ADVANCING MINORITIES IN ACADEMIA
ABOUT THE GROUP
<I Should BE Thriving: Advancing Gender/Ethnic/Class Minorities in Academia> group is .. (from the group's Introduction) ".. for ALL who believe in a pluralistic and culturally diverse academic world that actively makes space for the equitable inclusion and advancement of all minorities, across disciplines in academia. Minorities, here, includes anyone who does not feel encompassed in the dominant majority gender, ethnicity, social class in society and/or in their academic field. this also includes sexual minorities, religious minorities, and person with disabilities.
The group aims to provide a safe space and platform, where anyone appertaining to minority groups, of all academic ranks and backgrounds, can share, discuss, and ask for support on issues relating to research, writing, publishing, and teaching, as well as the many factors existing in contemporary academia that may be impeding these processes. (The group) aims to provide a sense of community for those struggling, as well as daily free interactive virtual writing retreats, hosted by our members..........."
THE GROUP IS FULL OF WELCOMING, SUPPORTIVE, AND BRIGHT FELLOW ACADEMICS, FROM MASTER'S STUDENTS TO SENIOR PROFESSORS.
I ALSO PARTICIPATE AND VOLUNTEER HOSTING FREE VIRTUAL WRITING RETREATS, WHERE WE CONNECT VIA ZOOM. THESE RETREATS USUALLY RUN FOR 24 HOURS, WITH A STRUCTURED TIME SCHEDULE, ALLOWING ALL THE ACADEMICS AROUND THE WORLD FROM DIFFERENT TIME ZONES TO JOIN.
WE ALSO PROVIDE SOCIALIZING SESSIONS (E.G. COFFEE BREAK, COCKTAIL HOUR) WHERE THE MEMBERS CAN JOIN FOR A CHAT. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER ACTIVITY-FOCUSED SESSIONS AVAILABLE, SUCH AS MOVEMENT HOUR (GETTING IN SOME PHYSICAL ACTIVITY WITH PEER SUPPORT) AND COFFEE & COPING BREAK (DISCUSSIONS ON COPING WITH OVERWHELM IN OUR WORK).