This episode invites students, faculty, and staff to explore the major insights gathered from our 2024–25 campus pláticas (conversations). Listeners will learn about the methodology, shared experiences, emerging themes, and opportunities to shape future initiatives that reflect our campus community’s needs and aspirations.


Music:
Many thanks to idokay for the use of his music as the intro and outro of this podcast.
Life's Journey Begins by idokay 
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5025-beauty-flow

In this powerful season opener, join your host, Ana Velazquez, with Marla Franco, Ph.D., Karla Silva, Ph.D. and Jared Lujan, Ph.D., as they unpack the critical concept of servingness in higher education and its connection to the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation. They explore how institutions can embrace this designation to better support Hispanic and underrepresented student populations, create more inclusive campuses, and ensure equitable opportunities for all. Tune in for an insightful conversation on how servingness goes beyond a label and becomes a commitment to transformative change in higher education.

Stay engaged: 
Mention of Gina Ann Garcia, Ph.D.: https://www.ginaanngarcia.com/
Becoming Hispanic-Serving Institutions
Transforming Hispanic-Serving Institutions for Equity and Justice


See more of Dr. Franco here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marla-franco

See more of Dr. Silva here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karla-silva-phd-b110b958

See more of Dr. Lujan here:
https://www.jarettlujan.com/about
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarett-lujan-ph-d-a1043b7b

Music:
Many thanks to idokay for the use of his music as the intro and outro of this podcast.
Life's Journey Begins by idokay 
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5025-beauty-flow

In the season 5 premiere, join your host, Ana Velazquez, with Marla Franco, Ph.D., Karla Silva, Ph.D. and Jared Lujan, Ph.D., as they explore the intersection of servingness and the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation in higher education. They discuss how colleges and universities can leverage the HSI designation to better serve Hispanic and underrepresented communities, foster inclusivity, and create meaningful change. This episode sets the stage for a deeper conversation about equity, access, and the role of higher education in supporting diverse student populations. Don’t miss this insightful conversation!


















Music:
Many thanks to idokay for the use of his music as the intro and outro of this podcast. 
Lifes Journey Begins by idokay 
Link: https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/lifes-journey-begins/115839

This week on the Huskie Conversation Café Podcast, we present a recorded lecture on the legacy of Jean Baptiste Point du Sable featuring Dr. Courtney Joseph. This lecture, recorded in October of 2021, brought the NIU community together to discuss the importance of oral history and storytelling in research and preserving the legacy of important historical figures such as Jean Baptiste Point du Sable who might otherwise be forgotten in the common practice of whitewashing history. Dr. Joseph provides some history of du Sable’s life before diving deep into her work. The episode concludes with a Q&A with Dr. Joseph and a call to action: visit the newly dedicated du Sable Hall on the NIU Campus!

Continue Engaging!
Find Dr. Joseph’s oral histories project here: https://hamoc.libraryhost.com/exhibits/show/joseph-oral-histories
Check out the Haitian American Museum of Chicago here: https://hamoc.org/
See more of Dr. Joseph here: https://www.courtneypjoseph.com/
Find other programming from Academic Diversity Equity, and Inclusion here: https://calendar.niu.edu/department/academic_diversity_equity_and_inclusion

Music:
Many thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the use of his music as the intro and outro of this podcast.
Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5025-beauty-flow
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week on the Huskie Conversation Cafe, your host J Pappas (they/them) is joined by NIU Police Department officer Andrew Sotomayor (he/him).

J and Andrew discuss ways to challenge bias in police, how a legacy of police brutality creates generational trauma, and alternative models of engagement with civilians that are more aligned with the values of protecting and serving. They reference chapters 13, 17, and 18 in today’s episode.

Debrief Questions
What are your reactions to Trevor’s experiences with the police in his community?
Do you see any parallels between South African and American law enforcement strategies? Why or why not?
What alternative models to traditional law enforcement do you think may be successful?
In what ways can we make an impact in our local law enforcement against racism, violence, and oppression?

Episode Sources
https://media.africaportal.org/documents/paper42.pdf
Mengistu, Berhanu; Pindur, Wolfgang; and Leibold, Marius (2000) "Crime and Community Policing in South Africa,"African Social Science Review: Vol. 1 : Iss. 1 , Article 2. Available at: https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/assr/vol1/iss1/2

Continue Engaging!
Find Andrew and his colleagues here: https://www.niu.edu/publicsafety/index.shtml
Find other programming from Academic Diversity Equity, and Inclusion here: https://calendar.niu.edu/department/academic_diversity_equity_and_inclusion
Register for a CODE workshop here: https://www.niu.edu/diversity/education-training/code-workshops/index.shtml

Music:
Many thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the use of his music as the intro and outro of this podcast.
Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5025-beauty-flow
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week on the Huskie Conversation Cafe, your host J Pappas (they/them) is joined by fellow Huskies Maliyah Davis (she/her), Ayan Manning (she/her), Dallas Douglass (he/him), Nani Quezada (she/they), Justin Smith (he/him), Parth Chokski (he/him), Devon Wenger (he/him), and a student who wished to remain anonymous.

J and their guests discuss the opportunities that have shaped their lives, side hustles, and what institutions of higher education can do to better support their students. They reference chapters 12, 15, 16 in this episode of the podcast.

Thanks to Dulce Hernandez (she/her/ella) for conducting several of the live interviews that you will hear in today’s episode.

Debrief Questions
What was your socioeconomic status while growing up? How did that impact the way you moved through the world?
Did you ever or do you now have a “side hustle?” Do you feel that this is a necessary tool for younger people in America today?
What financial or social support structures have helped you throughout your life?
In what ways can we make an impact in our communities against poverty?

Episode Sources
https://bit.ly/3i3aYDY
https://bit.ly/3o3e2na
https://bit.ly/39C7TWy
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/05/south-africas-economy-in-5-charts/
http://www.city-data.com/poverty/poverty-DeKalb-Illinois.html
https://bit.ly/3lX0ua1

Continue Engaging!
Find the Huskie Food Pantry here: https://www.niu.edu/food-pantry/get-food/using-pantry.shtml
Find other DeKalb community resources here: https://www.niu.edu/food-pantry/get-food/community-resources.shtml
Find other programming from Academic Diversity Equity, and Inclusion here: https://calendar.niu.edu/department/academic_diversity_equity_and_inclusion
Register for a CODE workshop here: https://www.niu.edu/diversity/education-training/code-workshops/index.shtml

Music:
Many thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the use of his music as the intro and outro of this podcast.
Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5025-beauty-flow
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week on the Huskie Conversation Cafe, your host J Pappas (they/them) is joined by fellow Huskies Erin Marie Barker (she/her), Scott Tyler (he/him), Abby Byer (she/her), and Brian Griffin (he/him).

J and their guests discuss what family means to them, how we know that a community values us, the NIU community, and what their dream future communities might look like. They reference chapters 6, 7, 8, and 10 in this episode of the podcast.
Thanks to Dulce Hernandez (she/her/ella) for conducting several of the live interviews that you will hear in today’s episode.

Debrief Questions
How did your family dynamics growing up shape the way you see the world today?
What messages, phrases, or sayings did you hear commonly growing up?
What is a community that is important to you? What makes it important to you?
How do you know that you are in a community that values you and wants you there?
In what ways can we make an impact in our communities against racism, violence, and oppression?

Episode Sources
https://wp.bridgewater.edu/mtembo/articles/the-traditional-african-family/
https://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/South-Africa.html

Continue Engaging!
Find other programming from Academic Diversity Equity, and Inclusion here: https://calendar.niu.edu/department/academic_diversity_equity_and_inclusion
Register for a CODE workshop here: https://www.niu.edu/diversity/education-training/code-workshops/index.shtml

Music:
Many thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the use of his music as the intro and outro of this podcast.
Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5025-beauty-flow
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week on the Huskie Conversation Cafe, your host J Pappas (they/them/theirs) is joined by Dr. James Cohen (he/him/his), an associate professor of ESL/Bilingual education at Northern Illinois University.

J and Dr. Cohen discuss education, the importance of access and representation in the classroom, ways to teach with inclusion in mind, and why knowing yourself is critical for social justice, equity, and inclusion. They reference chapters 5 and 11 in this episode of the podcast.

For NIU education majors, check out Educate Global here: https://www.cedu.niu.edu/educate-engage/educate-global/index.shtml
Read more about antiracism here: https://www.ibramxkendi.com/how-to-be-an-antiracist/
Read more about our nation’s history here: https://www.isabelwilkerson.com/, https://www.ibramxkendi.com/stamped

Debrief Questions
Think about your own educational experiences. What was your favorite class in school? Why did you enjoy it?
Did you ever have a time in your educational journey where you felt “othered” like Trevor? What happened?
What would make your classrooms a better place for learning? What would you change about schools?
In what ways can we make an impact in our school communities against racism, violence, and oppression?

Episode Sources
Research conducted by Dulce Hernandez (she/her/hers/ella), Graduate Assistant for Social Justice Education.
https://web.stanford.edu/~jbaugh/saw/Lizet_Education_Inequity.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-35427853
https://stanfordmag.org/contents/education-after-apartheid
https://borgenproject.org/south-african-education-crisis/

Continue Engaging!
Find other programming from Academic Diversity Equity, and Inclusion here: https://calendar.niu.edu/department/academic_diversity_equity_and_inclusion
Register for a CODE workshop here: https://www.niu.edu/diversity/education-training/code-workshops/index.shtml

Music:
Many thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the use of his music as the intro and outro of this podcast.
Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5025-beauty-flow
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week on the Huskie Conversation Cafe, your host J Pappas (they/them/theirs) is joined by Pastor Joe Mitchell (he/him/his), Senior Pastor at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in DeKalb, IL!
J and Joe discuss religious practice, the intersections of racial and religious communities, the role of gender in religion and faith, and how religious communities can be a central force in healing and reconciliation. They reference chapters 1 and 3 in this episode of the podcast.

Find more about New Hope Missionary Baptist Church here: http://www.newhopeofdekalb.org/
Join in a community discussion on public safety at New Hope on September 8th, 2021, from 6:30-8:00pm. Be a part of the conversation on how to make our communities more inclusive and safe!

Debrief Questions
What communities are you a part of that make you feel like you are a part of something bigger than yourself? What makes you feel that way?
How do you see religion and spiritual practice being accepted or not accepted in your communities?
In what ways can religious communities support work for social justice and community uplift?
In what ways can we make an impact in our religious communities against racism, violence, and oppression?

Episode Sources
https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/african-traditional-religion
https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163044/https://www.ipsosglobaltrends.com/importance-of-religion-or-faith/
https://www.gcis.gov.za/sites/www.gcis.gov.za/files/docs/resourcecentre/pocketguide/004_saspeople.pdf
https://crlcommission.org.za/
http://www.africana.ru/biblio/afrocentrism/12_Harnischfeger.htm
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/major-religions-in-south-africa.html
http://www.ips.org/africa/library/publications/ips_culture_religion_and_genderhandbook.pdf
http://countrystudies.us/south-africa/53.htm
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/religion-by-country

Continue Engaging!
Find other programming from Academic Diversity Equity, and Inclusion here: https://calendar.niu.edu/department/academic_diversity_equity_and_inclusion
Register for a CODE workshop here: https://www.niu.edu/diversity/education-training/code-workshops/index.shtml

Music:
Many thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the use of his music as the intro and outro of this podcast.
Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5025-beauty-flow
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week on the Huskie Conversation Cafe, your host J Pappas (they/them/theirs) is joined by Dr. Mehdi Semati (he/him/his), Professor and Chair in the Department of Communication at Northern Illinois University.

J and Mehdi discuss culture and language, how the two create one another, the importance of common language, and communication and humor as a form of civic engagement and activism. They reference chapters 4 and 14 in this episode of the podcast.
Find Dr. Semati’s new co-authored book, Iran and the American Media, here: https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783030748999

Debrief Questions
Where do you see language informing culture in your community?
How is language weaponized in our communities today to increase othering?
In what ways can we make an impact in our communities regarding language and culture? How can we be more inclusive of different languages?

Episode Sources
https://southafrica-info.com/arts-culture/11-languages-south-africa/#:~:text=Afrikaans%20became%20an%20official%20language%20in%20South%20Africa,make%20up%2013.5%25%20of%20the%20country%E2%80%99s%20total%20population.
https://www.dhet.gov.za/reports%20doc%20library/development%20of%20indigenous%20african%20languages%20as%20mediums%20of%20instruction%20in%20higher%20education.pdf
https://libcom.org/history/1976-the-soweto-riots
https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/june-16-soweto-youth-uprising
https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/4168870.pdf
http://salanguages.com/timeline.htm
https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/language-policy-and-oppression-south-africa

Continue Engaging!
Find other programming from Academic Diversity Equity, and Inclusion here: https://calendar.niu.edu/department/academic_diversity_equity_and_inclusion
Register for a CODE workshop here: https://www.niu.edu/diversity/education-training/code-workshops/index.shtml

Music:
Many thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the use of his music as the intro and outro of this podcast.
Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5025-beauty-flow
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/