Dynamic Discussions Featured Projects

Dynamic Discussions Featured Projects

Higher education has an important role in helping students and society at-large be critical thinkers who can approach dialogue and discourse from a position of scholarship and fact rather than bias and bigotry. This page highlights the important work of UC Davis faculty, staff, and students addressing antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of bias and bigotry.

Courses Events
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 ðŸŒ±, symbolizing support for growth in combating discrimination. Learn more about funding initiative.

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

The projects on this page represent the views of each of the project sponsors and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of California, or UC Davis or its Chancellor.

Asian man with glasses and a grey sports coat, folds arms and looks over his shoulder at the camera.

Building Bridges Through Compassion

Dr. Hendry Ton shares expert insights on fostering connection and psychological safety during polarizing times.

Discover ways to build psychological safety Learn to foster compassion post-election

An invitation from Renetta G. Tull, Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

We recognize that amidst life's new beginnings and daily responsibilities, many continue to carry the weight of stress and trauma from global events and societal challenges. We invite you to engage with the DEI division's ongoing efforts to highlight discussions that connect to health and community. Through the Campus Community Book Project’s featured book, Weathering, by Arline T. Geronimus, we will be discussing stress and the effects on the body. We acknowledge effects of trauma, and shares ways to foster healthy paths forward through a blog series, developed and written by Dr. Hendry Ton, DEI’s Associate Vice Chancellor in the Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Dr. Ton is also a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, with expertise in psychiatry, psychology, and public health. He writes in the spirit of sharing knowledge that can applied to healing, and contributing to building a beloved community.

Additional Resources

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

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.