April 2024
Perspectives on Belonging Newsletter
Global Campus
Please join other members of the Global Campus staff in enjoying April’s interactive Belonging board on the fourth floor near the Global Campus-Fayetteville break area. This month’s theme is Write a Haiku or Share Your Favorite Poem. Examples will be provided. Decorative cards and pushpins will be available for you to add your own notes to the board. All comments are welcome. If you’re not able to get to the Fayetteville office, please email what you’d like added to gccomm@uark.edu. We’ll add it to the board for you!
Global Astronomy Month
Human beings have sky gazed for as long as they have looked up. Early cultures thought of celestial objects as deities or spirits and sought answers to problems and questions in stellar movements and the patterns they found there.
With so much attention on the April 8 solar eclipse, it is only natural for people to express curiosity about happenings above our world. April is a perfect time to observe and admire the stars far from the lights and sounds of the city. This year, in addition to enjoying the solar eclipse, people can learn more about constellations, our system’s planets, and even our closest celestial neighbor, the moon.
For information on local events related to the April 8th North American solar eclipse, visit the local page of the Eclipse2024.org website. For a list of astronomical events expected in 2024, visit the Star Walk website.
A shout out to Kay Murphy, who provided Global Campus with solar viewing glasses. They will be available on the 4th floor Belonging board. A supply has also been sent to the PWD offices in Bentonville.
Also, a big thank you to Amy Cooper for providing us with this wonderful image!
Celebrate Diversity Month
Initiated in 2004 to honor the diversity surrounding us all, Diversity Month aims to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of each other and our differences. Diversity refers to all the ways in which people differ, including primary characteristics such as age, race, gender, ethnicity, mental and physical abilities, and sexual orientation; and secondary characteristics such as education, income, religion — or the absence thereof — and spiritual traditions, work experience, language skills, geographic location and family status.
Celebrating diversity creates spaces of inclusion and fosters belonging where people feel valued. An appreciation and respect for differences can make the world a better place for everyone. Inclusion includes YOU, and everyone has a role to play. Read D.E.I: It’s Everyone’s Job about why diversity, equity and inclusion is everyone’s responsibility.
Check out the Northwest Arkansas Diversity Resource Guide for information and resources about diverse businesses and organizations in NWA.
Autism Acceptance Month
Autism Acceptance Month, previously named Autism Awareness Month, celebrates and promotes acceptance for the condition. The shift in terminology fosters acceptance to ignite change through improved support and opportunities in education, employment, accessible housing, affordable health care, and comprehensive long-term services.
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. It is a complex developmental condition affecting the ability to interact, communicate, and progress, with many subtypes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism affects an estimated 1 in 44 children in the United States today.
Autism Prevalence
- Boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls.
- 1 in 27 boys identified with autism
- 1 in 116 girls identified with autism
- Most children were still being diagnosed after age 4, though autism can be reliably diagnosed as early as age 2.
- 31% of children with ASD have an intellectual disability.
- Autism affects all ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
- Minority groups tend to be diagnosed later and less often.
- Early intervention affords the best opportunity to support healthy development and deliver benefits across the lifespan.
- There is no medical detection for autism.
With the continuous investigation and research on autism, World Autism Awareness Day was set to April 2 of each year by the United Nations in 2007, to encourage everyone to raise awareness about people with autism spectrum disorder and support the research finding new ways to improve wellness and inclusion. #CelebrateDifferences
Be Involved
GC Belonging Book Club
Book Cover of Sitting Pretty
The GC Belonging Book Club has selected “Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body” by Rebekah Taussig for its next discussion.
Join us by using this link for the Book Club meeting online at 3 p.m. June 21.
“Sitting Pretty” was selected by the University of Arkansas for its “One Book, One Community” events, per an October 2023 U of A News Article.
Book Access: Copies of the book will be available in the Fayetteville and Bentonville offices, thanks to Dr. Cheryl Murphy. Check your local library too.
Book Description: Growing up as a paralyzed girl during the 90s and early 2000s, Rebekah Taussig only saw disability depicted as something monstrous (The Hunchback of Notre Dame), inspirational (Helen Keller), or angelic (Forrest Gump). None of this felt right; and as she got older, she longed for more stories that allowed disability to be complex and ordinary, uncomfortable and fine, painful and fulfilling. … Rebekah reflects on everything from the complications of kindness and charity, living both independently and dependently, experiencing intimacy, and how the pervasiveness of ableism in our everyday media directly translates to everyday life.
Contribute to the Newsletter
Send events, information, and suggestions for the May GC Belonging newsletter to any of the committee members.
Events & Things To Do
Community Events
View these and many other local events at:
- https://www.experiencefayetteville.com/calendar
- https://www.eventbrite.com/
- https://www.nwaequality.org/calendar/
- https://bgozarks.org/
- https://www.faylib.org/
- April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 – Springdale Bike Club Taco Tuesday Ride. 11.5 miles Springdale to Lake Fayetteville loop and back ride. Pace is 9-11 mph. Starts at Shiloh Square (Emma Street) in front of Phat tire. 7 – 9 p.m. Helmet and water bottle recommended. $0.99 tacos and fun afterward at Mr Taco Loco in Springdale.
- April 5 – Bentonville First Friday. April theme is “The Eclipse.” Bentonville Square, 3 – 9 p.m., free.
- April 5 & 6 – Evening for Educators: Celebrating Marvelous Teachers and Exquisite Creatures. An evening of art, trivia, food, and more. Meet educators, enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres, and chat about the exciting things happening in education. Great Hall, Crystal Bridges Museum, 600 Museum Way, Bentonville. 6 – 8:30 p.m. Free but tickets required.
- Studio Demo: University of Arkansas Museum. The University of Arkansas Museum will bring items from its collection to share with Crystal Bridges guest. Crystal Bridges Museum, 600 Museum Way, Bentonville. 6 – 8:30 p.m. Free, no registration or tickets are required.
- April 6 – Farmer’s Market Opening Day on the downtown Fayetteville Square. Free.
- April 6 – Can Your Food Choices Save the Planet? Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, 11 a.m. – noon. Free but registration is required.
- April 7 – Family Day: Pre-clipse Party. Learn more about solar eclipses and the sky before the big solar event, and enjoy artmaking, science demonstrations, and more. Crystal Bridges Museum, 600 Museum Way, Bentonville. Drop in anytime between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Free, no registration or tickets are required.
- April 8 – Eclipse Party. Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. Gates open at noon, eclipse starts at 12:33 pm, reaching its max at 1:51 pm. Noon – 3 p.m., free, no registration required.
- April 11 – Art on the Bricks, art walk with live music, downtown Rogers, 4:30 – 7:30 p.m., free.
- April 13 – Bentonville Farmer’s Market on the Square and Art Market. Fresh local fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses and crafts. Bentonville Square, 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., free.
- April 15 – Introduction to Creative AI (ages 13+). Explore the world of artificial intelligence, covering the latest AI tools and techniques. Previous experience with AI or digital media is not needed. Fayetteville Public Library, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., free but registration is required.
- April 20 – E-commerce & Licensing. From Maker to Market alum, Ryan Rogers, discusses his experiences selling his products online and navigating licensing deals for platforms such as Etsy and Amazon. Fayetteville Public Library. 1 – 2:30 p.m., free but registration is required.
- April 21 – Earth Day Festival. Family-friendly event with interactive activities, crafts, games, and live music. Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. 3 – 6 p.m. Free-$10, registration required.
- April 24 – Artists 360 – How to Apply Yourself. A free seminar for artists that demystifies the grant application process for the sixth cohort of the Artists 360 grant program. Presented by Mid-America Arts Alliance with support from the Walton Family Foundation. Fayetteville Public Library, 5:30 – 7 p.m., free.
- April 25 – Climate Change: Solutions & Resilience. Group discussions led by local experts who answer questions and offer solutions to people concerned about climate change. Fayetteville Public Library, 6 – 7:30 p.m., free.
- April 25 – The Pod Circle. Opportunity to network with other podcasters and learn industry tips, share ideas, learn about new technologies. Fayetteville Public Library. 6 – 7 p.m., free, registration recommended but not required (opens April 4).
- April 27 – CFI Advanced: EQ & Compression. Learn the basics of EQ and compression and how to apply them to audio production and mixing workflow. Fayetteville Public Library, 1 – 3 p.m., free, registration opens April 6.
- April 27 – BGO Plant Sale. Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Free, open to public but registration is required.
Days of Note
- April 1 – April Fools’ Day
- April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day
- April 7 – World Health Day
- April 9 – Ramadan Ends
- April 9-10 – Eid al-Fitr
- April 15 – World Art Day
- April 16 – Emancipation Day
This newsletter is intended to align with the University of Arkansas campus initiative: Belonging. Messages are intended to nurture a positive working environment at the Global Campus, where all individuals can feel welcome and valued.
“Belonging is defined by each of us and connects us all as Razorbacks. … Belonging is a feeling we all desire and long for, regardless of life experiences. We all want to find a connection with others in our community. Some of the key components to belonging are: mutuality, open-mindedness, willingness to change, shared purpose, acceptance, acknowledging differences, authenticity, honest curiosity, respect, safety, self-reflection, trust, and mattering.”
~ the University of Arkansas’ “Our Belonging Framework”
This newsletter also supports the Global Campus core values of Excellence, People, Innovation, Empowerment, and Access and Reach.
All employees are welcome to provide feedback and suggestions for this newsletter to gccomm@uark.edu or ksmurphy@uark.edu.
The Belonging committee seeks your feedback and suggestions. Use the “Submit a Comment” form below or contact a committee member.