on campus. Do you feel heard and seen in the residence halls? What makes you feel like it's your home? What makes you feel like you don't belong? How can we work together to make these spaces feel like home to everyone?
"God Sets a Big Table: LGBTQ+ Affirmation, Inclusion, and Equity in Fargo-Moorhead Christian Ministries” — Centrum, Knutson Campus Center
The Rev. Kenneth Wheeler '74 will be joined by a group of local Christian ministers.
Facilitated by Deacon Jon Leiseth
Biblical passages are often used to "clobber" sexual and gender diversity and LGBTQ+ people, themselves. In this session, keynote speaker Rev. Kenneth Wheeler '74 draws from biblical passages traditionally more central to Christian faith in order to lay the theological groundwork for a call to celebrate, include, and treat with equity members of the LGBTQ+ community. Local Christian clergy will share stories and examples from Christian ministries that embody and enact this theology in a variety of ways.
"Implementing the Demands of Justice: Religion and Civic Engagement" — ISC 101
Hosted by Michael A. Johnson and Elna Solvang, Religion
Religious convictions and alliances — across a range of faith traditions — have been a critical part of the movement for racial and social justice in the United States. "Implementing the demands of justice" requires a reliable and morally responsible governmental system. Such a system depends on robust and informed civic engagement. We will use the current ELCA social message on Government and Civic Engagement as a springboard for discussion about (1) the purposes of government; (2) the religious and/or moral convictions that may inform and energize these expectations; (3) the collective responsibility of citizens to achieve those purposes. The session is open to all. It does not assume religious affiliation or commitment.
"White Supremacy Culture on Our Campus” — Old Main 331
Hosted by Grace Vetrone and Emily Moyer
What is white supremacy culture and how does it show up on our campus? Through this session, you will learn about the 13 pillars of white supremacy culture, discuss our campus climate and learn possible ways to combat the issues we see.
"RA on Duty: Exploring the Experiences of RAs of Color in Predominantly White Residence Halls” — Old Main 332
Hosted by Residence Life
This session is designed for current Residence Life student staff (RAs, ARAs, DAs, AHD, BMs) to come together. After learning about research completed that explored the experiences of RAs of Color at historically white universities, participants can expect to discuss their own experiences working in Concordia's residence halls and how their race shaped that experience. This communal space will allow us to reflect on how things are going, letting staff voices be heard so residence life can better lead with love, care, and compassion moving forward.
"United Together: Voice and Advocacy for Immigrants in Fargo-Moorhead” — ISC 132
Hosted by Anna Kronbeck, sophomore political science and global studies student, will facilitate a conversation between various community members who have experienced moving to the United States.
With Fargo-Moorhead welcoming more immigrants to the community every year, cross-cultural interaction has become increasingly important. During this session, members of our Fargo-Moorhead community will share their experience immigrating to the United States, what life was like pre- and post-move, and what they wish native-born Americans knew about immigration. We welcome dialogue and Q&A with the audience toward the end of our session.