Adler University has launched its own National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) Affiliate Team, creating new opportunities to facilitate workshops based on the renowned NCBI DEI Model and Controversial Issue Process. This initiative empowers Adler to offer transformative training sessions to foster a more inclusive campus environment.
The Campus Affiliate Team has 21 inaugural members — a cross-section of students, faculty, and staff — who completed an intensive three-day training. Now prepared to lead workshops, the team is available to conduct sessions with classes, Registered Student Organizations, department meetings, and community partner organizations. Those who would like to host a workshop can do so virtually or in person. The sessions can last 1.5-6 hours and are available at no cost to faculty, staff, and students.
Dr. Sablo
“We’re excited to offer this workshop, a critical initiative the Center for Diversity and Inclusion has been eager to implement,” said Kahan Sablo, D.Ed., vice president of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI). “It helps individuals recognize the personal impact of discrimination through storytelling and equips them with hands-on tools to address offensive remarks and behaviors effectively.”
NCBI is a renowned international leadership organization that provides training in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in community organizations, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, corporations, and law enforcement agencies. Based on their DEI Model, the workshops are comprised of a series of facilitated activities designed to celebrate similarities and differences, recognize the misinformation learned about various groups, reevaluate personal attitudes and behaviors rooted in prejudice and discrimination, and claim pride in-group identity.
“At times, the higher education community is so focused on grounded theory and the intellectualization of racism, heterosexism, antisemitism, etc., we often fail to acknowledge the pain experienced by historically marginalized communities,” Dr. Sablo said.
In addition, NCBI’s Controversial Issue Process trains leaders to constructively resolve tough conflicts and enable disputing parties toward future cooperation. It provides a structured methodology that allows people of an entrenched issue to express their concerns, listen attentively to each other, and then reframe the issue in a way that respectfully considers the concerns of all parties.
The inaugural members of the Adler University NCBI Campus Affiliate Team are:
- Aarinola Adelasoye, Online student, Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
- Caleb Larbi Okoh, Vancouver student, Master of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
- Charmaine A. Barclay, Vancouver student, Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology.
- Cheryl R. Richardson, Ph.D., vice president of faculty affairs.
- Daniel Katz, admissions counselor.
- Desire’ Antoinette Hunter, Online student, Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
- Enoch Tse, Ph.D., adjunct faculty.
- Jeanne Porges, Chicago student, Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology.
- Jonny Creem, Chicago student, Master of Arts in Couple and Family Therapy.
- Julia Luongo, Online student, Doctor of Psychology in Organizational Leadership.
- Lyuba Bobova, Psy.D., associate department chair and associate professor of Clinical Psychology.
- Manushi Arora, Vancouver student, Master of Counselling Psychology.
- Mrigeesha Mehta, Vancouver student, Master of Industrial and Organizational Psycholgy.
- Nardeen Awadalla, Psy.D., clinical faculty.
- Nathan Veres, Vancouver student, Master of Counselling Psychology.
- Sakina Hossaini, Vancouver student, Master of Counselling Psychology.
- Samantha Qianhua Li, People and Culture staff.
- Sieske Roberts, Online student, Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
- Zach Twardowski, admissions counselor.
- Nicole Sexton, admitted student advisor.
- Daniel M. Tadrous, CDI project manager.
Those interested in hosting an NCBI training can email Dr. Sablo or the Center for Diversity and Inclusion.