Chats for Change | Mount Sinai
Activities that spark conversations.
Below is the spring/summer Chats for Change schedule. If you are a member of the Mount Sinai Health System, you are welcome to join us for these sessions.
What Can You Expect?
Beginning in May, we are launching two new series:
- In Action: You’ll learn three tools that can be applied to your day-to-day work that will move you to action.
- Deeper Dive: You’ll learn to further unpack some of the past Chats for Change topics that sparked inspiring dialogue.
We’re also offering new topics such as colorism, anti-Asian violence, COVID-19 vaccines, anti-racism as a professional imperative, the promise of America and what’s happening “in the news.” The “Back to Basics” series will also continue this spring-summer where we will continue to examine “How does it work?” to deepen our understanding of key concepts such as racial equity, white supremacy culture, racial gaslighting and anti-racism.
These sessions will not be recorded.
Schedule of Events
July 2021
Promise of America
What, to all Americans, should the Fourth of July be? Join us as we come to grips with the fact that America’s first promise, equality, may never have been intended and has not been fully realized. Let’s examine the interconnectedness between those who were intentionally excluded from the declaration of independence—enslaved Africans, Native Americans and women—and the disparities and inequities we see today.
Facilitators: Dr. Leona Hess & Paloma Orozco Scott (MD Student)
Tuesday, July 6 | 12-1 pm | Join us on Zoom.
Back 2 Basics: Racial Gaslighting—How Does it Work?
“Why is it always about race?” “______ people are racist too.” “Are you sure that’s what happened?” “In my opinion, I don’t think that they were being racist, I think…”Join us as we examine how we sustain systemic racism through gaslighting.
Facilitators: Dr. Leona Hess & Alia Barnes
Tuesday, July 13 | 12-1 pm | Join us on Zoom.
Monthly Healing Circle
Join us this week as we continue building personal and community sanctuary. In this space, we will explore creating internal and external places of refuge that encourage safe, healing relationships as we share personal and collective joys, pains, and experiences.
Facilitators: Jenn Dias, MS2
Friday, July 16 | 12-1 pm | Join us on Zoom.
Deeper Dive: Looking Towards the End of Segregated Care
What would a desegregated, anti-racist healthcare system look like and how do we get there? Join us to continue the conversation on how we can move our current system toward this vision. In this session, we’ll take a deep look at the steps we have to take in order to move forward.
Facilitators: Adriana Pero (MD student), Bethany Dubois (MD student), Dr. Leona Hess, Zay Smolar (MD student)
Tuesday, July 20 | 12-1 pm | Join us on Zoom.
In Action: How to Be an Active Bystander
Have you ever been in a situation where somebody says something or does something racist but it didn’t occur to you, so you don’t intervene? Have you ever wanted to speak up but didn’t know how? Join us as we discuss ways to be an active bystander.
Facilitators: Alia Barnes & Ashley-Michelle Fowler
Tuesday, July 27 | 12-1 pm | Join us on Zoom.
August 2021
Back 2 Basics: Anti-Racism—How Does it Work?
Being antiracist results from a conscious decision to make frequent, consistent, equitable choices daily. These choices require ongoing self-awareness and self-reflection as we move through life. Join us as we demystify anti-racism and examine our mindsets, behaviors and practices that impede us from being actively anti-racist.
Facilitators: Dr. Ann-Gel Palermo & Dr. David Muller
Tuesday, August 3 | 12-1 pm | Join us on Zoom.
Anti-Racism: A Professional Imperative
What could be more important than the moral imperative of anti-racism? The professional imperative.
Clinical practice and scientific investigation have always been deeply flawed because of the way we see and incorporate race into our daily work. This is not about being politically correct, it’s about avoiding another generation’s worth of bad science and misguided medical care. Join us to discuss the importance of anti-racism as the organizing principle of our professional practice.
Facilitators: Ashley-Michelle Fowler & Dr. David Muller
Tuesday, August 10 | 12-1 pm | Join us on Zoom.
In the News
What’s happening? Join us as we critically deconstruct a current newsworthy topic related to racism and bias.
Facilitators: Jenn Meyer & Peter Zweig
Tuesday, August 17 | 12-1 pm | Join us on Zoom.
Monthly Healing Circle
Join us this week as we continue building personal and community sanctuary. In this space, we will explore creating internal and external places of refuge that encourage safe, healing relationships as we share personal and collective joys, pains, and experiences.
Facilitators: Jenn Dias, MS2
Friday, August 20 | 12-1 pm | Join us on Zoom.
America’s Legacy of Anti-Asian Violence
An uptick in violent assaults against Asians/Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) in the wake of COVID-19 is part of a larger context of xenophobia, sinophobia, and America’s jingoistic history resulting in violence and marginalization of AAPI people and their cultures. Join us as we examine the history of anti-Asian sentiment in this country and its implications in science and healthcare.
Facilitators: Ashley-Micelle Fowler & Dr. Leona Hess
Tuesday, August 24 | 12-1 pm | Join us on Zoom.
In the Know
Interested in learning more about the Racism and Bias Initiative (RBI)? Join us to learn about the initiative’s transformational change process towards becoming a health system and health professions school with the most diverse workforce, providing health care and education that is free of racism and bias.
Facilitators: Dr. David Muller, Alia Barnes & Dr. Leona Hess
Tuesday, August 31 | 12-1 pm | Join us on Zoom.
These sessions are intended for the Mount Sinai Health System community of students, faculty, and staff. After registering for any of the sessions above you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting, including an option to add the invitation to your calendar.
Don't Miss a Beat.
If you are a student, faculty, or staff member of the Mount Sinai Health System, we welcome you to sign up for our newsletters.