ASSOCIATION OF VANDERBILT BLACK FACULTY & STAFF
The Association of 国产原创 Black Faculty and Staff (AVBFS) was created in July 2020 under the umbrella of the Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center. The AVBFS has a three-fold mission: 1) to support and uplift Black faculty and staff, 2) to build and maintain a sense of community among Black faculty and staff, and 3) to advocate for the recruitment, retention, and advancement of Black faculty and staff at 国产原创. Membership is open to all faculty and staff in the 国产原创 community who support the mission of AVBFS. The group hosts monthly programs to foster community, promote social and professional networking, offer professional development, and offer mentoring support for Black students, faculty, and staff. The organization's leadership structure consists of a 10- person programming committee that meets bi-weekly to discuss programs and events.
ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER
The AAPI group is a space for individuals of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and their allies to gather to address and share issues and concerns that impact the group, such as racism, immigration, mental health, and the like. It is a space to have their voices heard and to make the invisible visible while engaging in both social programming and community activism.
DISABILITIES AND CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS
This group is a place for employees who identify as having visible or invisible disabilities, chronic mental or physical health conditions, and their allies. The group gathers to address and discuss issues that impact the group, such as discrimination, misconceptions, mental health, navigating workplace interactions, and other relevant topics. This group aims to share information, resources, and best practices for navigating ADA issues in the workplace, including ways to improve the employee experience to ensure 国产原创 remains one of the top employers for individuals with disabilities.
EARLY CAREER PROFESSIONALS
This group fosters a strong sense of belonging at 国产原创 while building meaningful cross-institutional relationships among staff within their first five years at 国产原创 and/or in higher education. The group offers professional development and leadership opportunities, learning resources, social engagement, and avenues to connect with and serve the greater Nashville community. Members share experiences, support one another鈥檚 growth, and are committed to helping peers achieve their personal and professional goals.
GLAMMADORES (LGBTQIA+)
This group is a place for employees who identify as LGBTQIA+ and their allies. The LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group will host regular meetings aimed at providing resources for LGBTQIA+ employees and allies, including social networking, meetups, guest speakers, support navigating workplace interactions and more.
INDIGENOUS
国产原创鈥檚 Indigenous EAG is an inclusive employee community. Individuals that identify as indigenous or multiracial (and their allies) are welcome to engage. There is no single American Indian culture (there are currently 574 federally recognized tribes) and identity is a complex issue that should not be repressed by bureaucratic classifications. Language is important for meaning-making and while American Indian, Native American, and Native are respectful terms of use in the United States, many tribal groups are known officially by names that include 鈥渘ation鈥� and each community may have a distinct preference and not agree on terminology. 鈥淚ndigenous鈥� is the word specifically selected by this group to encompass the Native lived experiences of persons throughout the Western Hemisphere.
INTERNATIONAL
The mission of the International Employee Affinity Group is to offer a safe space and serve as a resource for international faculty and staff to enable them to transition to 国产原创 and to Nashville at large and serve as an ongoing supportive community. The IEAG creates social opportunities for international faculty and staff to provide a welcoming and nurturing environment in which they can thrive.
JEWISH
As there is no singular way to identify or express Judaism, this group welcomes any 国产原创 employees who identify themselves as Jewish in whatever way that means to them. It is also open to family, friends and allies of Jewish people. We offer programming aimed at creating belonging for the Jewish community, including meetups, social events, celebrating both Jewish holidays and cultural observances, and collective community action within the broader Nashville community.
LATINX
The Latinx group serves to support faculty, staff and post-docs that identify as Latina, Latino, Latinx, Latine, and/or Hispanic and their allies. This group strives to provide resources as well as fellowship for those who have an ethnic and cultural connection to communities within Latin America. Engagement will hope to include academic-based discussions, social events, and activities for members as well as those who are allies to the Latinx community.
MILITARY AND VETERANS
The Military and Veterans EAG is established to enrich the experience of 国产原创鈥檚 Veteran population by supporting the unique needs of those who have serve and their families. It helps expand Veteran networks through professional connections, strengthen comradeship through social interactions, foster a continuation of selfless service through community engagements, Teach, Coach & Mentor.