Spectrum Center annual report 2021-22

2021–2022 Spectrum Center Annual Report

PREPARED AND PRESENTED BY

JESSE BEAL, INTERIM DIRECTOR, SPECTRUM CENTER

Table of contents

1 2 3 4 5 6

INTRODUCTION STUDENT INVOLVEMENT EVENTS RECOGNITION & SERVICE LOOKING AHEAD

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Message from the former Director

WILL SHERRY (HE/HIM/HIS)

DIRECTOR

OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT LIFE

To the Spectrum Center community,

I am so grateful to have been able to be a part of the Spectrum Center for the past fourteen years. I wanted to take this opportunity, as I transition into a new role within Student Life, to share my deep appreciation for all that I have been a part of within the center. I began in the Spectrum Center in 2008, new to the field of student affairs and with so much to learn about myself and the work ahead. I have been deeply impacted by the students and colleagues I have worked alongside in my time in the center. It has been through watching students live into their own truths that I have been able to learn from them and do the same. I am honored to have worked alongside students and colleagues for more equitable and just experiences for LGBTQIA2S+ communities and I will continue to work for positive change in my new role as director of strategic initiatives for Student Life. The Spectrum Center community is a home to me and I look forward to stopping by to say hello, borrow a book from the shelf, and just spend time alongside amazing students and colleagues.

With gratitude, Will

Message from the Interim Director

Dear friends and partners,

This past year has brought many changes to Spectrum Center. This was a year of celebration and transition for our staff and our center community. We commemorated the 50th anniversary of the founding of our center and lost one of our founders, Jim Toy. We celebrated Jim’s life and legacy, and gave thanks for the indelible impact he has made on our center, our campus, and LGBTQIA2S+ people. We completed our Oral History Project.

JESSE BEAL (THEY/THEM)

INTERIM DIRECTOR

SPECTRUM CENTER

As the pandemic continued, it also shifted and new guidance made it possible for us to joyfully (and cautiously) resume some in-person programming. By balancing safety and the need for connection several core programs, such as Lavender Graduation and Pride Prom, were held in-person for the first time in years.

We also increased our focus on essential needs and wellness, and increased our capacity to support students in crisis through professional development.

There were numerous staffing changes in the last year After fourteen years, Will Sherry departed the Spectrum Center and is now the director of strategic initiatives for Student Life. Will’s impact on the center will not be soon forgotten. He has made a tremendous difference in the lives of so many students, and is a dynamic and transformational leader He will be missed, but he will continue his good work I joined the center in November 2021 and am honored to be able to serve as the interim director, alongside Liz González, as our interim associate director, as we launch our search for our next director

As a staff team, we find ourselves at a crossroads between what Spectrum Center has been for the past fifty years and who we need to become in service of our students and our community. As the first LGBTQIA2S+ center in the country, we are inspired to continue to grow and lead We look forward to partnering with you as we build toward our shared future.

With respect and in solidarity,

Jesse Beal Interim Director

About Spectrum Center

Spectrum Center is a campus resource center dedicated to serving and supporting members of the U-M LGBTQIA2S+ communities.

Through education, advocacy, and community building, the center works to enhance campus climate, increase students' sense of belonging, and help students thrive

Spectrum Center was founded in 1971 and is the first gender and sexuality resource center on a college or university campus.

Mission

With sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as our framework, the Spectrum Center is committed to enriching the campus experience and developing students as individuals and as members of communities. Our work is accomplished through a studentcentered, intersectional lens

Vision

The center envisions an inclusive campus community free of discrimination in all forms where social justice inspires community engagement and equity

We strive to be available and accessible to members of our campus and wider community in as many ways as possible We focus on thoughtful and prompt communication, listening, and responding to student needs and desires in meaningful ways

Principles of our work accessibility Action

We believe that we must proactively do something to create our vision in partnership with campus and the wider community. In our action we value innovation by looking for new ideas and perspectives, and we work to always be on the cutting edge. Our vision is one of social justice in which we collaboratively fight oppression across multiple issues andisms. In our work we navigate the complexity that comes with being social-justice oriented within a large institution.

We work to create an inclusive and collaborative space through our programming and physical space across multiple issues, multiple offices, and within our own office We value all contributions, and we work as a collective system in which everyone contributes what they can in a feasible and effective manner.

Education

Our office works to constantly gain information about the field of LGBTQA affairs, student affairs, and our own student body through research, professional development, and on-the-job learning We believe it is our responsibility to share our knowledge, experiences, and expertise in order to engage our campus and wider community in learning and reflective practice. We strive to be a learning organization by fostering a culture of challenging, modeling, and learning from one another As constant learners we know that we, as an office, do not have all the answers; we are open to teaching and learning from others

Student Leadership

Our work is accomplished through teams, each made up of professional staff, graduate, and undergraduate students. We value student engagement with a focus on self-authorship We seek to enhance spaces to self-identify and contribute student voice and ideas.

We engage in transparency both internally (among our staff, student staff, and volunteers) and externally (with campus and community constituents) through communicating context, sharing as much information as possible, acknowledging help and insight from others and other institutions, and avoiding unilateral decisionmaking.

Student Involvement

Volunteer Opportunities

Gps Mentors

GPS is a tool for LGBTQ+ and similarly identified students to utilize as they are navigating their understanding of their identities GPS mentors help provide resources, useful perspective from their own experience, and support around identity development.

Centerspace hosts

CenterSpace provides a monthly drop-in space for different communities within queer life at the University of Michigan. CenterSpace hosts help create space for people of similar identities to gain support from one another while building a community of collective resources.

SAGE Detroit, Friendly Caller Program

SAGE Metro Detroit’s Friendly Caller Program seeks to increase social connections and reduce social isolation among LGBTQ+ older adults. The Friendly Caller Program matches LGBTQ+ older adults with friendly callers for weekly calls to share life events, hobbies, interests and to check in on their well-being. The Spectrum Center partners with SAGE Detroit to help connect volunteers from the U-M community to folks seeking connections through the Friendly Caller Program of SAGE Detroit.

Mapps & GPS

Spectrum has two mentorship programs from LGBTQIA2S+ Students.

GPS (Guidance, Perspective, Support) and MaPPS (Mentorship and Personal Professional Support) are the mentorship programs the Spectrum Center offers.

GPS is a tool for LGBTQ+ and similarly-identified students to utilize as they are navigating their understanding of their identities. GPS mentors help provide resources, a useful perspective of their own experience, and support around identity development.

MaPPS connects students with a staff or faculty member on campus who shares similar identities This mentorship provides support on personal and professional development

Spectrum Center Programming board

Programs by students and for students to increase community and a sense of belonging

The Spectrum Center Programming Board is a volunteer leadership opportunity and student organization run through the Spectrum Center, supporting major Spectrum events and hosting our their own unique programming. Their goal is to provide U-M students with the opportunity to develop and organize events that are LGBTQIA2S+ focused Programming Board also provides input on center initiatives.

Members gain skills around event planning, facilitation, outreach, and activism The Programming Board welcomes students of all fields and programs; undergraduate, graduate, and professional alike

This year, we tackled the challenges of doing events both virtually and in-person.

POINTS OF PRIDE:

WORLD AIDS DAY

HOME FOR BREAK

TRANSFORUM

QUEER PROM

VIRTUAL GAME NIGHT

ARTS AND CRAFTS

NIGHT

The Oral History Project

A student-led and student-centered initiative to diversify the university archive

The University of Michigan LGBTQ+ Oral History Project was launched by the Spectrum Center and other institutional stakeholders in the summer of 2019. The leadership team presented at MBLGTACC in October 2021.

Led by students under the guidance of the Spectrum Center and its partners, this three-year project focuses on helping current students connect to LGBTQ+ stories and experiences of the past, as well as providing opportunities for scholarly research.

By diversifying the University of Michigan archives with experiences not often represented in library records or academia, we have the opportunity to connect intergenerational communities and elevate the value of storytelling in education

STUDENT LEADERSHIP TEAM:

PARKER KEHRIG LIO RILEY XOCHI SÁNCHEZ KATRINA STEBBINS

Programs

Events

THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC YEAR, SPECTRUM CENTER ENGAGES IN VARIOUS PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS IN FURTHERING THE STUDENT-CENTERED MISSION OF THE CENTER.

2 5 T O

This number refers to events in which Spectrum Center was the primary organizer Events supported through the grant program or promoted through the Spectrum Center are not represented in this inventory

5 0 7

: Pride Prom - 221 attendees

Spectrum @ 50 - A Retrospective - 72 attendees

Bi-runch with Bilateral - 34 attendees

Spectrum Center Tie-Dye - 35 attendees

Education & Training

OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE A CORE PART OF THE MISSION OF SPECTRUM CENTER THROUGH THESE PROGRAM WE HOPE TO SHIFT CAMPUS CULTURE AND CREATE MORE INCLUSIVE, EQUITABLE, AND JUST SPACES FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE U-M COMMUNITY

Our Education and Training team delivered dozens of virtual workshops on LGBTQ+ identities and inclusion to student, staff and faculty groups across U-M. In addition to these workshops, we also partnered with academic departments and Student Life units to deliver virtual workshops on specific relevant topics

65 WORKSHOP REQUESTS

53 WORKSHOPS DELIVERED

Pride Prom

We partnered with multiple student organizations, including oSTEM, LGBTQ+ Michigan, and LSA Central Student Government to bring back in-person Pride Prom!

The event had a fairytale theme and brought students together to celebrate themselves and their community. The evening turned out wonderfully thanks to the hard work of the planning committee and dedication of the volunteers at the event.

CENTERING QUEER AND TRANS JOY AND SELF-EXPRESSION!

Pride Prom

CENTERING QUEER AND TRANS JOY AND SELF-EXPRESSION!

QTBIPOC gatherings

SEPTEMBER KAREN MONTOYA

OCTOBER

DOMINIQUE CANNING

NOVEMBER LESLIE TETTEH

FEBRUARY RAIVYNN SMITH

MARCH MARK CHUNG

KWAN FAN

trum Center and MESA work ether to bring this series of events centering Queer sgender, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (QTBIPOC) together. Togetherness Gatherings bring a small group of QTBIPOC students together over a shared meal for a conversation hosted by a QTBIPOC Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti community member, faculty, or staff.

Lavender Graduation

Our celebration of the accomplishments and contributions of LGBTQIA2s+ graduates

The annual Lavender Graduation known affectionately as LavGrad is a celebration to honor LGBTQ+ graduates of the University of Michigan.

Established by Ronni Sanlo in 1995, the inaugural LavGrad at the University of Michigan was the first commemorative event of its kind held at an institution of higher learning This commencement ceremony celebrates the contributions of any graduate from any program at the university and of any academic level

82 STUDENTS REGISTERED

7 AWARD RECIPIENTS

Our Commitment to Essential Needs

THIS YEAR SPECTRUM RENEWED OUR COMMITMENT TO STUDENT ESSENTIAL NEEDS, INCLUDING GENDER-AFFIRMING GARMENTS AND RESOURCES, WELLNESS EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS

POINTS OF PRIDE:

MAKE UP DRIVE

GENDER AFFIRMING

CLOTHING CLOSET

GENDER AFFIRMING

MAKEUP EVENT

SAFE BINDING EVENT

TREVOR PROJECT

SUICIDE PREVENTION

TRAINING

Our commitment to essential Needs

I think support services and wellness work is incredibly necessary in a place that claims to care for student success. If the student's basic needs are not being met, there is no way they will be able to thrive on our campus. The best part of my job is coming in and seeing the number of food bags go down, or the toothbrushes, or the eyeliner. Seeing folks put on a binder for the first time and experience gender euphoria. Knowing that someone's life has improved even just a little because they came to the Center.

ALYSSA GARCIA SHE/THEY PROGRAM SPECIALIST FOR SUPPORT SERVICES AND WELLNESS

Celebrating 50 Years

The University of Michigan Spectrum Center was established in 1971 as the first gender and sexuality resource center at a college or university Since our founding, the Spectrum Center has continued to serve as a national leader in developing

Throughout this academic year, we proudly celebrated 50 years We hosted a variety of programs and events to commemorate our 50th anniversary We look forward to continued progress and achievement for years to come!

THE DAVID BOHNETT FOUNDATION

ERIC BORSUM AND ERIC MILLER

HOWARD BRAGMAN

JOHN EVANS AND STEVE WOZENCRAFT

JEFF HALL AND CHAD LOSEY

ERIK HYMAN AND MAX MUTCHNICK

STEVEN STOCKMEYER AND CHRIS DIXON

CLAUDE SUMMERS AND TED-LARRY PEBWORTH

Jim Toy: Celebration of liberation

On May 20, we hosted the Jim Toy Celebration of Liberation, at the Michigan Theater.

This event was an opportunity for community and friends to come together to honor Jim Toy, who passed away on New Year’s Day.

Jim was co-founder of the Spectrum Center, and his legacy has been felt deeply across campus.

As a queer Asian American activist, Jim inspired those who knew him and knew of him. He sparked a rebel flame, urging us to continue to question authority, make space for those most vulnerable, and speak out against injustice whenever and wherever we encounter it. Jim graduated from the School of Social Work in 1981 with a Master of Social Work degree, and the University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at its 2021 Spring Commencement.

Recognition & Service

In the News

Michigan Marching Band Shows Support for LGBTQ+ Community with Moving Halftime Performance

By Joelle Goldstein

People Magazine

Planned Gift Creates Two Scholarships at the Spectrum Center

By Melina Glusac

Leaders&Best

LGBTQ+ Oral Histories: The Ties that Bind

By Deborah Holdship

Michigan Today

Spectrum Center Launches Oral History

Project in Celebration of 50th Anniversary

By Emily Blumberg

The Michigan Daily

UM's Spectrum Center 50 Years Later: Some LGBTQ+ Students Never Stepped Inside. It Still Changes Lives

By Ellen Shanna Knoppow

Pride Source

Howard Bragman creates million-dollar ‘coming out’ fund

By Ann Marie Alliotta University Record

Flint Native Who Found Acceptance in Ann Arbor Just Created a $1 Million ‘Coming Out Fund’ for U of M Students

By Jason A. Michael PrideSource

SPOTLIGHT: HOWARD BRAGMAN '78

IN 2021 BRAGMAN CREATED THE "COMING OUT FUND," SPECTRUM'S LARGEST GIFT TO DATE.

conference Presentations

Adams, D , Beal, J., and Renn, K (2022) Student Affairs/Faculty Collaboration on Innovative LGBTQ+ Climate Study Methods. Workshop, ACPA.

Beal, J. (2022) Introducing the Proud and Thriving Framework: Supporting LGBTQIA2S+ Student Mental Health Workshop, The Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals Virtual Drive-in.

Beal, J., Chung Kwan Fan, M , Lee, T , and Schick, I (2022) Navigating the LGBTQIA2S+ Higher Ed Job Search, Panel, The Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals Virtual Drive-in.

Staff conference Presentations

Beal, J. (2022). The Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals Promising Practices in LGBTQIA2S+ Data Collection Webinar. (Panel Moderator).

Beal, J., Bolivar, A , and Lange, A (2022) Beyond the Binary Panel, Institute for Research on Women and Gender (Panelist).

Peeler, L. (2021) Event Accessibility Resource Sharing: An Introduction to Event Navigation & Internal Accessibility Guides. Workshop, U-M Student Life Professional Development Conference

Papers & Ongoing Research

Jesse Beal

Campbell, R., Munford, A., Moylan, C.A., PettyJohn, M.E., Schweda, K , Fedewa, T , Rosen, H , Ferguson, M , Beal, J., & Buchanan, N.T. (in press). Creating a university strategic plan to address relationship violence and sexual misconduct (RVSM): An application of principles-focused evaluation at Michigan State University Violence Against Women

Campbell, R., Moylan, C.A., PettyJohn, M.E., Munford, A., Schweda, K., Fedewa, T., Rosen, H., Ferguson, M., Beal, J., & Buchanan, N T (in press) Adopting a “both/and” mindset to address relationship violence and sexual misconduct (RVSM) in institutions of higher education. Violence Against Women.

Professional Service

Jesse Beal

Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals Executive Board, External Coordinator

The Jed Foundation (JED) Proud and Thriving Framework, Project Team

Institutional SErvice & Leadership

Jesse Beal

CAS Review of LGBTQ+ Programs and Services, Leadership Team Member

Gender Affirming Action Team, Leadership Team Member

Rackham Graduate School Gender Inclusivity Team, Member

Student Life Research Symposium, Member

Student Life Mental Health Implementation Team’s Identity and Wellbeing Work Team, Member

Welcome to Michigan, Member

Student Life Assessment Liaison Network, Member

Alyssa GArcia

Gender Affirming Action Team, Leadership Team Member

Gender Inclusive Living Experience, Liaison

Kaden hyvonen

CAS Review of LGBTQ+ Programs and Services, Leadership Team Member

Institutional service & Leadership

Lorant Peeler

Welcome to Michigan, Member Dean of Students, Visiting Case Manager

Will Sherry

Mental Health Innovative Approaches Implementation Team, Member

LGBTQ+ Graduate Student Needs Assessment Advisory Committee, Member

College of Engineering Bystander Intervention Community Team , Member

Looking ahead

Looking ahead

Pro-staff changes

The 2021–22 was a year of celebration and transition This is certainly reflected in our staffing composition. We welcomed Jesse Beal as our associate director in November 2021. Alyssa Garcia's position became a permanent, allowing Spectrum Center to build on our support services and wellness programming.

In August 2022, Will Sherry became the director of strategic initiatives for Student Life Jesse Beal moved into the interim director position A search for our new permanent director will commence in fall 2022.

Lorant Peeler completed their term-limited position with us in June 2021 and was appointed as the temporary program specialist for education and training. In this role, they lead our educational programming and curriculum development Lorant's contributions to the center allow for Eli González to take on the role of interim associate director following Will's departure.

Through all of these celebrations and transitions, our commitment to each other, our students, and our community remains strong. We look forward to what the next academic year will bring and to building the new team that will lead Spectrum Center

Research, Assessment, and advocacy lead Postion

Rooted in our investment in advocacy and culture change, Spectrum Center created a new graduate student intern position. This position is designed to be held by a student from the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education We are excited to welcome Des Velásquez to this role in September!

Throughout the 2021–2022 academic year, Spectrum Center staff developed a new mission- and values-driven programmatic model We also designed tools for program planning and implementation Lorant Peeler and Jesse Beal led this initiative

Programmatic models are intentionally designed structures used to guide selection, creation, implementation, and prioritization of programs, services, and initiatives of a given organization Within student affairs work, a programmatic model serves a curricular function Our programmatic model is rooted in student learning and development Our programs, services, and initiatives are designed to meet the needs of students, while also enabling students to meet learning outcomes set by our staff.

Each one of our programs must align with at least one of four programmatic pillars:

Enacting Justice, Equity, and Liberation Building and Celebrating Community Education, Transformation, and Capacity Building Wellness, Belonging, and Success

We will implement this programmatic model during the 2022–2023 academic year

Our new programmatic Model Cas Review of Programs and Services

In February 2022, Spectrum Center began a CAS Review of LGBTQ+ Programs and Services A CAS Review is a unit-level assessment, often in the form of a self-study, that assesses a particular unit or functional area in postsecondary education. Our self-study team reviewed evidence, issued findings, and developed recommendations for Spectrum Center Moving into the fall 2022 semester, the Spectrum Center staff team will review these findings and recommendations and create an action plan for implementation.

Spencer Hall served as our CAS Review project manager

Do you already know that your existence--who and how you are--is in and of itself a contribution to the people and place around you? Not after or because you do some particular thing, but simply the miracle of your life. And that the people around you, and the place(s), have contributions as well? Do you understand that your quality of life and your survival are tied to how authentic and generous the connections are between you and the people and place you live with and in?

- adrienne maree brown

acknowledgements

Spectrum Center Professional Staff

Interim Director* Associate Director

they/them)

Interim Associate Director*

Program Manager for Events and Partnerships

*Will Sherry served as the director until August 2022, at which point Jesse Beal was appointed as interim director and Eli Gonzalez was appointed interim associate director

Will Sherry (he/him) Director*

Jesse Beal (they/them)

Program Specialist for Events & Partnerships**

(he/him)

Office Coordinator ** Lorant Peeler's position ended in June 2022

Ejay Oravecz (they/them) Communications Specialist

Lorant Peeler (they/them)

Alyssa Garcia (she/her) Program Specialist for Support Services and Wellness

Kaden Hyvonen

Celebrating Will Sherry

After 14 years with Spectrum Center, Will Sherry has been selected as the inaugural director for strategic initiatives for the vice president of student life.

Will's impact on Spectrum Center, the U-M community, and the field of LGBTQ+ resource centers cannot be understated.

Thank you, Will, for your who you are and your contributions to all of us.

With pride and in solidarity, The Spectrum Center staff team

Spectrum Student Staff Team

TESS BRIEVA

THEA BULTMAN

SPENCER HALL

MICHELLE KNAPPE

JAMY LEE

NISHANT SHAH

VIBHA SHIVAKUMAR

AMELIA SMITH

AVERY THOMPSON

STORY TRIPLETT

GREY WEINSTEIN

Spectrum Center Advisory Council

ERIC BORSUM

JOHN EVANS

ERIK HYMAN

RON HARTWIG

JUDITH LEVY

MALINDA MATNEY

STEVE WOZENCRAFT

Spectrum Center programming board

DYANNA BATEMAN

CASSANDRA KELLY

DEBBIE ERICKSON

HAVA LIEBOWITZ

SPENCER HALL

SKYLAR WOLCOTT

GABBY DIETZ

AVERY THOMPSON

EMMA WEBER

JAMY LEE

HASANA LESTER

NAT EHRIG

spectrumcenter.umich.edu