U of D Jesuit Diversity Dialogue: Cub Edition U of D Jesuit Diversity Dialogue Cub Edition

Episode 211: On the final episode of season 2, Diversity Dialogue: CUB Edition Podcast host, Jacob Monastra, interview Mr. MoReno Taylor, grassroots politician, Michigan legislator, campaign organizer, and U of D Jesuit alumni of Class of 2001. Mr. Taylor shares why he thanks his mother for sending him to U of D Jesuit; what he would like to see changed in the Michigan Legislature; what he knows about the “inside and the outside” of the political world; why you cannot discount the importance of happiness; and why he thinks it is essential to have a diverse team around you.

Episode 210: On this episode, Diversity Dialogue: CUB Edition Podcast host, Jacob Monastra, interview Coach Matt Lewis, Head Football Coach and Physical Education Teacher at U of D Jesuit. Coach Lewis shares with our listeners how his conservative Catholic school upbringing may have played a huge part in him wanting to experience more and connect with different cultures when he went to college; how special Football is will it comes to building relations with team members from diverse backgrounds; how partnering with the Office of Diversity & Inclusion has expanded his professional and personal approach to diverse matters; and why “The Golden Rule” is the foundation and goal he has as he leads the Cub football family!

Episode 209: On this episode, Diversity Dialogue: CUB Edition Podcast host, Jacob Monastra, interview the Class of 2022 Leaders of the student organization Black Awareness Society and Education, or better known as B.A.S.E.  These gentlemen shared with our listeners their unique perspectives on Diversity & Inclusion; why they view diversity like a mosaic; how a push to attend a BASE meeting quickly became a supportive community; how they have navigated the thin line of support vs. stereotypes; and giving advice to their fellow Cubs on embracing diversity.

Episode 208: On this episode, Diversity Dialogue: CUB Edition Podcast host, Jacob Monastra, interview Mr. Edward A. Bajoka, Esq., Attorney, U of D Jesuit Alumni of Class of 2000, and Deportation Activist. Mr. Bajoka shares with our listeners how a simple pizza order turned into his first legal case; why the Men for Others philosophy informs both his life and his approach to his work as a lawyer; what diversity, equity and inclusion means to him as he confronts and antiquated and dehumanizing legal system that is built on white supremacy; why he believes “individual stories” have so much power; and why he took the 2017 mass deportation raids on the Chaldean population personally.

Episode 207: One this episode, Diversity Dialogue: CUB Edition Podcast host, Jacob Monastra, interview Mr. Ed Gergosian ’67, Retired Attorney, U of D Jesuit and U of D Jesuit Faith & Service volunteer. Mr. Gergosian shares with our listeners the calling he had to returned to Michigan after retiring from a success law career in California; reflecting on the how the year 1963 and going to school at U of D was a pivotal point in him understanding diversity and finding his voice; the work he is doing now to be an active “Ally” and why he thinks our students should be focusing on “public policy” to impact real change.

Episode 206: On this episode, Diversity Dialogue: CUB Edition Podcast host, Jacob Monastra, interview Mrs. Elizabeth Ward, Math Teacher and Esports Club Advisor at U of D Jesuit High School & Academy. Mrs. Ward shares why her “senior year” at U of D Jesuit has come full circle; why having an Office of Diversity & Inclusion positions the school and its students to be leaders; how she embraced the power of awareness after receiving results from a bias survey; how she uses her own “teacher toolkit” to diversify learning styles and how why choosing U of D Jesuit for her son education was designed to give him a slice of real life.