One Good Thing
This week we talked with Michelle Hamilton, Executive Assistant for UCSF Chief of Police, about how she turned the pain in her Asian community into power. Scroll to the bottom for details on the Chancellor's Leadership Forum on Diversity and Inclusion on May 19, Global Accessibility Awareness Day on May 20 plus...First Impressions is back, see Hot Jobs and learn about the YMCA summer camp at Laurel Heights. Gentle reminder: If you haven’t already, don’t forget to share your voice about how work is going for you in the 2021 UCSF Staff Engagement survey before May 21.
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From Pain to Power
During a small Asian Pacific American Systemwide Alliance (APASA) breakout circle in response to the attacks on the Asian community, Michelle Hamilton, Executive Assistant to our Chief of Police in UCSF Police Department (PD), felt moved to do something to help. We talked with her about how her idea during a moment of grief inspired one of the highest-attended UCSF webinars to date, offering practical tips to more than 5,951 registered participants with the support of her PD colleagues.
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Tell us about your idea to host a self-defense webinar.
I teach and organize instructor teams for our self-defense classes at UCSF. For International Women’s Day this year, we figured out how to deliver self-defense training virtually for our Empowering Our UCSF Women program. Soon after, we started seeing news coverage and reports of attacks on the Asian community, especially the elderly. APASA held a restorative justice circle. It was very moving for me, especially as an Asian woman. Whenever I’m sad, I think of how I can channel it constructively. An artist would paint, so what can I do to help my Asian community? I thought I could offer self-defense training. I knew I’d want my family to see the material. And I realized other UCSF families could benefit, too. I asked PD Chief Mike Denson if we could put on a webinar, and he and my colleagues overwhelmingly supported it. On April 15 we hosted the “Empowering our Asian Community: Self Defense & Safety Tips” webinar, with more than 3,100 attending live.
Why is this training important?
This training is a combination of our in-person Basic Self Defense training, plus historical material on personal safety that UCSF PD used to offer. It provides good tips and mental notes to be safer as individuals, as well as how to be better allies and bystanders in our community. Better allies create stronger, empowered communities. The main message is that every person has the awareness within them.
“The one tip I would share with everyone is: Always be ready. Open up your awareness. When you are driving and need to change lanes, you look around, you make sure it’s safe to merge. You are aware of everything, 360 degrees around you. My hope is that this self-defense webinar brings that same level of awareness to your everyday life.”
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Michelle's Favorite Cookie Jar Treat:
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie
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But wait...there's more!
Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Thursday, May 20
Join us May 20 to celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day and the right of every individual to enjoy equal access to the Internet. Multiple free virtual events are scheduled throughout the day, such as a session on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a way of thinking about teaching and learning that helps give all learners an equal opportunity to succeed, and a digital accessibility allies panel. See event page for details.
13h Annual Chancellor's Leadership Forum on Diversity and Inclusion, Wednesday, May 19, 12-1:30pm
This important event includes welcome remarks by Chancellor Sam Hawgood, a review of our Anti-racism Initiative and UCSF Demographic Updates by Vice Chancellor Renee Navarro plus a panel discussion of leaders across campus, and an audience Q+A. See event page for details. Register here.
First Impressions Contest Returns Focusing on Employee Spaces, Open Through June 30
After a year’s hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the popular Facilities Services First Impressions Contest returns this year with a twist: the contest will be limited to employee break and eating spaces. A total of ten projects will each receive up to $15,000 to help transform these common spaces. The contest is open through June 30, with winners announced in early August.
YMCA Summer Camp at Laurel Heights
UCSF is hosting a YMCA summer camp at the Laurel Heights campus for UCSF children entering kindergarten-5th grade this fall, with three 3-week sessions: June 7-25, June 28-July 16 and July 19-August 6. Interested families can register following the steps on YMCA’s Online Community Portal. The fee is $1,020 per 3-week session and financial assistance is available through the YMCA (please email lwilliams@ymcasf.org for information regarding financial assistance). UCSF’s Child Care Referral Services compiled a list of other summer programs and camps.
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HOT JOBS at UCSF
Do you know anyone who might be a good fit? Let them know about the listing!
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About One Good Thing
You like good news and we want to share more of what’s good with our FAS community. One Good Thing is the “cookie jar” of emails: open it up for a quick, sweet break in your week!
See the last One Good Thing Nancy Finds Her Sun and the One Good Thing web for all stories.
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