Bi Nka Bi (“No one Should Bite Another”): Finding, Celebrating, and Sustaining Our Authentic Selves as Artists, Scholars, and Instructors

Connect with colleagues to create a campus community where everyone’s authentic selves are welcomed, valued, and celebrated. We have talked about students’ belongingness and well-being, but we have not explored much on our belongingness and wellbeing. In this multi-sensory workshop, we’ll explore our identities, celebrate our authentic selves, and explore ways to sustain our energy as artists, instructors, and scholars. The sessions are grounded in several ancestral teachings of the Akan of Ghana: Wisdom, Respect, Love, Humility, Bravery, Truth, Honesty, Interdependence, and Community. We use various modalities of arts and journaling exercises to actively engage our senses as we chart our own journey for well-being and community. After the summer workshop, participants are encouraged to participate in bimonthly check-ins to continue their journey in the supportive community.

This workshop is intended for those who interact professionally (e.g., course instructor, advisor, student affairs staff member) with ISU’s students on a regular basis as part of their role on campus. That said, any employee interested in this topic is invited to register. Registration is required.

Eligible participants will receive a $200 stipend for successfully completing this course.