The Table at UMB The Intercultural Center at UMB

Trans students are navigating the challenges of pursuing a higher education while also living in an increasingly hostile socio-political environment targeting trans people. So, what can colleges and universities do to affirm trans students and create spaces of safety and belonging?

In this episode, we invited Edgar Fields, MS, a recent graduate of the master's program at the University of Maryland School of Social Work, to discuss his lived experience as a trans student and to talk about how higher ed institutions can create supportive and inclusive spaces for trans students to thrive both personally and academically.

Trans people are being attacked across the country. In the past year alone, more than 480 bills have been introduced into legislative sessions, many of them targeting gender-affirming healthcare and LGBTQ+ educational materials in schools. However, some states like Maryland are increasing protections for trans and LGBQ+ people, including the most recent Trans Health Equity Act.
In this episode we discuss the specific legislation impacting the lives of trans people and the broader LGBQ+ community with Lauren Pruitt, J.D. the legal director of Free State Justice, which advocates for LGBTQ+ rights in the state of Maryland. 

What does it mean to be a Black man? We're opening season two by  unraveling the multitudes that exist in understanding Black masculinity, including the fears, pains, strengths, and joys expressed by our guests Dariel Vasquez, BA and Durante Barringer, MEd. You'll also hear about their work with Brothers@, an organization dedicated to supporting young men of Color as they pursue their academic and professional goals.

The Arab Spring, Black Lives Matter, and Me Too are examples of movements in the 21st century that brought together large collectives of people in response to oppressive social, political, and economic institutions. What made these movements unique compared to those of the past was the use of an emerging digital space to share stories and spread news and information. Sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram may not have had their roots in social activism, but they quickly became fertile grounds for people from across the globe to connect, learn about various social issues, and figure out how to get involved. In this episode, we feature Ki-Yong Park, a School of Nursing student, to discuss his experiences learning about and engaging with social movements via social media as a Gen-Zer. 

After the election of President Trump in 2016, students across the country organized and demanded that universities become sanctuary campuses to protect the rights of undocumented students and other vulnerable populations. The Intercultural Center at UMB is a direct result of this student advocacy.
We invited Laura Bohórquez García, M.Ed. to discuss her personal and professional journeys advocating for undocumented students and pushing back against dominant narratives about immigrants that are rooted in white supremacy and capitalism. Through her expertise, we hope this episode serves as a resource for undocumented and DACA students as well as for staff and faculty who are interested in supporting this student population. 

This episode is dedicated to unpacking the historic and present day harms of white feminism. We’re calling out these harmful practices so that we can move forward towards collective liberation for all bodies, not just those of white women.  Joining us for this episode is Kinley Millett, a student at the University of Maryland School of Social Work and a leader of the Intersectional Feminism and Social Work student organization.