I am excited to invite you to an enriching and impactful workshop focused on developing civic identity, facilitated by Dr. John Reiff, a recognized expert in civic learning and engagement. Dr. Reiff currently serves as the Director of Civic Learning and Civic Engagement at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (https://www.mass.edu/strategic/civic.asp ) and is a co-editor of Anti-Racist Community Engagement: Principles and Practices (2023), for which he and his colleagues were honored with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award by the International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement. 

Date:                    Wednesday, May 21 2025

Time:                    8:00-4:00

Location:            Bacon Hall 115

Participants will:

• articulate the importance of civic identity, active listening skills, and civility in academic course content, regardless of discipline.
• incorporate equity, active listening skills, and applied learning into existing syllabi. Non-faculty participants will engage in active listening as they collaborate with faculty to tailor syllabi for greater equity related to social identity and civic engagement.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be equipped to practice incorporating equity into their syllabi, ensuring that students not only understand but can also advocate for equity in their personal and professional lives. The objectives align with:

• Buffalo State University’s mission and values
• SUNY Chancellor John King’s: Student Success and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

The Workshop is divided into four sessions characterized by discussions, activities, and group work:

1. Creating a Civic Identity – “Who Am I as a Citizen?”
   Explore your own civic identity as a step toward helping students develop theirs.
2. Skills for a Multiracial Democracy – “Who Are My Students?”
   Identify how your syllabi can incorporate skills essential for a multiracial democracy.
3. Democratic Knowledge and Levers of Change
   Analyze syllabi for civic learning content and teaching methodologies.
4. Shaping Syllabi
   Faculty members will workshop their syllabi, incorporating racial equity and civic learning through an applied learning approach. 

Important Notes:

Notes.

• To register, please use https://libcal.buffalostate.edu/event/14353383  and email Dan Blum (blumdm@buffalostate.edu) the syllabus that you would like to work with, as a Word document.
• Participants are expected to engage in the full workshop.
• At the completion of the workshop, participants will receive a certificate acknowledging their work.

This event is proudly sponsored by SUNY System Administration’s Civic Fellows, made possible through the generous support of the SUNY Impact Foundation and the Ibis Group, and Civic and Community Engagement.

I encourage you to take part in this important workshop to strengthen our shared commitment to civic learning, equity, and student success.

Light breakfast and lunch provided.