The Action Assemblage for Justice, Equity, and Peace (AAJEP)
“The Action Assemblage is a diverse collection of students, faculty, staff, and community members passionate about civil & human rights, racial justice, gender equality, and the promotion of peace. We are interested in putting into action (promoting and advancing), the principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism on our campus, in the broader community, and society at-large. We are desirous to bring people together; to provide space for empathetic dialogue; to facilitate meaningful interactions and relationship-building; to promote healthy bodies and minds; to demonstrate the power of embracing our diversity and working together. We stand alongside, and in unity with, all groups oppressed and/or marginalized by existing power structures and seek to be strategic about organizing efforts to oppose hate, bias, corruption, and injustice wherever it is found.”
– Dr. Ronald L. Mower
FEATURED EVENTS
FEATURED EVENTS
Conversing with SPH Alumni:
An interactive panel about access, opportunity, and intercultural competencies in the PT, OT, and Allied Health Professions
May 2024
AAJEP would like to thank Gabby Gaimaro, Sylvia Bennet, Sami Ahmed, and Clarisse Labor, Sylvia Bennet, and for visiting UMD SPH and sharing their time and expertise in our panel discussion. Our conversation garnered one of most generative and seamless panel discussions we've had!
AAJEP also wishes to thank the KNES student moderators, Soroush Noktehdan and Kai Penn, who did a tremendous job facilitating a deeply engaging and thoughtful discussion about recognizing biases and developing cultural competencies to better improve patient care, increase diversity in the workforce, and contribute to positive changes in community health and well being.
As a joint collaboration between the KNES DEI Committee and PHSC, we packed out the Friedgen Lounge! AAJEP appreciates everyone who supported this effort and look forward to further networking and collaboration to set our students up for success in a diverse multicultural society.
AAJEP Culture Jam Kickback
December 2022
THE AAJEP’s Culture Jam Kickback took place in December 2022 in the UMD School of Public Health Volleyball Gym. Attendees enjoyed an immersive cultural celebration, featuring live music performances, games, prizes, and more. Some of the photos (courtesy of Carlos Salazar) from the event are below and you can find the entire gallery in our blog post write-up.
AAJEP’s Walk and Talk Event: May 16th, 2022
Dr. Ron Mower Received Inaugural 2nd Lieutenant Richard W. Collins III “Courage Against Hate” Award
Dr. Ron Mower pictured with Joanne Klossner, Michael Brown, Dawn Collins, and Boris Lushniak.
Dr. Ron Mower is committed to promoting the values of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism. In the past year, he created the Action Assemblage for Justice, Equity, and Peace (AAJEP); worked on the development of the Physical Culture, Social Justice, and Health Equity (PCSJHE) concentration focus; and is in the process of developing two courses for that focus, “generally around the implementation of social justice imperatives and methods within KNES and PCS.”
“He is passionate about bringing people together; to provide space for empathetic dialogue; to facilitate meaningful interactions and relationship-building; to promote healthy bodies and minds; to demonstrate the power of embracing our diversity and working together,” said nominator Michael Brown.
On Wednesday, May 11, 2022, SPH faculty and staff convened for the spring assembly which included the annual awards ceremony honoring outstanding teaching, public health practice, service, mentoring and commitment to the school’s success and community. New this year, the 2nd Lieutenant Richard W. Collins III “Courage Against Hate” award was established through a partnership with Richard’s mother Mrs. Dawn Collins. The School of Public Health and Mrs. Collins created the award to honor the life of this young Black man and remind our community that his life was taken through a violent act by a UMD SPH student who was motivated by racialized hate. The award will be given annually to a member (or group) from the SPH community who has advanced culture, programs, and policies that work towards a hate free, more just society through engagement with the school, campus, and/or community. The demonstrated work should support diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism goals.
AAJEP Contact
Dr. Ron Mower: mower1@umd.edu
