Students, faculty, and staff at U of G can now apply to the Office of Diversity and Human Rights for financial support for their amazing inclusion efforts through the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Enhancement Fund for the winter 2024 semester.
This $200,000 fund is available to support initiatives that enhance equity, diversity, and inclusion and promote a culture of belonging on U of G campuses.
“Our community is working hard to build respectful and inclusive environments where diversity is celebrated,” says Indira Naidoo-Harris, avp diversity and human rights. “I am so pleased to be able to support the great work and fantastic initiatives undertaken by our students, faculty, and staff when it comes to building a strong culture of acceptance at the U of G.”
The Fund has been available for years and supports projects, events, awards, lecture series, and other amazing initiatives that promote inclusion at the university.
“Over the past three years, we’ve been able to support some incredible initiatives. I’m always impressed by the creative and innovative projects folks submit for funding to promote EDI principles and build a culture of belonging on our campuses,” says Naidoo-Harris.
The demand for EDI support and new initiatives has grown over the years and students, faculty, and staff have worked hard to fill the need.
Anna Gaby-Trotz, in the School of Fine Arts and Music (SOFAM), along with Jude Akrey, of SOFAM received funding for their project, Queer Print Club. Their project aims to gather 2SLGBTWIA+ students at U of G and work together to create hand screen-printed T-shirts that reflect hope and resiliency in the community.
“We’ve had over 40 students’ express interest in participating in the Queer Print Club Project, an initiative funded by the EDI Enhancement Fund,” says Gaby-Trotz. “This shows an amazing amount of interest in projects that gather 2SLGBTQIA+ students together to express themselves through art.”
Fall 2023 saw many successful applicants
The funding call for fall 2023 initiatives received over 40 applications pitching initiatives and projects that impact a wide range of equity-deserving communities. Successful projects for the 2023 fall semester include:
- University of Guelph Black Faculty & Staff Networking Group
- Building Capacity for Gender Affirming Care and Enhancing Support for the LGBTQ2SIA+ graduate students
- Black and Racialized Grad Student Support Network
- Core Mentorship Program
- Indigenization, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Resource Fair
- Breaking Bread: An International Student Space
- Facilitating Decolonizing Education Workshop
- EDI in Action Sessions
- Small Group Mentoring Program
- Black History Month 2024
- Reciprocal Learning Garden
- Empowering Women to Spark Change in STEM
- Indigenous Community Connections
- Hands Across the Water Music & Arts Festival
- U of G Food Market/Food4U
- Multi-Faith Week 2024
Applications for Funding Accepted Until Nov. 7
If you have a great idea to build a community of kindness and belonging at the U of G, don’t wait, apply for EDI fund support now! All interested members of the University community can apply for funding online through the DHR website. Proposals are due November 7.
Funding of up to $12,000 per proposal is available.
More information and application details are available on the Office of Diversity and Human Rights website or by contacting dhrinfo@uoguelph.ca.