The "I Am ..." exhibition opened this week, and the self-identification exercise is due to be further explored at a workshop next week, all as part of the Campus Community Book Project.

Earlier this quarter, the "I Am ..." organizers asked members of the campus community to share their identities, by giving life to the statement: "I am ... ." The organizers asked for any kind of submission: words alone, perhaps in poetic form, or drawings — anything that represents who you are.

Those submissions are on display through Dec. 10 in three venues: Mrak Hall (first floor), Hart Hall (second floor) and the Women's Resources and Research Center (Righteous Babes Lounge).

The "I Am ..." Project also includes "an experiential workshop in identity discovery, presented by the Multicultural Immersion Program, a unit of Counseling and Psychological Services. The workshop is scheduled from 4:10 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, in the Mee Room at the Memorial Union.

Organizers said the interactive workshop aims to give voice to who you are in a holistic sense, empowering you to reclaim-embrace-define yourself as you want to be, instead of how others may want you to be.

Workshop organizers said participants will also be encouraged to share how they connect with the experiences of other people.

Other book project programs: 

LECTURES-PANEL DISCUSSIONS

• Beyond Silence and the Graceful Liberal Gesture: Adolescents Exploring Race and Diversity Through Literature Study — With Steven Athanases, associate professor, School of Education. 12:10-1:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15, Hamilton Room, Heitman Staff Learning Center.

• Not Another Statistic: A Closer Look at HIV-AIDS in the African Diaspora Community — A safe space to raise awareness and discuss AIDS and the AIDS-causing human immunodeficiency virus in the black community. The program includes HIV-positive speakers, plus information on community resources and safer sex as a way to fight HIV-AIDS. Presented by Health Education and Promotion and the Cross-Cultural Center. 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1 (World AIDS Day), King Lounge, Memorial Union.

EXHIBITIONS

• Who We Are: Selections from the Chicana/o Studies Poster Workshop — Through Dec. 17, ArtLounge, second floor, Memorial Union.

This workshop, under the leadership of Carlos Jackson, assistant professor, sees the poster as a voice art form used by Chicanas/os and other people of color to point to the defects of social and political existence and the possibility of change, from the artists’ perspectives, according to the course description.

• Conversations About Race — Prepared by the General Library Committee on Diversity, this exhibition includes selections from the book project author's list of additional resources for further reading and books that reference her scholarship in the area of racial identity development. Through spring quarter, lobby, Shields Library. More information.

PERFORMANCE

• Asian Voices: Student Performances on Identity — A collection of performance pieces in which students peel away at their upbringing to offer individual takes on the Asian American experience. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, Vanderhoef Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. See separate story.

DISCUSSIONS

• Inter-Professional Brown Bag Lunch Book Club, based in the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing and the School of Medicine — The club plans to continue its discussion of Tatum’s book (Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race) at one more meeting, noon-1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, in 1222 Education Building on the Sacramento campus. (The Dec. 3 date is correct; previous posts gave an incorrect date.)

• Davis Faith and Social Justice Group — Second and fourth Thursdays through fall. Potluck dinner at 6 p.m., followed by book discussion at 6:30. For more information, including the location, contact Jill Van Zanten, jillvz@sbcglobal.net.

• Anti-Racism Task Team and Adult Religious Exploration Committee, Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis — 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, 27074 Patwin Road. For more information, contact Leanne Friedman, ljfriedman@ucdavis.edu.

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Beverly Daniel Tatum, author of this year's book, Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race, is scheduled to visit the campus on Dec. 10, to participate in a free forum and to deliver a nighttime talk.

• Forum@MC — Identity Politics: Deconstructing Arizona's Immigration and Etnic Studies Laws, a panel discussion with Tatum; Kevin Johnson, dean of the law school; Miroslava Chavez-Garcia, associate professor, Chicana/o studies; and Kevin Williams, Davis High School. 4-5 p.m., Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts.

• Author's address — Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race. 8 p.m., Jackson Hall.

•••

All events are open to the public, and all are free except for the author's nighttime talk. Tickets: (530) 754-2787 or (866) 754-2787, or mondaviarts.org.

More information, including the complete schedule.

Earlier coverage: “2010-11 theme examines racial identity, access to higher education” (Feb. 26, 2010)

Office of Campus Community Relations