DEI

Workshop is available to all on Zoom

As Schoolcraft College continues to foster conversations around IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access), an important topic within that sphere is microaggression.

As cited in UCLA’s “Diversity in the Classroom,” the term microaggression dates to the 1970s and can be defined as follows:

Microaggressions are the everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership.

To help foster better understanding of microaggression and provide some strategies and tools to deal with microaggression, Schoolcraft College’s STARS/DEI* program presents “The Bystander Imperative” from 4-5:30 p.m. on Friday, February 25. The program is open to all and can be accessed on this Zoom link with the following credentials:

ID: 892 2440 9271
Passcode: 392253

“The goal of the ‘The Bystander Imperative’ is for participants to learn about being an active bystander when witnessing microaggressions,” said Jennie Rokakis, Learning Support Services Assistant. “Participants will learn about why we don’t act, identify our personal roadblocks to action, practice techniques to intervene, and conclude with building communities of accountability.”

Person writing on chalkboard — Nick Daily (he/they), a Black Queer person who has been doing workshops, training, consultative, and support work for over a decade, will lead Friday’s workshop.

Leading the workshop will be Nick Daily (he/they), a Black Queer person who has been doing workshops, training, consultative, and support work for over a decade. Most recently, Daily served as Chief Diversity Officer for a large community college in California.

“One of our STARS DEI staff members attended Nick’s presentations at professional and affinity group conferences and reached out to see if he would be willing to work with the STARS DEI program on a campus-wide workshop,” Rokakis said. “After learning more about the program and Schoolcraft College, it was determined that ‘The Bystander Imperative’ was a great fit for the program and the campus’ focus on IDEA.”

Presenting “The Bystander Imperative” is the latest in a string of initiatives for the STARS/DEI program.

“The STARS Scholars, Mentors, and Mentees recently participated in MLK Day of Service to highlight two of our core pillars – service-learning and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” Rokakis said. “They participated in various service projects around Metro Detroit, including packing art supply donations at Arts and Scraps, organizing food donations with Gleaners, and crocheting hats and scarves for shelters.

Rokakis added that one student, who works in a hospital, gathered her co-workers and made gift bags for the patients. They then gave the gift bags to patients and sat and talked with them regarding Dr. King as well as reflect on history, how far we’ve come, and the work still to be done.

“This student shared that the patients were grateful for the company, and many shared their own story of growing up during the civil rights actions of the 1960s,” Rokakis said.

STARS/DEI and “The Bystander Imperative” are made possible by a generous grant from the Schoolcraft College Foundation.

*Scholars Taking off Academically & Rising to Success (S.T.A.R.S.) Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Leadership Program is an opportunity at Schoolcraft College that offers unique experiences to develop students as scholars and leaders. Learn more on their web page.

The hope is that in-person performances return this fall

Today for “Faculty Spotlight” we’re sitting down with Dr. Frederick Moss, the new Department Representative for Music and Theatre.

Schoolcraft College: Hello, Dr. Moss, and congratulations on your new role! To start out, could you please tell us about your position at Schoolcraft College, how long you have been with us and what classes you teach?

Dr. Frederick Moss is a talented performer of the piano and the clarinet.

Frederick Moss: I began teaching at Schoolcraft in the fall of 2001. My charge was to teach one section of Music 107, which is music for elementary school teachers. It was a wonderful diversion from writing my dissertation. When the dissertation and doctorate were completed, my work at Schoolcraft expanded to include teaching music appreciation, popular music in America, and applied instrumental music studio class.

For now, I will continue to teach the same classes I have been teaching. The primary new responsibilities for me will include overseeing the music and theater departments, representing those departments at meetings and functions across campus, working with other faculty to recruit students for music and theater, and assist with sharing the good word regarding music and theater with the larger community.

SC: What prompted your interest in music?

Frederick Moss: I do not remember not being interested in music. My earliest musical memory is listening to my sister practice the violin when I was probably no more than 3 years old. On some level, I remember thinking, “I’m going to do that someday.” Legendary singer Tony Bennett said, “I can’t not sing.” His words very much describe my relationship with music.

SC: We understand you play both the clarinet and the piano. How often do you perform and what do you like about each of those instruments?

Frederick Moss: Clarinet is my main public performance avenue. As a youngster, I rather stumbled upon it as my best friend in fifth grade band was playing it also. I grew to absolutely love the sound of the instrument. As I began learning the clarinet literature, I fell in love with it also.

Piano has become my own personal “music therapy.” Sitting down and playing the piano has become like sitting in a wonderfully comfortable easy chair for me, though I have played in restaurants and for numerous weddings and private parties. I also do play the piano in class to accompany my students or provide examples of various ideas in music.

Regarding clarinet performance, in the last few years, I have appeared regularly on the faculty recital at Schoolcraft. Thanks to the pandemic, the clarinet has taken a bit of a back seat as I have had a LOT to learn about teaching online. A couple of my music faculty colleagues and I are very interested in developing a chamber music ensemble, however, and I am really looking forward to that type of collaboration.

SC: It’s no secret that funding for the arts in elementary schools, middles schools and high schools have been drastically reduced in recent years. You have taught several courses related to instructors who want to teach music. In your opinion, why is it important for children to be exposed to the arts?

“My main goal is to broaden the understanding of the community well beyond our campus perimeter regarding the good things that are going on in music and theater at Schoolcraft.”

Dr. Frederick Moss, Department Representative for Music and Theatre

Frederick Moss: Humans are musical beings. We are also mathematical beings and linguistic beings and all manner of other kinds of beings. In education, we have to make a decision regarding the extent to which we want to shape the whole person or only those aspects.

In schooling, we have taken for granted subjects like math, science, and language arts. I vote for teaching the whole person in school with a highly qualified music teacher in the same way, generally, we intend to have high-qualified teachers for math, science, and language arts.

I am a big fan of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs, but I am an even bigger fan of STEAM initiatives (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) where, at least in theory, the arts stand right alongside those other important academic areas.

SC: The Music and Theatre departments at Schoolcraft College have been well-respected for many years, with the performances, recitals and productions enjoyed by community members. What are your goals for the departments?

Frederick Moss: My main goal is to broaden the understanding of the community well beyond our campus perimeter regarding the good things that are going on in music and theater at Schoolcraft. I often am surprised by some version of the following comment: “I didn’t know Schoolcraft had a music department.”

My sense is that a significant number of people are similarly unaware of what we have to offer regarding theater. My colleagues work tirelessly to develop courses and performances, so I really want to get the word out that Schoolcraft is the place to come to either study or enjoy a performance in those areas.

SC: What do you like best about teaching at Schoolcraft College?

Frederick Moss: I love the “community” in “community college.” When I started teaching at Schoolcraft, I was struck by the degree to which a really kind and caring community existed on campus. As I have taken on more classes and participated in committees, I have enjoyed becoming more and more a part of the campus community. I look forward to deepening that relationship as a full-time faculty member.

Man sits at piano — Dr. Frederick Moss is a talented performer of the piano and the clarinet.

SC: Will we have live performances on campus this year? Can you provide any updates?

Frederick Moss: Of course, everything is subject to what happens regarding the pandemic, but we are working toward live music performances on campus as early as December and live theater performances in winter. In the meantime, look for some more online events during the fall.

SC: You also serve as a member of our DEI Task Force. Please tell us why you wanted to be part of that.

Frederick Moss: I have long felt that diversity is one of the great spices of life. My greatest personal growth has occurred when I have opened myself to learning as much as I can about individuals who have life experiences different from my own. Sometimes that learning has been difficult or even painful as I have had to examine assumptions I was holding unknowingly about people, but it has always been worth it.

In these complicated times, I felt that a diversity, equity, and inclusion task force could do a lot to foster more opportunity for us all to learn more about each other as our own campus community becomes more and more diverse. In addition, as a visually impaired person, I welcomed the opportunity to represent disability at the DEI table.

SC: Thank you, Dr. Moss. Is there anything else you would like to add?

Frederick Moss: Go Ocelots!