[GWAMIT] GWAMIT Newsletter, August 10th, 2020
GWAMIT
gwamit at mit.edu
Mon Aug 10 11:51:08 EDT 2020
GWAMIT Newsletter
August 10th, 2020
GWAMIT Logo Design Competition
Looking for a new quarantine project? Or maybe you're itching for an opportunity to stretch those digital art muscles? GWAMIT has a project for you.
We're rebranding. And we'd like you to be a part of it. Ten years ago, GWAMIT was founded for the purpose of supporting the professional development, individual growth, and empowerment of all graduate womxn at MIT, while enhancing connections between existing groups. Our current logo includes the female gender symbol, which we recognize is not inclusive of all the identities that our organization represents. Until we select a new logo (see Logo Design Competition), we will be removing the gender symbol. We're looking internally to ways we can promote inclusivity within our organization and its membership-and that starts with making sure that all those who recognize our logo can see themselves represented accordingly.
What we're looking for:
A simple, scalable, inclusive logo that doesn't set boundaries on how womxn are defined. Too much detail in a logo will make it difficult to print. Your logo should look acceptable in grayscale. For more recommendations on good logo design, see this link<https://info.4imprint.com/wp-content/uploads/developing-a-logo-4imprint.pdf>.
Deadline: August 14, 2020 11:59PM ET
Prize
GWAMIT apparel with your designed logo + succulent garden
Application materials
1. Original files (see below for correct file format)
2. A short (300 word max) explanation of your design and how it promotes inclusivity
To: Email all application components to gwamit-exec at mit.edu<mailto:gwamit-exec at mit.edu> with the tag-line "GWAMIT logo design competition"
*Please note that if your artwork is selected, you will be asked to sign an official agreement giving GWAMIT express use of the logo design.
File formats
Vector art: AI or EPS (Suggested software: Adobe illustrator, Corel Draw, Inkscape)
Other formats: If not vector art, submissions must be at least 300 dpi. Accepted file formats include: .jpg, .tif, .png)
Color: Please specify in both RBG and CMYK color codes
You may not
Use clipart or art designed by another artist. All artwork must be original.
If you have questions regarding submission requirements, please contact the GWAMIT exec board at gwamit-exec at mit.edu<mailto:gwamit-exec at mit.edu>
Become a GWAMIT department rep! (Apply by Aug. 15)
GWAMIT is accepting applications for the position of department representatives! As a GWAMIT department rep, you'll build connections across MIT and help in the personal & professional development of graduate womxn. It is also a powerful means to bring about department-level change and strive towards a more equitable and inclusive MIT. The position lasts for one year, with an option for renewal. Read more about the role and responsibilities here<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BepM4QWy2tUO7ju1dkIOt69lb9wJb_DIs9Us_ljVqUA/edit>. Fill out the short application form here<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxO1KrUGe7rS_tvZsAW8jOOMFNBnv5BdAi4ssn1svoKUqV9w/viewform>. Womxn who are members of underrepresented and minoritized groups are encouraged to apply. The departments with openings are: Course 1, 2, 10, 11, 17, HASTS, 21, 21W, 22, CMS, CSB, MAS, SDM, CRE, CCSE, CTL. If the position is currently filled, but you are still interested in being involved with GWAMIT, email us to let us know! We have multiple avenues for engagement in GWAMIT's activities and initiatives. Apply by August 15th!
Did you know? Here is some women-related news from around the world:
Author MacKenzie Scott, one of the richest women in the world, has joined the growing number of celebrities and philanthropists who have signed the Giving Pledge<https://givingpledge.org/>. So far, she has contributed $1.7 billion<https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/29/us/mackenzie-scott-billion-fortune-bezos.html> to around 100 organizations, many of which are DEI-focused organizations and historically Black universities.
A record number of black actors were nominated for the Emmy awards this year<https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/a33455763/emmy-nominations-black-nominees-record/#:~:text=Other%20Black%20performers%20vying%20for,and%20Yvonne%20Orji%20for%20Insecure%2C>, making 34% of nominees. Women directors also broke records by being nominated in every single (of 7) category for the first time ever!
Read this Time article on the surge of anti-Asian American sentiment<https://time.com/5858649/racism-coronavirus/> in the face of COVID-19 and the ongoing need for equality.
Check out the MIT alumni <https://alum.mit.edu/slice/better-suits-groomsmen-and-now-women-too?fbclid=IwAR2qOh6ZQwYvi3Nd4GXbEQmNo2E_ZtlzEYZgxe8E0KdfdWkis_KXaFUQCPE> changing up the fashion industry creating size and gender inclusive suits- for weddings and beyond!
What do the following women have in common? The African-American writer and orator Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. Latina women like Jovita Idár, who protected her family's newspaper and the rights of Mexican-Americans. Asian-American women like Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, who led thousands of marchers in a 1912 suffrage parade in New York. They all fought for the vote as part of a broader struggle for equality, but their stories aren't nearly as well known as they should be. "Finish the Fight!" tells the stories of these women<https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/24/books/finish-the-fight-excerpt.html?campaign_id=37&emc=edit_rr_20200725&instance_id=20612&nl=race%2Frelated&regi_id=77664896&segment_id=34349&te=1&user_id=3d095df429a609a5e76d2d59f29f0c4f> through writing and a play.
COVID-19 Resources
GWAMIT has compiled a list of resources we are aware of to help graduate women in our community. If you know of a resource that isn't listed, please let us know (gwamit-exec at mit.edu) so we can include it in the next newsletter to share with the community.
MIT Grant for Graduate Students with Children - applications due by September 30th!
https://oge.mit.edu/finances/grad-student-fin-assist/grad-students-with-children-grant/
Expanded back-up child care policy: https://hr.mit.edu/worklife/backupchildcare
MIT Ombuds Office - ombudsoffice.mit.edu<http://ombuds.mit.edu/>
The Ombuds Office is available to offer support and assistance to the MIT community in navigating these challenges and exploring constructive options for success. We are available for phone or Zoom meetings and can also facilitate online sessions and group discussions to help teams function and support good communication skills during this challenging period. To schedule a meeting via phone or Zoom email kalina_s at mit.edu or call 617-253-5921. A tips sheet from Ombuds for having difficult conversations can be found at the end of this newsletter.
Graduate student short-term emergency hardship funding: https://engage.mit.edu/submitter/form/step/1?Guid=b180ffce-c28f-41f6-908b-387637df6396
GSC DEI open letter for COVID-relief: https://mitgradstudentadvocates.weebly.com/
MIT Summer Opportunities & Resources: https://resources.mit.edu/summer
Stay at Home Recommendations:
Something to do... try your hand at cooking something new! You can follow along with your favorites on Youtube ( or Jennifer Garner's pretend cooking show<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40Q9ZKXckTU&list=PLli_dZw1zoP85lgs-RkKykuOTlAAY7s0B>) or if you are looking to up your skills whilst supporting furloughed restaurant workers you can check out classes on Club Kookoo<https://kookoo.club/chefs>.
Something to read... Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo<https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41081373-girl-woman-other> is "an impressive, fierce novel about the lives of black British families, their struggles, pains, laughter, longings and loves..."-- as described by the Booker Prize Judges who awarded it the 2019 prize for fiction. Read it for something contemporary, fast-paced, and vibrating with life.
Looking to borrow books without leaving the house? The Minuteman library network is doing temporary online membership which can be applied for here<https://library.minlib.net/selfreg>!
Something to watch... Beyonce has released a new visual album (Black is King) on Disney Plus! Credited as a "celebration of Black culture and Black people, where we came from, where we are, and where we are going<https://www.npr.org/2020/08/04/898881279/beyonce-black-is-king-review-searches>" it has all the genius we have grown to expect and deeply admire, from Beyonce.
The Breadwinner<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu7AaS1yQfA> is a 2017 film that depicts the fictional story of Parvana, a young girl living in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Produced by Angelina Jolie and based on the book by Deborah Ellis, it was an Academy Award nominee and now available on Netflix.
Something to listen to... The Michelle Obama Podcast<https://open.spotify.com/show/71mvGXupfKcmO6jlmOJQTP?si=DXvSGaPJSJid-jme2Ab-dwutm_source=us-en_brand_contextual_text&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_campaign=alwayson_ucanz_us_premiumbusiness_obama-podcast_nonbrand+contextual+text+exact+us-en+google> is here! Her first episode features a long interview with her husband, two term U.S President, Barrack Obama and there are numerous big name guests planned for the future. If you loved Becoming you are sure to love this!
Something fun... have a laugh! Take a break and watch some lighthearted comedy. Glamour just released an article on the Best Female Stand-Up Comedian Specials to Watch Right Now<https://www.glamour.com/story/essential-female-stand-up-specials>- laugh along with Yvonne Orji, Ali Wong and Katherine Ryan! We also loved "Impractical Jokers" - four friends dare each other to perform pranks in NYC. You can find short clips on Youtube, or watch full episodes on Hulu.
Virtual Events & Opportunities
Correlation One East Coast regional Datathon
Hosted by Citadel LLC and Citadel Securities in partnership with Correlation One, the Data Open is launching the Fall season with East Coast Regional Datathon<https://www.citadel.com/careers/the-data-open/apply/>, which will take place virtually this September!
The Data Open challenges students from the world's best universities to tackle real-world social challenges in topics such as urban traffic, renewable energy, and education.
Taking place between September 14-21, teams will have a week to work on their submissions, with the flexibility to showcase their skills on their own schedules. Top performing students have the opportunity to win $25,000 in cash prizes, exclusive recruiting opportunities with Citadel, and global recognition.
When: September 14 - September 21
Where: Virtual
Prizes: $25,000 + Exclusive recruiting opportunities with Citadel LLC and Citadel Securities
Here's the link to sign up<https://www.citadel.com/careers/the-data-open/apply/>!
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the event, feel free to email roysi at correlation-one.com.
New Student Advocates for Survivors Group
Student Advocates for Survivors, or SAS, is a new student group advocating for better MIT policy supporting survivors and educating students about reporting and support options. This includes advocating for more training for all students and staff around responding to sexual assault, as well as advocating for better Title IX policy and mental health resources at MIT.
We are looking for more people to join us! Here is a list of projects we are beginning to work on. If you are interested, add yourself to sas at mit.edu here. Anyone is welcome to join regardless of your past experiences.
Additionally, if you have any ideas of what we can do to support survivors, please fill out this anonymous form. Feel free to also share any experiences with Title IX, VPR, S3, etc.
Department of Energy Resources Job Opportunity - Emerging Technologies
The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources Emerging Technology Division is currently hiring a Program Coordinator to support our electric vehicle and Clean Cities Coalition programs. This is a great opportunity for someone at the early stage of their career looking to gain experience in energy policy focused on electric vehicle and infrastructure deployment, the interaction of electric vehicles with electricity rates, energy resilience, and grid support. While the focus will be on electric vehicles and the Clean Cities program, the position will also be involved other projects, programs, and policy development related to clean energy emerging technologies like energy storage. You can find the job posting here<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__massanf.taleo.net_careersection_ex_jobdetail.ftl-3Fjob-3D2000052Q-26tz-3DGMT-2D04-253A00-26tzname-3DAmerica-252FNew-5FYork&d=DwMFAg&c=lDF7oMaPKXpkYvev9V-fVahWL0QWnGCCAfCDz1Bns_w&r=SUJ0tmD2TxBovaoBCr21o-OoRDEaTwnylQ5HExAKRTk&m=Mk6Xh1bwaEKJIM-9H9OflrskonPGniTmQ6Y3uYxj1-o&s=MunM8Y9EOQBReBIc20wM9DlEfgZdCNmb1qrE3mCoGcY&e=>.
The Department of Energy Resources has a commitment to help create a clean, affordable, and resilient energy future for the Commonwealth. Within that commitment is an underlying aim to actively support diversity, equity, and inclusion in the work we do and in our own workplace. The ideal candidate would be committed to developing a strong understanding of the importance of intersectional environmentalism within the work done at DOER, the criticality of incorporating a diverse perspective in all of the work that we do, and a commitment to inclusivity in all aspects of the job, both internally, within DOER, and externally, among partner agencies, industry stakeholders, and the general public.
Upcoming WEST Events
8/12: Walking the Tightrope: Mastering the Balance between Likability and Respect<https://www.westorg.org/2020-08-12-leadership-respect-webinar>
9/23: WEST's 20th Anniversary/12th Annual Awards Celebration<https://www.westorg.org/2020-09-23-20th-anniversary-awards-networking>
9/24: Women and Wealth: Setting Your Course to a Strong Financial Future<https://www.westorg.org/2020-09-24-women-wealth-financial>
9/30: Gender Parity Panel Discussion<https://www.westorg.org/2020-09-30-gender-parity-panel>
10/6: Making better decisions: Pre-mortem analysis and other cognitive tools for better outcomes in life, love, and work<https://www.westorg.org/2020-10-06-better-decisions>
10/7: Book Club - The Likeability Trap<https://www.westorg.org/2020-10-07-book-club-likeability-trap>
"Amplify Your Technical Education to Build a Better World!"
Our Graduate Program in Engineering Leadership is offering a Graduate Certificate in Technical Leadership. A summary of the interim certificate requirements<https://gelp.mit.edu/grad-students/graduate-certificate-technical-leadership-interim-requirements> is linked and attached.
Leadership education develops skills applicable across career paths, from leading research labs to leading project teams in engineering. Enroll in one or both of our Virtual Graduate Courses for Fall 2020, which qualify towards our Certificate in Technical Leadership. This certificate is designed to provide important skills that MIT graduate students can draw from to "make a positive difference" in their chosen careers. Grounded in research but experimental and engaging in delivery, these highly valued classes will provide enduring benefits for our graduate students - and future coworkers. *PhD candidates can also explore the option of using these classes to satisfy the requirements for your doctoral minor.
GEL Virtual Grad Courses for Fall 2020 (**Open to all grad students!):
6.928J Leading Creative Teams<https://gelp.mit.edu/grad-creative-teams>
It takes a team to deliver impactful technical achievements and this class equips students with foundational skills for leading problem-solving teams and one's own professional development.
Units: G3-0-6, M/W, 2:30-4pm
Taught Virtually, Instructor: David Nino (dnino at mit.edu)
6.S978 Negotiation & Influence Skills for Technical Leaders<https://gelp.mit.edu/gel-grad-negotiation>
Expand your natural tendencies and learn experientially both the theory and practice of interpersonal negotiation, influence and overcoming difficult relationship situations.
Units: G2-0-4, T, 1-3pm
Taught Virtually, Instructor: David Nino (dnino at mit.edu)
***For more information, visit our website. <https://gelp.mit.edu/grad>
*If you are interested in earning our certificate, please email Lisa Stagnone (lstag at mit.edu) and David Niño (dnino at mit.edu<mailto:dnino at mit.edu>)
GCWS Remote Courses for Fall 2020 - Applications due Aug. 17th!
The Consortium for Graduate Studies in Gender, Culture, Women, and Sexuality (GCWS) is offering remote courses for Fall 2020. Please see brief descriptions below. More details can be found on their website: https://www.gcws.mit.edu/courses
Workshop for Dissertation Writers in Women's and Gender Studies
Mondays, 4:00-7:00PM (meets every other week all year), taught by Dr. Karl Surkan (MIT, WGS). More Info<https://www.gcws.mit.edu/new-events/dissertationworkshop20>
Visual Transgressions: Gendered Identities in Art and Culture
Tuesdays, 2:00-5:00PM, taught by Dr. Gannit Ankori (Brandeis, Artist History and Theory & WGSS) & Dr. Karl Surkan (MIT, WGS). More Info<https://www.gcws.mit.edu/new-events/visual-transgressions>
GCWS Upcoming Virtual Events
GCWS is hosting several panels this summer that have been organized by an interdisciplinary team of graduate student organizers from across our member institutions. This was originally intended to be our SP20 graduate student symposium<https://www.gcws.mit.edu/gcws-events-list/technologies-of-resistance> but has been reinvented into separate panels due to campus response to COVID in March 2020. These panels are free and open to everyone.
Pedagogies of Resistance: Sharing Knowledge as a Political Act
August 27, 2020 at 10:00-11:30AM, More Info<https://www.gcws.mit.edu/gcws-events-list/technologies-of-resistance-pedagogies>, Register Here<https://mit.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4p-E6N5NTcOOFDQjixfxSw>
This panel will reflect and discuss means to implement conscious pedagogies of resistance, or critical pedagogy in the classroom and beyond. both in and out of the classroom. Panelists will share how they draw on the political through their teaching, in the subjects they teach, or the methodologies they utilize.
Speakers include:
· Kat Tanaka Okopnik, The Dictionary of Social Justice
· Laura Nelson, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Northeastern University
· Brooke Foucault, Associate Professor of Communication Studies, Northeastern University
· Brandy Williams, Graduate Researcher in Early Modern Critical Race and Gender Studies, University of Maryland at College Park
Charitable Giving
Are you donating to black-led organizations? Read this awesome post <https://sisterstem.org/2020/06/23/black-women-in-stem-are-doing-the-work/> by Netia McCray, founder of Mbadika (prepare yourself for some amazing Rihanna gifs!)
Netia McCray is an MIT alum<https://www.businessinsider.com/mbadika-founder-netia-mccray-black-panther-youtube-2018-3>! Her local, Boston-based nonprofit organization Mbadika<https://mbadika.org/>, which helps kids become "makers" and realize their creative dreams with the equipment and technology support to make it happen.
Mbadika isn't currently accepting donations on their website, but Netia recommends several peer organizations that work to support URM representation in STEM. Consider donating to: INTech Camp<https://intechcamp.org/about/> , Vanguard STEM<https://conversations.vanguardstem.com/> , The Glover Center<https://www.degetc.org/> , and The Fab Lab<https://www.thefablab.com/>.
"Having a daughter doesn't make a man decent. Having a wife doesn't make a man decent. Treating people with dignity and respect makes a decent man."
-Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
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