Inclusivity Resources for Employees

Self-awareness and mutual understanding are starting points on the journey toward confronting the intolerance and inhumanity that racial inequities engender. Both can be nurtured through courageous and compassionate conversations, sharing resources, and formal learning opportunities.

Celebrating Juneteenth

June 19^th, also known as Juneteenth, is a holiday recognized and celebrated by many in the United States commemorating the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States. Juneteenth is now recognized as an official University holiday.

As you celebrate and observe Juneteenth, consider exploring the following resources. This is not an all-inclusive list, but it will provide you with a starting point on your educational journey.

To Read:

On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed

Gordon-Reed shares the story of Juneteenth's importance to American history. Weaving together American history, dramatic family chronicles, and a memoir, Gordon-Reed provides a historian's view of the country's long road to Juneteenth, recounting both its origins in Texas and the hardships that African Americans have faced since. Gordon-Reed is a Texas native and the descendant of enslaved people brought to Texas as early as the 1820s.

To receive a copy of the book, fill out the online form by June 18, 2021. A book discussion guide is available as you explore your takeaways and reactions with friends, family, and colleagues. President Eisgruber shared his reaction to the book in the President's Blog: On Juneteenth.

14 Children’s Books on Celebration Juneteenth

Find age appropriate children’s books to help explain and educate children on Juneteenth.

To Watch:

Celebrating Juneteenth: A Conversation with Dr. Tera Hunter

Thursday, June 17, noon – 1:00 p.m.

Please join us for an informative discussion with Dr. Tera Hunter, the Edwards Professor of American History and Professor of African-American Studies, as we explore the history, context, and personal meaning of the holiday. The talk will conclude with a brief Q&A with Dr. Hunter.

This event was recorded and is available to view on Media Central.

What is Juneteenth?

This brief clip from an ABC special explains the history of Juneteenth.

To Do:

The following is a curated list of upcoming in-person and virtual events to celebrate Juneteenth. This is not an all-inclusive list, but it will provide options for you and your loved ones to commemorate the occasion.

Grounds for Sculpture Juneteenth Celebration

Saturday, June 19

Grounds For Sculpture joins local partners in Juneteenth celebration.

The African American Cultural Collaborative of Mercer County (AACCofMC) in partnership with the NJ Legislative District 15 (Senator Shirley Turner. Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds Jackson and Assemblyman Anthony Verelli) is planning the first ever city-wide Juneteenth celebration.

Tapping collaborators such as the Outdoor Equity Alliance (OEA), the Mercer County Park Commission (MCPC) and the City of Trenton, the purpose of this carefully planned and socially distanced event is to highlight a few very poignant and current issues through displays of culture, collaboration, commerce, unity and education.

Juneteenth Block Party

Saturday, June 19, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Help us celebrate the cultural achievements of Black Americans and commend the efforts of activists for Black Lives Matter (BML) movement at the second annual Princeton Juneteenth Block Party! Join us in solidarity, celebration, and action. Come listen to Black artists, speakers, and activists while also learning how to take action locally in your own communities, both geographically and socially. There will be resources available to educate both you and your family and friends on the history and current work of the BLM movement and Juneteenth.

Juneteenth New York Festival

Saturday, June 19 – 20

The 12th Annual Juneteenth family fun day gathers 5,000+ attendees locally to the NYC community to enjoy a vibrant day of rich culture through music, dance, poetry, skits, history, vendors, and families.

Commemorate Juneteenth at the Annual Festival in Historic Germantown

Saturday, June 19, 1:00 p.m.

Historic Germantown celebrates Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, during its annual Juneteenth Festival. Hosted by the Johnson House Historic Site, the annual (and free!) festival features a day of educational activities and entertainment on Germantown Avenue.

For 2021, the Juneteenth Festival takes place on Saturday, June 19, 2021, beginning at 1:00 p.m., with festivities continuing throughout the afternoon and complemented by online programming. Note that masks are required for 2021.

Juneteenth Unityfest-Virtual

Saturday, June 19

Hosted by Amanda Seales and JB Smoove, The Robert Randolph Foundation is proud to present the inaugural Juneteenth Unityfest. The live streamed event will feature musical performance, films, stand-up, storytelling, and appearances by civic leaders and pop culture influencers. Performances include BeBe Winans, India Arie, and Earth, Wind & Fire. For more information, visit the Juneteenth Unityfest website.

HR invites you to take advantage of the following resources:

A Brave Space: Discussion, Learning, & Support

We are convening a series of virtual brave space forums in which participants can share and process impact and emotion, ask difficult questions, or simply expand their awareness. The forums help participants foster an open dialogue, while also focusing on various diversity, equity, and inclusion topics , including privilege, microaggressions, inclusive language, and ability status. Departments interested in hosting a session should contact us.

Resources for Equity & Inclusion

HR's Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Team has compiled a short curated list of multimedia resources to help employees on their personal journey toward understanding and supporting racial equity. The resources have been categorized by what one can do for one’s self, family, and community.

A comprehensive list of resources, curated by HR's D&I Team, is also available for adults and children to explore and share, with the goal of developing a fuller understanding of the race-related issues that confront our country and the actions needed to address them. Contact us if you have questions and/or would like to recommend a resource to be added to this list.

Fostering & Leading In a Culture of Inclusion Webinars

Fostering a Culture of Inclusion for Employees

To create a culture of inclusion, we must all do our part to strengthen and sensitize our relationships and interactions. Join us for a series of webinars designed to enhance knowledge and encourage dialogue regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Part one was held on June 30; watch the Part 1 recording on Media Central
Part two was held on July 30; watch the Part 2 recording on Media Central
Log in with NetID and password to watch

Leading in a Culture of Inclusion for Managers

Leaders play a critical role influencing a unique and differentiated employee experience and contributing to an inclusive culture. This series deepens core diversity, equity, and inclusion skill sets and provides tools to enhance inclusive environments within the teams participants lead.

Part one was held on June 30; watch the Part 1 recording on Media Central
Part two was held on July 30; watch the Part 2 recording on Media Central
Login with NetID and password to watch

If your administrative unit or team is interested in a live facilitated replay of the "Culture of Inclusion" series, contact us.

Race in the COVID Era – Virtual Panel Recording

As COVID-19 has swept across the United States, it has unmasked and amplified existing racial inequities. The virtual panel “Race in the COVID Era: What America’s History of Racism and Xenophobia Means for Today” on June 8 discussed strategies to address marginalization and empower impacted communities. You can re-watch this important conversation on the University’s Facebook page, Media Central website, and YouTube channel.

Interfaith Responses to Racism

The Office of Religious Life has compiled various interfaith resources to provide perspective and a space for thoughtful reflection.

Mental Wellness Resources

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Carebridge

The EAP, offered through Carebridge, is available to help faculty, staff, and eligible dependents cope with everyday life challenges, including anxiety, depression, grief, and feelings of anger, fear, and sorrow. To speak with a licensed professional and begin counseling, call Carebridge at (800) 437-0911. Counseling services are available 24/7.

To access Carebridge’s full set of resources, including webinars and information about managing emotional stress, log in to your Carebridge account online and/or on the "Carebridge EAP" app. First time users need to log in using the access code TW8AE.

For more information, visit the EAP webpage.

MyHealthCoach/TrestleTree

My Health Coach, offered through TrestleTree, provides confidential personalized health coaching to help faculty, staff, and their eligible dependents reach their personal health goals, including dealing with stress. To schedule an appointment, call (866) 237-0973.

For more information, visit the MyHealthCoach/TrestleTree webpage.

Teladoc Behavioral Health

Teladoc telemedicine and behavioral health services are convenient and affordable options that allow individuals to speak with a U.S. board-certified doctor or licensed health provider by phone, video, or mobile app. Services are available 24/7. To register, go to the Teladoc website or download the Teladoc app.

Participants and/or dependents must be enrolled in a Princeton medical plan to access this service. Participants must be 18 or over. For more information, visit the Teladoc webpage.

Guidance for Pre- & Post-Election Conversations & Related Support

Tips for Building Self-Awareness

The following tips can help employees navigate conversations with thoughtfulness, inclusion, respect, and self-awareness and recognize the boundaries of others within their workplaces.

Consider one’s own personal comfort to engage or not to engage in discussions with colleagues about the election and/or civic interests
Actively manage one’s own emotions and how to react to different viewpoints
Acknowledge that some individuals welcome such discussions and are more comfortable sharing their views while others do not welcome such conversations and may consider political views private; respect, without judgment, the decision of others to refrain from or engage in conversation
Consider one’s own University role and professional responsibilities; be aware of the potential impact of discussing the election given that role; if managing others, be particularly aware not to assert influence over or alienate the viewpoints of team members
Remain open to hearing the other viewpoints; prior to engaging in conversation, reflect on how to interact with colleagues who hold different perspectives
Refrain from making or taking action on assumptions about the values and motivations of others
Practice effective listening skills that allow all parties to feel heard
Be mindful of how to express personal viewpoints in a non-judgmental way and seek to engage versus alienate or “shut-down” other perspectives
Respect confidentiality; refrain from sharing conversations with others without having obtained permission to do so; an easy reminder of this in practice is to talk with others, not about them

Examples for Declining Discussions

The following examples can help employees use respectful language when declining to have conversations with others:

“I value how important this topic is in our daily lives. While our views may or may not align, I would like to refrain from having these discussions at work.”
“I find these conversations difficult to talk about at work and would rather not engage in this type of discussion.”

I encourage all of us to reflect on what we can do to build a more just society, to acknowledge biases and privileges that perpetuate inequality, and to ensure that our campus is a place where all feel valued, regardless of our differences.

Lianne Sullivan-Crowley, Vice President for Human Resources
(Read full statement.)

If you have questions or ideas on how we, as a campus community, can do more to help address these issues, contact us.

Juneteenth Now an Official University Holiday

Following last year’s decision to observe Juneteenth — the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States — the University has moved to observe Juneteenth annually as an official University holiday beginning this year.

Racial Equity: A Call for Us to A.C.T.

Curated multimedia resources and guided prompts are available to employees to help them on their journey toward understanding and inclusion.

Coronavirus Resources for Employees

Visit webpage for helpful benefits, wellness, work-related, and other information.