Student Engagement Events and Listening Sessions

Student Engagement Events and Listening Sessions

Sponsored by the Division of Student Life

Coffee with CARE

The Center for Assessment, Education and Referral (CARE) is available to help you navigate resources, provide support and listen during difficult times. Coffee with CARE is a drop-in opportunity for students to learn about campus and community resources and ask questions in a non-clinical setting. We are reaching out especially to Black and African American-identified students and other communities who are impacted by current events. No question or challenge is too big or small. CARE recognizes the need to support a student in every aspect of well-being. Whether it is your emotional, social, physical, academic or financial well-being, CARE wants to make sure that you can get connected with the support you need. Each week will focus on a different topic related to maximizing your mental health and well-being.  If you have been considering coming to CARE, this is a great opportunity to get to know the CARE clinical staff before initiating services.

Week 1:
Are you a student who is seeking support or experiencing fatigue due to the uncertainty of the current cultural climate protests, COVID-19, 24/7 news cycle, exposure to violence?

Join us for our discussion of self-care strategies, creating boundaries and practicing self-compassion.

Thursday, June 11: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
BlueJeans Meeting ID: 423211297

Friday, June 12: 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
BlueJeans Meeting ID: 439868285

Week 2:
Do you want to explore strategies on how to support your friends? Join us in a discussion on how to have difficult conversations, practice empathy, and learn the difference between listening and giving advice.

Monday, June 15th: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
BlueJeans Meeting ID: 565404910

Tuesday, June 16th: 10:00 AM – 11:00
MBlueJeans Meeting ID:  521495207

Counseling Center: Let’s Talk Special Offerings

The Counseling Center is available to offer support to students who want to be heard during these difficult times.  We extend a particular invitation to Black and African American-identified students and other communities who feel the impact of current events and want to be listened to, heard, and supported.

“Let’s Talk” is a Georgia Tech Counseling Center program that provides easy access to informal, friendly, supportive, and confidential consultations with Georgia Tech counselors. Counselors will hold virtual walk-in hours throughout the week.  Most Let’s Talk sessions last about 30 minutes. 

To sign-up for an individual time that fits your schedule please email one of our counselors for the day and time you prefer.  Days and times are listed below.  They will send you a confidential Blue Jeans link in order to protect your privacy.

To access a counselor after hours and on weekends please call the main Counseling Center number at 404-894-2575 and follow the prompts.  To initiate formal counseling services please contact GT CARE at 404-894-3498.

Community Listening Circles and Special Events

These various community listening circles center black students. Staff from each Center will be available to offer support and resources. We invite all students who may need/want this space to join us for community and virtual healing.

  • LGBTQIA Resource Center, Student Diversity Programs, Veteran’s Resource Center, Women’s Resource Center
    • Wednesday, June 10th: 2pm-3pm EST
    • BlueJeans Meeting ID 878 991 611
    • Join staff from the LGBTQIA Resource Center, Student Diversity Programs, the Veteran’s Resource Center, and the Women’s Resource Center for a community listening circle that centers Black Georgia Tech students. Staff from the Centers will be available to offer support, resources, and opportunity for healing.
  • LGBTQIA Resource Center: Black LGBTQIA Community Listening Circle
    • Friday, June 5th: 4pm-5pm EST
    • BlueJeans Meeting ID 590 510 148
    • Join staff from the LGBTQIA Resource Center for a community listening circle that centers Black LGBTQIA students. Staff from the Center will be available to offer support and resources. We invite all LGBTQIA students to join us for community and virtual healing.
  • Women’s Resource Center: Black Women’s Community Listening Circle
    • Friday, June 5th: 12pm-1pm EST
    • BlueJeans Meeting ID 805 290 111
    • Join staff from the Women’s Resource Center for a community listening circle centering on Black women. WRC staff will be available to offer support, resources, and a dedicated space for student processing and healing.
  • Veteran’s Resource Center
    • Friday, June 12th: 12pm-1pm EST
    • BlueJeans Meeting ID 772 185 774
Information for Registered Student Organizations

Student Organizations and groups looking to have conversations, listening sessions, or taking actions towards creating more equitable and inclusive communities are encouraged to connect with staff from the Collective for Inclusion, Advocacy, and Support Centers:

Grand Challenges Action through Education Workshop

Saturday, June 6 from 3:00 – 4:30 PM

Guided by the MSW @USC Diversity Toolkit, we will discuss identity, privilege, race, gender and sexuality

Office of the Arts

Belonging and Community: A Conversation on Atlanta, Art & Connections with Bill T. Jones

Thursday, June 25 (Time TBA)
Georgia Tech Arts in partnership with WABE & ATL PBA present a virtual town hall discussion with renowned choreographer Bill T. Jones that explores the importance of community when facing the sense of isolation and divisiveness present in society today. Jones will be joined by Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera, with the conversation moderated by Lois Reitzes, host of WABE’s “City Lights.” Together, they will examine questions probing the ways in which we all have felt isolated before and during this pandemic; how we can come together and create a sense of community, of belonging; and how art can help us to imagine a new future of connections. This event is free and open to all.Long before the pandemic, Jones was exploring this concept of community while developing a new work titled What Problem? that is inspired by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the character of Pip from Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. It is an adaptation of Deep Blue Sea made for a proscenium performance. Georgia Tech Arts will present What Problem? at the Ferst Center for the Arts in October, and it will also include opportunities for professional and novice performers from the Atlanta community to participate in the production along with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company members. Visit https://arts.gatech.edu/content/what-problem to learn more.

Staff Development

“I’m Not Okay”- A Conversation with Black Staff in the Division of Student Life

With everything going on in the world, it’s okay to not be okay. Join us in a conversation as we check-in with each other and build community and support during these challenging times. The conversation will be facilitated by Stephanie Ray, Joi Alexander, and LaRonda Hollis

When: June 10, 2020
Time: 3-4:30 pm
Location: Blue Jeans Link: https://bluejeans.com/825187432/9230?src=calendarLink

Author: Caleb Torres

Chief of Staff, Georgia Tech Student Government Association