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Human rights and social justice events at Miami Regionals

Human Rights event posterby Ruth Orth, Miami University Regionals

Miami University's regional campuses are sponsoring a number of events focused on human rights and social justice, beginning Nov. 4. Admission to all events is free and open to the public.

Nov. 4, Refiguring Manhood: Rhetorics of Rape Culture, 2:30 p.m., 111 Johnston Hall, Miami Middletown. John Tassoni, coordinator of the English department, will call out the rhetorics of masculinity that support a culture of violence and explore ways to intervene in these rhetorics toward the development and maintenance of a more democratic culture.

Nov. 9, Film: “Girl Rising,” 9:15 a.m., 120 Johnston Hall, Miami Middletown. Follow the story of nine girls from nine different countries as they talk about their struggles to overcome societal and cultural barriers to get an education.

Tariq Tarey

Tariq Tarey

Nov. 9, Human Displacement in the New Millennium: A conversation with Tariq Tarey, 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., 115 Johnston Hall, Miami Middletown. Photographer and filmmaker Tariq Tarey will share how he uses his artistic talent to advocate and educate on behalf of contemporary refugee communities, including those in Ohio. Through still photography, video, publications and presentations, Tarey raises awareness about the underprivileged refugee communities throughout the world.

Nov. 10, Human Trafficking in Ohio, 10 a.m. 115 Johnston Hall, Miami Middletown. Facilitated by Debbie Weber, MSW, director of the office of peace, justice and care for creation of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati.

Find out what types of human trafficking have been discovered in the past few years in Ohio. Learn how to identify traffickers and victims and what we can do to help. Weber’s background is in social work, research and community organizing. She is a social justice and earth justice advocate at the local, state, national and international levels in her professional and personal life.

Nov. 10, A Right to Grieve: Helping the Children Left Behind, 1 p.m. 111 Johnston Hall, Miami Middletown.  Facilitated by Molly McGuire, vice-president of Hospice of Miami Valley.  McGuire and two of her colleagues will talk about the needs of children in families where a loved one is suffering from extended illness or has suddenly passed away.

Learn about the full continuum of services and the range of professions involved in creating a network of support for the patient and the patient’s family during and after the passing of the patient. The hospice support team includes nurses as case managers and ancillary staff such as social workers, chaplains, therapists and more who help the family, including children, to cope with bereavement.

Nov. 11, Invisible Scars: Comparing the Mental Health of Same-Sex and Opposite-Sex Intimate Partners Violence Survivors, 6 p.m. 502 Mosler Hall, Miami Hamilton.  Byron Miller, assistant professor of sociology and gerontology, will discuss his research that compares mental health outcomes of survivors of domestic violence in both same-sex and opposite-sex relationships.

Nov. 12, Campus Culture: Just What Do We Value Anyway?, 1 p.m. 136 Johnston Hall, Miami Middletown. As corporate culture and business models impact higher education, join this discussion about how Miami Middletown can better humanize our workforce, improve morale, and sustain and support engaged faculty and staff.

Nov. 16-20, Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week, Miami Middletown

  • Donate to the food drive benefitting the Hope House Rescue Mission starting on Nov. 16.
  • Attend this month’s Coffee Hour with special guest speaker Doug Dunlap of City Gospel Mission, 1 p.m. Nov. 16, at Verity Lodge. 
  • Buy a Pack & Give Back to support the Middletown Family Services Food Pantry on Nov. 17-18.
  • Drop off new/gently used coats, gloves, hats, scarves and socks for the Care Express on Nov. 17. 
  • Create a quilt square to express your thoughts and views on hunger, homelessness and poverty on Nov. 18.


Nov. 17, Fall Harvest Party with a Purpose!, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. 142 Johnston Hall, Miami Middletown. Enjoy a free lunch and get on the dance floor with our community friends with developmental disabilities. Play games, do glitter tattoos, make crafts, make a new friend, and make someone’s day.

Nov. 17, You Got the Power!, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Hawk Haven, Miami Middletown’s Johnston Hall. Meet Jessi Hutson, founder of the “You Got the Power” campaign to help those with special needs.

Hutson’s new mission is to raise money to build ramps and railings and provide other accessibility modifications for those in need. Her mission is affiliated with the Butler County Board of Development Disabilities. Stop by Hawk Haven for a chance to meet Hutson, purchase items or donate.  

Nov. 18, No Place for Children: Refugee Experience Simulation, 1 p.m. 120 Johnston Hall, Miami Middletown. Dyah Miller is a storyteller with a camera who was trained by the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees Agency. Miller has raised awareness about the experience of refugees around the world. She will share participatory experiences to help participants better understand what it is like to be a refugee.

Human rights and social justice event partners are the Miami Hamilton’s office of student activities and orientation and PRISM; Miami Middletown’s Diversity Council, Refugee Action Committee, Campus Activities Board, Middletown Men Against Rape and Sexual Assault and SERVE (Students Engaging in Real Volunteer Efforts); and the Regional offices of the dean, diversity & multicultural services and community engagement & service.