Dynamic Discussions Featured Projects

Dynamic Discussions is funded through the Office of the President to address and combat antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of bias, bigotry, and discrimination.

All the projects featured as part of the Dynamic Discussions hub contribute to creating a more inclusive campus. Stay tuned as this resource expands to showcase even more innovative efforts aligned with the UC Davis Principles of Community.

Those that received funding from a University of California Office of the President (UCOP) grant are marked with a 🌱, symbolizing support for growth in combating discrimination. Learn more about funding initiative.

The projects included here have generously agreed to be featured, and we will continue to add more projects and information about them as these projects move forward.

🌱 Addressing Bias and Bigotry Challenging Stereotypes Through Music and Comedy

Funding will be used to support a program to challenge stereotypes through music and comedy and bring Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern and North African (MENA)/South West Asian and North African (SWANA) musicians, performers, and comedians to UC Davis and provide contextual programming around their performances. This will provide opportunities for communities who are often mis-and-underrepresented in the performing arts to see themselves. The program will leverage the Mondavi Center, UC Davis’ performing arts venue, engaging audiences of students, faculty, and staff, and the wider community. Primary contacts: Jeremy Ganter & Reema Saad

🌱 Advanced Training in Culturally Competent, Trauma-informed Behavioral Health Interventions

The program will enhance training for our ASAP and SHCS clinicians to ensure that employees have access to culturally competent, trauma-informed behavioral health services to support their active engagement and retention in the workplace. Primary contacts: Carol Kirshnit & Lindsay Romasanta

🌱 Grand Round Series - Addressing Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Racism

A “Grand Round” lecture series at UC Davis Health designed to help better inform and train medical practitioners and medical students on issues of cultural competence, as well as how patients’ health is impacted by their experience of trauma surrounding current events. Thought leaders, educators, and prominent figures will be invited to Sacramento to participate. Primary contact: Mithu Molla

More Projects

The Academic Freedom Workshop

🌱 Diverse Narratives: The Middle East in Historical Context

🌱 Enhancing Community Well-being: Trauma-Focused Community Support for UCD Health Employees and Staff

🌱 First Responder Training

🌱 Jews and Muslims - Past, Present, Future

🌱 Writing Ourselves in Violent Times Arab & Arab-American Creative Writing Series

Additional Resources

Hate Free Together is a partnership between UC Davis, Yolo County and the City of Davis.

Browse the anti-racism resources and Hate-Free UC Davis resources from UC Davis DEI, including resources on addressing antisemitism, addressing Islamophobia and on gender recognition.

Learn about the Race Matters resources from UC Davis Human Resources.

Read the 2024-25 Campus Community Book project, Weathering: The Extraordinary Stress of Ordinary Life in an Unjust Society by Arline T. Geronimus, which focuses on the topic of health equity and justice, and attend an upcoming CCBP event.

These 9 Tips for Managing Socio-Political Stress (download the pdf) were inspired by and adapted from lists created by the American Psychological Association, Texas Woman’s University, University of Michigan, Boston University and UC Davis students.

Seek out a meaningful conversation through healing circles, educational events, and other community programming through the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Center

Make an appointment with the UC Davis Ombuds Office, which is a confidential, independent, impartial, and informal problem-solving and conflict management resource.

Report an incident if you believe you have experience or witnessed an act of hate, bias, harassment or discrimination.

Find Places and Spaces to connect

Resources specific to students

Explore mental health services available to UC Davis students.

Connect with community at one of the many Student Affairs centers and programs that speak to your identity and culture.

Resource specific to staff and faculty

Schedule a healing circle for your team at UC Davis Health.

Take out a course through UC Davis Learning and Development on such topics as conflict competence, interpersonal skills, and communicating with patients.

Explore mental health services available to UC Davis staff and faculty through the Academic and Staff Assistance Program.