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Welcome back to the weekly COVID-19 resources bulletin for staff, created by the Staff Council office.
This week we were cleaning up old files and folders in our shared drive and happened upon this 2011 video of UVM staff doing choreographed dance moves at the annual Staff Appreciation Picnic. We wanted to share it as a little piece of joy to add to your day (the video will open in a new window):
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UVM Staff perform a coordinated dance at the 2011 Staff Appreciation Picnic.
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For a full list of all the resources we've featured so far, check out this index (PDF) which we update every week.
UVM Staff Council Office
Contact us at: staff.council@uvm.edu
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As ever, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) maintains a valuable hub of information related to COVID-19. It includes all the relevant UVM communications and policies, and links to a number of excellent external sources of information.
Human Resource Services also hosts a variety of helpful resources, including COVID-19 Notices and Forms and COVID-19 FAQs (PDF). They also invite you to contact Labor and Employee Relations directly with questions at uvmler@uvm.edu.
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The UVM Staff Council continues to invite you to anonymously share how you're doing during the pandemic through a simple questionnaire. All comments are read carefully and shared with leadership.
If you need support or help with a specific issue, you can contact your Staff Council Representative directly. A list of each unit's representatives is available on the Staff Council website.
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The Center for Cultural Pluralism and the Professional Development and Training team have created two new and relevant workshops:
- Influencing Online: Changing Culture & Interrupting Problematic Behavior in Remote Environments
June 23 @ 10:00am – 11:30 am
PeopleSoft Code: CCP020
As we all engage in considerably more online communications, thinking about interrupting bias, problematic language and concerning behavior remains important. In this 90 minute workshop we'll identify issues, talk through solutions, and try on different approaches. This session is geared towards staff.
- COVID and the “Isms”: Applying a Social Justice Lens to COVID-19
July 8 1:30pm – 3:00 pm
PeopleSoft Code: CCP021
COVID-19 and the pandemic that has followed has shined a light on many social issues that have been longstanding issues. This workshop will quickly introduce the relationship between COVID-19 and racism, classism, and ableism.
Register for these workshops in PeopleSoft.
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Here is some more food-related information that you may find helpful (see more on the PDF index of all resources, which we update weekly):
- The next phase of food distribution by VT Foodbank will require reservations. Fill out the easy online registration form by visiting this site, scrolling down, selecting the place/time you would like, and clicking Sign Up. Locations and dates are as follows:
- Monday June 8th: Newbury area
- Tuesday June 9th: Chittenden County
- Wednesday June 10th: Middlebury area
- Thursday June 11th: Brattleboro area
- In Burlington, the Upper Loomis Street Little Free Pantry in front of 235 Loomis Street is stocked with foods such as pasta and mac'n'cheese, packets of baby/toddler food, juice boxes, pasta sauce, gravy, soups, sardines and other canned goods, cereal, peanut butter, toiletries, tissues, toilet paper, and hand-sewn face masks. Take what you need. Give when you can.
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Check out the latest updates on Burlington Parks and Recreation - what's open, what's not, and what the rules are. Where can you find a restroom? Should you wear a mask? Can you reserve a shelter? What about team sports? There are a lot of limitations, but here's some good news:
- There will be NO CHARGES for parking at North Beach, Oakledge, Perkins Pier, PEASE Lot, or Waterfront Lot (near the Skatepark).
- Parking passes are NOT being sold at this time.
- Boaters can use the Coast Guard boat launch ramps at no charge.
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UVM Health Network infectious disease expert Tim Lahey, MD was interviewed by the Burlington Free Press this week covering many questions you may have about safety, as Vermont slowly lifts restrictions. Questions covered retail, public restrooms, restaurants, using the restroom at a friend's house, masks, hugs, and a great deal more.
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- Some Vermont museums are reopening. This article details which ones and how it'll work, but here are some highlights (see each museum's website for the most accurate, up-to-date information):
- Bennington Museum will reopen July 3. Hours will be 1-8 p.m. Fridays and 1-6 p.m. Saturdays-Mondays Face masks are required and temperatures of each visitor will be taken. The gift shop reopens June 19.
- Billings Farm & Museum plans to open to the general public beginning June 27th. Their hours will be Thursday–Monday, 10-4 PM. Visitors will be required to wear face masks and asked to minimize contact with touchable surfaces.
- Birds of Vermont Museum is now open from 10-4 PM Wednesdays-Sundays. They are limiting the number of people allowed in the building to 12, and masks are required.
- Brattleboro Museum and Art Center plans to reopen June 18. Hours will be Wednesday-Sunday, 10-4 PM. Admission will be on a “pay-as-you-wish” basis." Face masks will be required. Attendance will be limited to 40 maximum.
- ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain will have a phased opening. ECHO STEM Camps will start on June 15th, and the museum will open to the public on the weekend of July 4th & 5th."
- Rokeby Museum, a historic home that was once part of the Civil War-era Underground Railroad, will reopen July 1st with hours from 10-5 PM daily through Oct. 27.
- Author J.K. Rowling, who penned the Harry Potter books, is publishing a free fairytale for children called The Ickabog online in 34 installments before publishing the book this November. Her publishers are also holding competitions for illustrations of the story by children aged 7-12!
Below: An illustration submitted by Mimi, age 8.
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Each week we feature ways you can help, through donations or service. You can check out the index of all the ways to help which we've featured to date in this PDF, updated weekly.
Here are two more:
1. The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is disproportionately impacting racial and ethnic minorities around the world. In her recent communication to staff, Wanda Heading-Grant wrote:
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"Despite the challenges we face and the fear we may feel, let us redouble our efforts and insist on systemic reform. I know we cannot take on everything, but we can have an impact at UVM, and in the communities where we serve that will branch out to advance critical social and cultural efforts everywhere. We must use our educational platform to share and enhance knowledge, understanding, ideas and solutions that not only address issues of prejudice and discrimination, but also transform lives for generations to come. We must endeavor to inspire professionals who will be more just, equitable, compassionate, and anti-racist."
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To help us strive toward this, here is a brief selection of helpful anti-racist resources:
- Talking About Race - The National Museum of African-American History & Culture provides you with tools for constructively talking about race with your community and your children.
- This article details creative ways to explain racism to your kids.
- Here's a great anti-racist reading list.
- This Google Doc pulls together a wide variety of anti-racist resources, including books, podcasts, articles, films, videos, and recommendations of anti-racist organizations and activists to follow on social media.
- Showing Up For Racial Justice (SURJ) is a national network of groups and individuals working to undermine white supremacy and to work toward racial justice.
2. Consider building a Little Free Pantry for your neighbors in need. Here is a technical plan for building one (PDF). Check out an example below, and learn more here.
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If you know of new or additional campus or community resources you'd like us to feature, please check our index of resources (PDF) to see if we've already featured it, and if not, send the information to us at staff.council@uvm.edu. And as ever, please reach out to us with any questions or concerns. We want to hear from you!
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