spk_0: 0:03
e there and welcome back to another episode in the podcast We are at Episode 29. Can you believe it's It has been quite a journey, and getting on track with the weekly podcast while I've returned to ah, full time director position on a campus has been quite a wild journey. So thanks for your support and for letting me know that these have a direct impact or a latent impact on the work that you're doing, because that is ultimately my goal. And if you don't already know this, a secondary goal is so that you are hearing the stories of people that are also doing this work, and you know that you're not doing it alone. So those are the two ultimate goals. And if we're if even one person is impacted by them, I feel like let's call that a small wind to celebrate for the podcast. Some of the things that you can look forward to in this episode today with Julia are golden are about topics of self care being kind to ourselves, being careful with ourselves and being patient with ourselves as we do this work. And I think even if we took each of those individually and focused on one. Today we would find that we fumble and, you know, we kind of trip over ourselves a bit, even trying to be patient with ourselves, being patient with other people. And if that was a theme for today, we would find that it is difficult to integrate those lessons on some days versus other days. And so be careful and be kind with yourselves as you're doing this work, and I appreciate that. She uplifted that as well. Julia talks about the work that she's moving forward not only at the university, where she is currently an assistant dean in Boston but also across the nation through the a boon to institute that she started, ah, while back. So listen mawr, for how to connect with that work and about the initiatives that she's moving forward. We talked about following our heart and trusting our gut in this work, as we represent institutional roles and responsibilities and commitments where we're helping our institutions to know how to serve our communities better, more intentionally and help celebrate them. So trusting our gut and following your heart are to the things that are sticking out in the top of my mind as I left are amazing conversation with Julia. Then we close out by Julia. Providing some amazing resource is some that I love, that there is consistency among some of the podcast guests that the book Trauma Stewardship is something that we should be looking to as a resource as we move about this, work within our various roles and also provide some fantastic guidance as Julia looks into the rear view mirror at her career of over 11 years so far and think you're gonna get a lot from that. So if you don't have a chance to listen to the full episode today, making sure that you bookmark that for your next commute or for your next venture through the podcast again, you know, I just can't say thank you enough for all your support and for letting me know how the podcast impacts each of you. I would love to connect with you individually. You can reach me through our social media channels at Resilient campus. You can also send me an email as they be. Why at resilient campus dot com, I hope that you have a phenomenal day, an amazing week and that your semester and your calendar era, whatever that is that feels like a digestible chunk of time for you is full of learning and growth. Thank you so much. Welcome to the resilient campus podcast, amplifying the voices of college inclusion innovators. I'm your host, savvy labor founder and CEO of Resilient Campus. Join me each week as I interviewed professionals on the frontlines of campus and community movement building. For more information, please visit resilient campus dot com ford slash podcast This is episode number 29 of the resilient Campus podcast. Today we're speaking with Julia Are Golden Juilliard. Golden is the assistant dean of diversity and inclusion in student affairs at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science University in Boston, Massachusetts. Julie has worked in student affairs for 11 years in positions such as conduct, residential life, student activities and diversity and multicultural affairs. Julia serves on the Nasca Region one regional advisory board as the inaugural Diversity Initiatives coordinator as well as the NASCAR Region One conference committee and is the founder of the U Boon to Institute for Student Affairs, Professionals of Color Julius Studies at University of Massachusetts, Boston for the doctor philosophy in higher education programmes to study the impact of secondary traumatic stress on student affairs, professionals of color and multicultural affairs. Wow, that is a lot that you're doing. Julia, thanks so much for taking the time to be with us today. I know that you have a full schedule of a more distant thank you. How are you? Thank you. Good. Well, and thanks for joining me on a Saturday. So what folks don't know is that often the guests are carving any time that they can out of their schedule, whether it's on the evening's ah, lunch hour or on the weekend. So thanks for taking your Saturday to talk with me. And for the listeners as well. Re appreciate you
spk_1: 5:32
got a husband grind,
spk_0: 5:34
hustling grand, nice. And so, Julia, you and I know each other a little bit. Tell us more about what we should know about you today. What would you like to share?
spk_1: 5:43
Absolutely. You know, I always start with my identities. I think, um ah, lot of times this work of social justice is a personal passion, and one that I think comes in. And when I reflect with where I'm coming from in my identities. So first, I would probably start with that I'm a transracial adoptee. While I personally identify is being Honduran and Latin X, I was adopted a very young age of six months to a white family. And so my parents would identify as, ah, Russian, Jewish and Irish Catholic. And, um, I think that probably right there tells you a lot of how I view the world as being possible to really be one where dialogue and happened across any kind of identity. Um, not saying that it's easy, but saying that it is possible I also identify as queer. And, um, I think within that it's been really important to, you know, for me to recognize being a queer trans person of color. Um, and now a scholar and a PhD doctoral program. Um, that's been something that has been I opening, humbling and so far really rewarding. So those are some of the identities. I think that, um, I can start with,
spk_0: 7:02
but that's awesome. That's Ah, quite a plethora of identities who provided for us today and what I appreciate about knowing those identities and that you shared today is that you not only made those visible for educational purposes, but it seems like you've made it your purpose and mission to develop communities. A sense of community for other people around those identities. So thank you were not only sharing them but using them as a platform to bring us together when, um, in spaces of higher education and and outside the spaces. So thank you. Thanks for your work. Um, and are there any other selling identities that you like to share, or would you like to move into telling us about the work that you're doing today?
spk_1: 7:46
I mean, I think some of the other identities I would say is, um you know, I am someone who is really open to self reflection, and I think one of the things that, um I'm finally at a place in a personal level, but I was a professional level to talk about is, um and probably why my dissertation topic is coming from this is you know, I do believe that, um, depression, anxiety or something. That's part of my life. Um, and I think that, you know, the work that I do is a lot emotionally sometimes, Um, and one of the reasons I talk about secondary traumatic stress and talk about, um, self care so often is that I really want for people to understand you can be doing this work and have such passion in it. But understand that burn out can be something that you are facing, um, as well as knowing we're not all these resilient superheroes that were allowed to have moments where we fail and not even just fail, but moments where we feel like could I have done better? And I think the answer is always going to be like we can always do better and to be careful but also kind to ourselves because we often give our students and colleagues so much patience. And so I'm really working on telling others and sharing my story of saying, you know, it's timeto have patients and self care for ourselves as practitioners. Um, and I think a lot of the work I do specifically with that woman to institute is to really, really that message. Teoh. You know, professionals of color and also core professionals of, you know, way are allowed to look out for ourselves and know that our story is not something anyone just deserves that it's in our time in place to decide when we decide to tell those stories and make sure that institutions don't take advantage of our stories either That that isn't branding. These things are army. And so I think the doses from the messages I'm really trying to develop in this next year, Um, they're not easy. And it's a lot of self reflection where I've had to dig deep. Um, but I'm proud to finally kind of share some of those things.
spk_0: 10:06
That's amazing. Yeah, and a lot of what you just shared is is they are themes that people are sort of battling within our, um, in their daily work in higher ed. So I appreciate that you're, you know, even using your dissertation work for the good of her community is right. The informing How, um, stress trauma, traumatic stress. Like how that impacts our experiences. So awesome. Just another layer of awesome that I know you're bringing to the world. So tell us about those initiatives of projects, topics, issues like what's on your mind in terms of work that you're moving forward in student fares and higher education environments today.
spk_1: 10:48
Absolutely. Um, you know, I think it's important to recognize a lot of times we have these things that we're starting initiatives on campuses. Um, and you know, I want to give a shout out to clear Katie who? I've done some work with Nasca. And we had met during when I was in the national co chair for the national GS Casey or gender sexuality knowledge community. And, um, they were working with Lisa. And, you know, one of the things that really came to um my knowledge is learning about the need for food pantries and for more resource is for students with financial and securities. And I'm still thinking about how I used that word in security because I think for some students, that is in itself a trigger word. You can go through a hard time and be like, Well, I'm not necessarily obscure. What is that language mean? But recently, in this past, I'd say 6 to 8 months I've been developing and only a food can food pantry for my campus. But also developing resource is around it of what are the local resources in Boston. But also I overlook three campuses. So I have to think about Boston, Massachusetts, Worcester, Massachusetts and then Manchester, New Hampshire. So it's making sure that all three campuses are getting those resource is, but also and this is that you can create any initiative you want. But if there is not community education on why this resource is needed, and on why, it's important to know the statistics that off what your students are facing those initiatives are not sustainable. And so I also really using this fall to really go around to all my faculty and staff, um, and teach them a little bit about the statistics were facing that various types of reports that I'm receiving as a dean from our students and remind people that this is a national crisis. But also it wasn't until the Boston Globe stated, I believe in February in an article we're talked about, that this is not a two year college or community college issue or state school issue that at elite institutions and this is happening, and to me, that makes a lot of sense. But I think until people saw that article and realized, this can happen anywhere, um, you know, for us. That's what gave us that motivation to really realize it was time to create these resources of as a community. Um, my favorite part of this is work with student leaders and teaching them and teaching them about how to be inclusive of saying, You know, your friends can't go out to eat all the time with you. And, you know, I think about all the kind of pressure there is to buy the right clothes, whatever that means for you. While so I think it's been really nice to remind students that this is something that they could do to be self aware. Um, but I also realize if they need that help, that they can reach out. Um, so there's a lot of layers to that, but that's been probably one of the harder projects I've started because you have to realize that there's some things that there's a limitation as to how you can help, maybe is an institution. But I'm glad that we're finally in a place that we can start offering. Some of the resource is that have never been provided before. Um, and I had a chance to kind of consult with other institutions in the New England area and give them ideas of how I started all of these different processes. But that's probably my favorite project working on now for my institution. Um, as far as you know, working very professionally, I would say I'm on the second year of working on the Nasca region. One woman to institute for Suit Affair, Professionals of color. Um, and we have a whole bunch of new people who are advocates. A lot of times these institutions institutes have faculty members. But we'd like to call our folks advocates because the folks that I've been that I have individually selected, they're not just maybe scholars or are professionals. They're also all folks who give back to their various communities. So they're the folks who you know there, whether it's them going to church or whether it's them going to, You know, that next March, or going into making sure people are voting these air folks who are on the ground doing that grassroots work. So to me, it's important to have advocates who not only know the best practices and know how to listen to people, but they're also the folks who are like I already been creating community. And so that's been really fun to lead. And here, all these different perspectives, Um, and that's been the goal is what voices have I not heard and now need to include
spk_0: 15:34
That's awesome. And I think even before I knew about you and your work, um, I had heard about the institute. And when people connected your name to it, uh, for me, I was like, Oh, yeah, that makes it totally makes sense. So thanks for your work there. I know that when we think about spaces for folks of color in the fields, um, there are few eso That's something that is really important that you established. That I hope carries on long term as well. And whether it's you carrying that baton are, um, uh, you know, sometimes it's like we got a pass that baton on, and we know when that is, um and I think that allows us to sustain the work. But, um, yeah, that's it really is quite revolutionary that you created that that spacey and that people are thinking about those identities in our field.
spk_1: 16:32
I will say this and I think this is something that out of, you know, self reflection that, um sometimes I write things or say things or do things. And it's because in my heart it's the right thing to Dio. I don't always recognize that it, like you mentioned something being a za relevant or revolutionary. Just I needed resource. Um, and I think that that has been something The response to this institute is so humbling. But more than that, I think I'm glad that I trust my gut. And I think that's something I really want. And folks in student affairs or just even if you are doing this type of work, trust your gut because you know what your community needs. And there are a lot of people telling me this is a big idea and, you know, is it really something you can accomplish? And, you know, I knew I had some ideas in an outline, but I also allowed my community to fill in the rest of that idea with me. Um, so trust her gut, but also know that you have people who your people are and know that they're gonna help. You kind of have that idea come to fruition.
spk_0: 17:43
I love that That's great. It sounds like you're you're connecting like intuition with personal experience with within your communities. Awesome. So you told us a little about about the work that you're doing today. What issues and needs or at the top of your mind and how you're moving those forward. How would you say you arrived to the work that you're doing today or what is the path and the passions that have drawn you here today? Tell us that story.
spk_1: 18:11
Sure. Um, you know, I was thinking about how I really did not like going to school as a kid. I remember just thinking it was so boring and being like, Can I just learned what I want to learn. Like, why have to learn all these things about math? It's fine. But I just think that for me, education was super hard because I never saw teachers that looked like me. I grew up in, like, a 94% white neighborhood. That was, you know, upper middle class, middle class, upper middle class, and I just remember thinking like, I don't relate to anyone here, and none of the content we were learning was about my history or where I was coming from and I really presented that. And I think the good news is I was a smart enough kid to know. OK, then I have to teach these things myself. And I remember going library and reading books about Malcolm X or Holmes about Langston Hughes and going on my own and thinking about you know who is Ah, Julio Alvarez. And, you know, I wanted to know more, and so I'm glad that I was able to teach myself those things. But I think that, um, you know, it got to a point when I got to college and I was just like, This is the time. Not only going to come out, I'm going to just be more about who I am. And I was really lucky enough to find a mentor who was saw that I had a powerful voice but also knew she needed to work with me. I'm thinking about what to use that voice. Um, I think that it was awesome to have a mentor say, You know, you can really people, but also make sure you're listening to people and in some ways woodchuck me a little bit because once I got to be a student leader. I definitely started developed some kind of ego. My grades went from like, I don't know C's to A's. And suddenly I was like, I got this and I needed someone to be able to say like, yeah, you dio But also make sure you you keep room for other people. Um, and that lesson always stayed with me. And so, you know, she told me about soon affairs because I was like, I want your job one day and she was assistant Dean at u Mass. Dartmouth and conduct. And I remember thinking like, I want to be you and a girl And it's funny because now I'm an assistant dean and not of conduct, but, you know, basically doing the same kind of work. And I it was I had this moment. I was at a conduct conference and I heard that this was, Ah, master's program you could get into, and it's like something in my life told me, This is your calling, and your job is to make sure that specifically at the time LGBT accused students would never feel as alone as I had. Is this as growing up and that students of color would always see me as being the representation that they may be needed. Because I remember thinking in I really could have benefit from that growing up so often, you know, even when I'm walking in the halls now at EMC PHS University. Um, I've had students just come up to me because there's something they see in May and they just want to talk and say Hi, Um, you know, to me, yes, the policy work I dio is something I'm extremely proud of the research I do the new initiatives of programming. It's all great. But the biggest thing I think I do sometimes is just being me and letting students know that means that they can be them. So I think that's how I arrived at this work. And I think it's been such a privilege to to be my authentic self, that everyone has that privilege at their job and in their life. And so I try really hard to remind myself that that's something that I should be really proud of. But I should also share that that kind of message with people, absolutely
spk_0: 21:55
life. I love that I have noticed that there's, you know, given the visibility of some of the identities that I know I hold and express on the campuses and in the organizations like people are drawn to. But knowing our story about how we arrived to these different areas of work, you know, and it's like such a privilege toe, I don't know their moments that are so beautiful and you can't really capture them. Um, any other way other than saying, like did that just happen? You know, that was so amazing and just trying to, like, bottle it up. It's a
spk_1: 22:36
few simple s. I had a student assume color Just I mean, really, they were having a really hard time and, um, saw me in the hallway and I sometimes you as soon as you kind of look at you like, Oh, you're how did you get here? And they literally just look at you as if they're amazed. And they offered a simple, simple fist bump. But I was like, OK, I got you, and you could just see it let it was like something lit up their eyes of like I didn't expect to be able to have this kind of moment with, you know, someone as a staff member at the school and, you know, in a professional based science school. So there's not a lot of those moments where students whose be themselves like that. So something as simple is that it really can make a difference in a student's life and feeling like they're connected to the institution.
spk_0: 23:22
Julia. So you've mentioned some of the different areas that you do work in and around your identities and just being Where can you just be yourself?
spk_1: 23:30
Sure. So I moved to Boston back in 2010. I have been coming from Western Mass on it, really just wanted kind of city life because I thought, I really want to meet lots of people and create community for myself. Um, and actually did that. I have almost self care for myself off. Let's get back in the city on. And I had met a bunch of equipment of color and a social group. Um, that was provided by this panic Black, a coalition in Boston, and it was called Sister Circle, and it was really just a chance for people to talk about their work. We talk about their life. There were moments where we just kind of celebrated, enjoyed each other. There's also moments where we're like, Wow, we're in it today and let's just talk this out. Um, so I think that was one of the most beautiful spaces I've ever been a part of in Boston. Um, I think it's also fighting places. Um, through some of the people have met throughout Nasca, um, those air, not just colleagues. You know, there are a lot of folks who I actually consider more like brothers and sisters or best friends. Um and so it's funny how national may have brought us together, but we realized, um, it was our passion for higher education and soon affairs work that we really related to. So something as simple is creating a group me chat with something that, you know, we just whether it's about, I need to tell us talk about this right now. I had this kind of day or you just laugh about something with, like, a silly mean. I think that's always really fun. Um, and I created this to kind of group me and, you know, I tracked with lots of different people around the nation just because there's something about the fact that social media and technology brings people together in a way that you know, you don't have to be, you know, in the same place you can have each other and talk to each other and connected each other in another. It's a more convenient time, but it's just We all have the same thing going on in our life. So it's always nice to just be like, Let's just check in. Let's talk about what's going on. And also what I've really loved about having kind of a Baikal stole connection with people and network is that there are things having in California that we haven't even tried to do in the East Coast, and vice versa. So even things with the 12 there were things with, um originally, I had started this mostly for my black and queer, and Trans people call her colleagues. They were the ones were being, I felt like targeted the most in our field, and I knew there was a lot of opportunities for Latin X individuals already. But then I started carrying about some of the things going on for the Peter community And I thought, Oh, we need to start that work here in East in the East before it gets ahead of itself and we need to make sure we're supporting those voices. And so I think what I think about finding community it's been really intentional that I talk with people who are not already, you know, with me doing the work of people who are ahead of me and saying, Have you considered this idea or this topic that's come up? Have you been started the research on this new thing? And I'm like, Well, no, I haven't eso I love surrounding myself with people who are motivated and forward thinking and think big picture. And I'm so lucky that I found that in my communities and that I have a network that's national so that people know that when they tell me an idea that I'm like, really curious, and I'm gonna be like, Well, what can we dio um, So I think that's been really cool to meet people who are also go getters around around the nation
spk_0: 26:55
at school. I love hearing that, cause I think it is one of your top strengths. A connector at all or maximize er I
spk_1: 27:03
e mean, I'm a woo. I, in fact, should not surprise anyone, huh? I'm sure Connector as well, but yeah, you know, I think What was it There was one that I really thought was I think it's Kim of the name, But it basically you can look at individuals, maybe idealization. You can look at each individual and understand how to work with them. But then for me, it's about how do you connect people in a big picture? I'm like, Hey, this person in Boston and this person in Philly and that person Oakland, California. Did you all know you're doing the same work like, let's talk about that. That, to me, is my favorite moment is when you're introducing people and they're all, like, what we're all doing This, especially as for me, is a clear trend person of color, like brilliant when you're just like I'm not alone in the as we've been doing this work, Rebecca coma during my former boss. Is that some enemy that, um I just love this quote it's were not new to this were true to this, and I have carried that quote with me everywhere. Because it always reminds me that, you know, none of this work that we're doing is new is that we have managed to create these voices of stories because we're true to them and that we understand them. Um, and I think it's always awesome when you realize that so many of you share similar stories. They're different, but they're similar.
spk_0: 28:23
Yeah, I love that. And I met Rebecca recently. And what a cool human being like, Seriously,
spk_1: 28:32
add it to Rebecca.
spk_0: 28:34
Rebecca, I hope you listen to this and, like, just know that we're We're admiring you. Who's
spk_1: 28:41
us? She's also an advocate for the plan to institute just saying how to give her play. Be
spk_0: 28:45
nice. Great work. Thanks for your work there to Rebecca. Um, So you talked about some words that have inspired your work Share. Some of those resource is whether their books, your podcasts, bodies of scholarship or work that informed the way that you approach the work that you're doing today.
spk_1: 29:03
Absolutely. You know, when I was thinking about this theory of secondary traumatic stress, you know, really, that's used for people who are social workers or counselors, you know, you are serving communities, and in the work that you're doing, you're having to hear a lot of trauma and pain. Um, but I do think a lot of folks who are doing the work and diversity multicultural affairs are often receiving somewhat similar stories. And yet we are not given maybe a training or perhaps a way to really think about Am I OK to do this work and how my feeling about where I am with this work and did I hope the student and give them what they needed? Um, but also because that was maybe something that was upsetting to hear about. Do I need to debrief? Do I need to consider, um, you know, talking with a colleague about how that situation went. You know, we know that councillors do that often times that they will talk with their fellow counselors and say, you know, this is the client I'm seeing. And let's talk. So one book that I really appreciated trauma stewardship. This is something that when one of my students from Simmons was telling me, I was telling her about my dissertation, um, they were like saying that this is something that we needed to consider trauma. Stewardship is something that it allows you to consider What is yourself care look like? And what can you do to help yourself when you are facing a lot of students coming to you? And not maybe we having a moment to take that all in and think about what have what is it like to hold those stories for others on DSO? It's a really great guide that almost provides a self inventory on, and I think that that self inventory component is something I think I really want to highlight in my dissertation off. Let's make sure that we're checking in with ourselves and thinking about we were at so that we can continue this work and not burn out so easily. So that's when one book I really appreciate, um V. But one other book that I really want to shut out is the A V P book. Now this is probably perfect personal preference, but my big thing is, I think especially soon affairs, and I'm saying this for a new pros, probably maybe something levels as well as I really like reading about job positions and descriptions and understanding the future where I want to go. So no, I'm not to be in a VP probably any time soon, but I really appreciated this book cause it's the first of its kind. And I wanted to understand that rule for the future, Um, so that I can better prepare myself in the work I'm doing now. So I really appreciated that. And one of my good friend pulling Dabrowski had a section in it that I really appreciated reading the other book. I just wanted to quickly mention waas. It's going to be coming out later this year. Contested issues in troubled times Um, I was asked to write ah, response to one of the chapters by Peter Mangold A and Marshall Baxter. My Golda, um, this book, I think, is going to have a lot of very relevant, um, information and topics in one of the pieces that I got to write about is how student affair professions of color navigate social media. But knowing that a lot of times we have to be more careful because it can really impact our job in livelihood. Um, and so that is something that I kind of write and talk about in my piece.
spk_0: 32:33
That's awesome. I love that. So there's something happening, Julian, our field and I and it's showing up on the podcast. Um, so last episode? Well, actually, the last two episodes that came up one because I brought it up in the previous episode. But then, also on Episode 27 with Aaron Kate Aaron, Kate was also mentioning the trauma stewardship book. And there's I think there's some connections that people like yourself are making in the field about our professional preparation programs, potentially or the ways in which we're preparing ourselves to deal with issues of trauma and oppression and harm, um, and being front line folks and being folks that provide the support structurally Inter personally, um, and how that inter laps interconnects intersects with our identities and how personal that is. So there's there's something bubbling and building right now that I think that I'm so grateful that you're doing that work with your dissertation and writing about how we're navigating social media and how we have to do it more carefully, um, than our other colleagues and, um, But the stakes are higher, right? Like the stakes are often higher for us as really highly visible folks of of multiple, marginalized identities. And so there's. I wonder how we're going to convene around this idea about how social workers and other folks in like mental mental health practitioner fields are being prepared. So do this trauma based work and how to not burn out and how we're seeing parallels in our field. Um, so that's so interesting that it keeps coming up. I mean one. Yeah, I hope that people keep raising the questions.
spk_1: 34:29
Well, I think there's two parts of that. I mean, it's something as simple as how we treat our graduate students. Um, we have grad students who haven't even finished programs, and yet, and we and we don't do a lot necessarily to provide the professional development. We just use them for jobs that we can't pay a professional to dio like, Let's be very real about what? This is what this is and what's happening. And I recognize I'm gonna probably get back last just for saying this, but I do believe that, um, are higher. Education programs are at masters level. Many don't have a diversity component to their program. I've been asked to speak at many diversity, higher education programs. And I love that. I think that's amazing. But I often ask the facilitator and professor, I'm like, what other speakers are you bringing in? And who are you bringing and what topics? Because it can't just be you bring me and then you're fulfilled for this semester has to be multiple voices. I mean, I also always ask what voices aren't being brought up. You know, I want more indigenous voices. I want more undocumented voices. I want more a paedo voices. And so I think that these are things that I want us to consider. But as we you know, I've had friends say to me as we bring folks assume affairs. Um, it's kind of like what we do with college students. You can bring anyone you want here to this field, but are re retaining them. Are they actually persistent? Be okay within this field, I think unfortunate. A lot of our people of color and queer folks are realizing that they're in this field because they believe that this work needs to be done and they have to represent something, but at what expense and what costs. And I think, um I definitely am hearing the amount of grief people feel like, um when they've lost their job because of who they are. The grief is so riel and something that many of us will not talk about because we feel like we failed a job. No, that job failed you. And I think that that is something that we need to understand. Um, when you hire people of color just pre prepared that there might be other re sources and connections that need to be provided. Um, I recently had someone who went for dropping to view and said, How would you be supporting this multicultural coordinator? And it was like a big question that they asked, and people weren't ready to even answer it. And I think right there, just be ready for those types of questions. If you're an advocate to people, color and and folks were marginalized identities, um, we deserve to go to work and show up and feel like our work will be taken seriously, but also that, um, it's not taken advantage of either.
spk_0: 37:12
It's so interesting when I think about the possibilities of infusing that one diversity course. The you know, when I think about that model versus what the possibilities are for infusing social justice principles in ideas into every course. Right? Like So if we're preparing our admissions and recruiter folks to have an intersectional understanding of recruiting people to a campus that may or may not be celebrating those identities and experiences and how that sort of this paradoxical situation, right? It's like, What is their responsibility in all the different functional areas? Not just multicultural affairs, Um, and so I really I think we're There's something about, like, some generations of leadership that are whether they're faculty and our professional preparation programs, their administrators, where we're hoping I'm hoping, and I don't know if there's just me observing and dreaming and aspiring, but I'm hoping, will we're causing, ah, new wave of folks that, um, are and maybe it's in smaller numbers than then. I know I'd like, but they're making their way into administrative roles, are making their way into teaching and the higher ed, you know, professional preparation programs and whatnot that have that social justice lens and everything they dio. And it's not just the one diversity course.
spk_1: 38:40
One other thing I would say on the higher education institution component is, um, how hr can work more efficiently toe really provide support for are far individuals. Because I think you know something as simple as I'm working with HR right now, Like just a sponsor. Ah, women of color. Uh, you know, lunch and socials and my institution, you know, that is very significant for the women who have that chance. An opportunity to go to that lunch. It's just a move in the feel like, Hey, we're all here to see each other to talk about, um, look for things that were celebrating and excited toe having a semester, but also things that were like, Wow, we I didn't expect this is a challenge or something. And so, you know, I think it's something as simple Is that, um, you know, I was talking to folks and saying, You know, let's think about how their ways that we can provide special development. All of it is, um, you know, workshops and this and that. It's sometimes just giving people a chance to just communicate and communicate. I have community with one another. Um, I don't know. I think there's something something there as well as How do you create that institutional change? Not just, um, expect that, you know, in grad school will learn a few things. And then that said, it's there's there's different pieces in HR that I think could really help and not only how they interview people on bring new candidates and how were they look for them and marketed. But I also think once that you have those folks working on your campus how to continue that support. Um, and I've really enjoyed working with a chart. A couple of campuses at this point.
spk_0: 40:10
Yeah, I mean, they're one of our biggest partners. I think when you went the topic, your bring up about institutional change is HR has their hands in so many different components. Yeah, cool. Um, so we're going to switch gears a little bit, and I like to think of these last set of questions as kind of like looking in the rear view mirror and in thinking about some of the biggest lessons that you've learned. I'd love for you to share some of those with the listeners, but also you know what guidance or insights have. Then have you derived from those experiences to share out with people is well,
spk_1: 40:48
I think that the biggest lesson I learned is that, um, my story is mine alone, and that is a privilege for anyone to be able to hear it. And I think picks ing myself and how I like to, um, work with him identities and share those with others is something that's really important. Had I have shared about being a transracial adoptee, Um, even 10 15 years ago, I would have been ready, and it could have honored my own story. So I think don't Russia identities, you know, even something like my gender queerness. You know, it's not something I talk about a lot, and certainly I haven't really talked about it professionally on. A lot of folks get really irritated that I don't just say it more often and truthfully, it's my own story. And when I'm ready to talk about it, I will. And so I offered that piece of advice of, you know, people want you to show up and represent sometimes. But you won't do a good job and being able to do that unless you're comfortable and feeling that that I'm gonna be supported and something that you fully understand. So take your time and getting to know yourself and thinking about what next? Um, Barry one overcome and with that identity and story. So I think that that's something. Take kept patients for yourself. Be kind to yourself. Um, And when you're ready to talk about some of these identities, especially diversity work, um, that will that will happen over time, naturally. And when it does, I think for me as a practitioner, I've appreciated it more, and, um, but it's also made me more genuine. And so people realize that what I'm saying isn't just to say it, that they're like, Well, this is coming from a place where you're really you've had time to reflect on this Israel And I want people to see that genuine interaction.
spk_0: 42:36
Yeah, that's really beautiful. I I know people listening in are gonna need to hear that, and I think part of it that I've experienced personally that I can speak to is going to campuses to speak. I have, um, been able to practice and refine, like which stories I feel ready to share in public, and it's been sort of on the forefront of my mind. But I also noticed that as my disability shifts and changes, I think people want me to talk about my disability, and I've noticed that recently, as it's become a little more visible. People are kind of like looking at my body a little differently, and they're getting a little distracted from maybe the topics that I am talking about great. And so it's interesting that, um, how sort of people are wanting or at times needing us to tell a story for them. But then having the agency to say, like, Yeah, no, that's for me. That's mine. Um, I I'm either choosing not to talk about that right now, or that's just none of your business right or whatever the spectrum is in between. Like, I feel like that's not for us to share in this large group, or I choose to share that 101 or choose not to share that at all outside of my family, you know, in my household. So I appreciate you sharing. Next, I think there's a pressure to just spill Alwyn, where people doing work that is personal to our own identities and experiences.
spk_1: 44:10
Absolutely. And I will say this. You know, I think, Ah, a lot of times people know that a lot of way I lied is by storytelling. And by and now it's such as a doctoral student then relating that back a theory, but a t end of the day. Um, yes, I am someone especially one on one. If you came up to me, I'm sure we could share stories and get to know one another. But, you know, there are a lot of parts of my life that whether it's pain or whether it's just me still processing, um, I don't put everything out there is people believe And so, yeah, it's my choice to decide when I'm when I'm ready to talk about some of those things. And, um and I'm happy because I used to feel very pressured. Um, so we share, and now it's more of no my own time. It will come up, and that's good. And I think that's been actually really a lot of weight lifted off my shoulders.
spk_0: 45:04
That's cool. Thanks for thanks for sharing that insight that you've been reflecting on. And, um, I hope that folks listening in have some points of reflection as well and and that you might feel a sense of relief almost to hear someone else say that you don't have to share all of your story or those parts of your story that feel, um and I've heard some Some folks say, like either there they're just for you because their personal or I've heard folks also say that, you know, speaking to times in your life or incidents that happened with in your life, that might be more of a wound than a scar at different periods. Those air also those that you know, when you sort of get up to do trainings or facilitation or speaking or one on ones with people, it's like, Yeah, how much of that is sort of processed enough that I have made a choice to either keep that for me or share that with others. So, um, I hope that people have, ah range of responses to that from like, Wow, what a relief. Thank you for saying that, too. Yeah, that's me, too. And I've made those decisions, um, and knowing the other folks need to hear it. Julia, I mean, we've talked about a lot here. Hot gas today Is there anything else on your mind as we close out our time together And, um, we sort of move on from from this episode.
spk_1: 46:32
You know, I was sitting in, um, one of my classes, a diversity and equity class, and, um, and I go to u MASS. Boston, and it's by Dr Terror Parker, who was just amazing. Professor, Um, but we're having this discussion, and and we're going around the room, and we're starting to realize just you know how much institutional racism is impacting. So the work that we do and out of a group of 12 people, um, only two people are white in the rest of people of color, which is amazing. Um, but we're sitting there and sharing stories, and and we realized this is hitting us deep, just talking about things that we've had to hold far students and ourselves and things that we've been told to assimilate to professionalism and stuff. And I think that, um, you know, there was this moment where it got really kind of dark in the room, and, you know, I said this might mean this might be me saying this toe, lighten things up, but I was like, I'd also like to us to consider that even though that these things are heavy. And even though these things kind of her especially right now as we're reflecting, um, that we do have the ability to create change on these campuses on. And I talked a lot about the policy work I did. And why would That was the one part that really inspired me to keep going. And I saw people kind of look at me like you're right. Like, there are things that keep us going and doing this work. So I think, you know, I want people to consider what? What gets you to have a passion about this work, What motivates you? And what's that one story that you have for yourself that you're like, This is why I do this work. Um, you know, for me, I always have the term hustle and grind. And I have a poster literally across my desk because when I'm having a moment of I'm not sure I can do this, and I'm not sure um, you know, I'm doing so well right now. I see this poster and like that motivates me and it also makes me remember that, um, my resiliency and I've been through tougher times or tougher things. And so just find out what motivates you and always keep that in the back of your head because these state, these topics, they could be heavy and and that's okay. But also, what's gonna help you through those moments? I think it's just equally as important. Um, So yeah,
spk_0: 48:47
that's amazing. Awesome. Julius, was we close out? Um, and I know folks are gonna be interested in adding you to their network. What's the best way for them to do that?
spk_1: 48:56
Julia are golden on Twitter is probably the best place to follow me. I'm developing website, so I'll have to do that at some other time. But I think Twitter's actually one the best places to reach me at right now. Okay, Link.
spk_0: 49:08
Awesome. Okay, So what I'll do for folks is I will linked. Um, I will provide links to your linked in profile your twitter and then also to the books and resource is that you mentioned earlier in our conversation so that they could easily have access to those. So, Julia, thank you deeply for being with us today. Um, I I learned a lot. I'm reflecting on a lot. And I know that people listening in are going to learn so much. Um, and so thank you. I really appreciate it. Thank
spk_1: 49:38
you for having me.
spk_0: 49:39
Yeah. And so, as with every episode, wanted to close out with an inspirational quote to send you back out into the world. And Julia is going to provide that quote for us today.
spk_1: 49:48
Yet this quote comes from I was had the chance to talk about a year of yes and student affairs at the National National Conference, where I related the book of Shonda Rhimes and said that the more opportunities that I can lead with my authenticity and passion and keep saying yes, I'll bring other people in the table. Um, I talked about that a lot, but I was also reminding people, you know, specifically women, women of color, queer people. Um, there you were not given a seat at the table. You earned that seat so own that throne.
spk_0: 50:20
Nice. So I will provide a link to that YouTube video of Julius talk. It was amazing. I was there. I was very inspired. Um so thank you to all those listening in. Thank you so much for all that you do. I truly appreciate you stay resilient. Are you looking for ways to support the resilient campus podcast and the work that we're doing to build and bridge campus social movements? Join our online patri on community of other social justice. Educators like yourself to develop connections, get guidance and resource is from other folks engaged in this work and get access, the bonus episodes and behind the scenes footage that is Onley available toe our patron community members. For more information, visit patri on dot com Forward slash resilient campus that is P a T r e o n dot com forward slash resilient campus Thanks so much for tuning in head on over to iTunes, soundcloud or stitcher to subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss out on a single episode.