OID Mission Grant Projects 2024-25
2024 Fall Choral Concert: when that storm comes
Shohei Kobayashi
On November 8, 2024, the Reed College choirs presented when that storm comes, a concert exploring themes of climate, justice, and human resilience. The program included the West Coast premiere of Shruthi Rajasekar’s Whose Names Are Unknown, a powerful work addressing human-made climate disasters and collective action, with the composer attending rehearsals and a post-concert Q&A. Additional performances featured works by Judy A. Rose, Jocelyn Hagen, and Caroline Shaw, reflecting on nature’s force and global refugee crises. Outreach efforts included collaborations with the Mellon-funded Environmental Humanities incubators, social media promotion, and partnerships with FearNoMusic for instrumental support and audience engagement.
Improving Equity and Inclusion in Intro Bio Through the Learning Assistant Program
Kendra Walters
This project allowed for two biology staff members to attend the 2024 International Learning Assistant Conference (ILAC) to explore strategies for sustaining Reed’s Learning Assistant (LA) program. The LA program, initiated as a three-year pilot in 2022, enhances student learning and equity in introductory biology courses by incorporating peer mentors who support both lab and lecture elements. The program has received strong institutional backing and aligns with the Office of Institutional Diversity’s mission to foster belonging in STEM. Attending ILAC will provide valuable insights from other institutions on maintaining and improving LA programs as Reed considers long-term sustainability.
Black Composers Concert
Mark Burford
A concert featuring works exclusively by Black composers was organized as part of the Music Department’s Friday@4 series and will take place on February 14, 2025, in the Chapel. Unlike typical Friday@4 concerts, which showcase Reed students, this program will be performed by members of the Music Department’s private instruction staff due to the difficulty and rarity of the repertoire. To support the event, $1,000 was requested to help cover artist fees. The concert will attract the usual Friday@4 audience, with additional outreach efforts aimed at Reed’s CRES and American Studies programs, local universities, and community music organizations.
Learning Shabbat Dinner
Chauncey Diego and Francisco Handy
A Learning Shabbat Dinner was organized as part of the Introduction to Judaism course to provide students with an embodied learning experience. Collaborating with Jewish educators Sonya Sanford and Alicia Rabins, students prepared a Shabbat meal, learned about its traditions, and enjoyed Jewish liturgical music. The event, hosted in a retired Reed graduate’s home, took place on a Thursday evening to respect Jewish observance. A total budget of $1,285 was proposed to compensate the educators and cover meal costs, fostering long-term educational partnerships and enriching students’ understanding of Jewish practices.
Financial Support for LGBTQ+ Students to Attend 2024 oSTEM Conference
Kayla Johnston and Professor Anna Ritz
The Reed oSTEM chapter requested funding to support LGBTQ+ students attending the 14th Annual Out in STEM (oSTEM) Conference, the largest gathering of LGBTQ+ scientists in the country. With the conference held in Portland, funds were allocated primarily to registration fees, allowing more students to attend during a critical growth phase for the chapter. Attending the conference strengthened the chapter’s connections with other collegiate and professional groups, furthering its mission to foster belonging and mentorship for LGBTQ+ students in STEM. The chapter’s achievements and impact also positioned it for potential recognition within the national oSTEM network, reinforcing its role as a leading LGBTQ+ student organization at Reed.