Dynamic Discussions Featured Projects

Dynamic Discussions Featured Projects

Higher education has an important role in helping students and society at-large be critical thinkers who can approach dialogue and discourse from a position of scholarship and fact rather than bias and bigotry. This page highlights the important work of UC Davis faculty, staff, and students addressing antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of bias and bigotry.

The initiative emerged from a University of California Office of the President funding initiative supporting projects across multiple UC campuses focused on addressing bias, bigotry, and the challenges of engaging across difference. While the original funding period has concluded, UC Davis continues to expand this work through evolving programming, resources, courses, workshops, facilitated dialogue opportunities, and engagement tools.

This hub will continue to grow as a space for sharing ideas, stories, and opportunities that encourage meaningful connection, reflection, and dialogue across the UC Davis community and beyond.

The projects and perspectives featured throughout this hub reflect the work of individual contributors, campus partners, and sponsoring units and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of California, UC Davis, or the Chancellor.

Dynamic Discussions News

Research Suggests Nationwide Racial Bias in Media Reporting on Gun Violence

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have released new findings indicating that news coverage of gun violence across the United States reflects persistent racial bias, shaping how incidents are framed and which victims and communities receive public attention. The study highlights disparities in language, emphasis, and narrative focus, revealing how race can influence whether gun violence is portrayed as an individual tragedy, a public safety issue, or a broader social problem.

Renetta Garrison Tull Joins Yolo County Board to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

On January 13, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors presented a proclamation honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and proclaiming January 19, 2026, as Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Yolo County.

At the invitation of Supervisor Lucas Frerichs, Renetta Garrison Tull, vice chancellor for inclusive excellence at University of California, Davis, along with Garth Lewis, Yolo County Office of Education Superintendent, joined the Board meeting to accept the proclamation on behalf of the university.

UC Davis is Designated Black-Serving Institution

UC Davis has been designated a Black-Serving Institution (BSI) as part of California’s inaugural class of colleges and universities recognized for excelling in academic resources and support for Black and African American students, with the campus meeting key enrollment and programmatic criteria under SB 1348. This designation reflects UC Davis’s mission-level commitment to fostering belonging, removing barriers, and strengthening outcomes for Black students across academic and co-curricular experiences.

A Living Celebration of the Principles of Community

On a sunny fall afternoon, the Activities and Recreation Center ballroom buzzed with music, laughter and conversation. A giant balloon arch adorned the entrance and dancers cheered on the more than 100 guests who arrived to celebrate the culmination of the 35th anniversary of the UC Davis Principles of Community.

In Support of Our Jewish Community 2024-25 Year In Review

Antisemitism is a persistent and evolving form of hatred that affects Jewish communities worldwide — and it is not absent from university campuses, including UC Davis. Acknowledging this reality is essential to addressing it. UC Davis is committed to fostering an environment where Jewish students, staff and faculty feel safe, respected and able to express their identity and culture without fear of discrimination or harassment.

 

Finding Connection Through Solito

In a quiet corner of International House Davis on a Tuesday evening, a group of about a dozen Davis community members and UC Davis faculty, staff and students gathered for conversation that was anything but small. They came together to discuss Solito — Javier Zamora’s powerful memoir of migration from El Salvador to the United States — and in doing so, they found connection, courage and belonging.

Fostering Respect During Election Season

Whether an election is about voting for a person or a proposition, the season can feel intense. Opinions sharpen, timelines accelerate and conversations spill from social feeds into classrooms, clinics, labs and offices. 

That’s why UC Davis Inclusive Excellence maintains the Elections Resource page: a centralized hub designed to support informed participation, connect you with nonpartisan information, and promote respect and understanding across our community.

Resources for Shemini Atzeret

 

From the Multicultural Calendar

For a list of the upcoming religious and cultural observances, please visit our Multicultural Calendar, which serves as a valuable resource to foster understanding, accommodation, and respect for religious and cultural observances. It helps students, staff, and faculty plan events, activities, meetings, retreats, and courses throughout the year.

Our Principles

This year, we are celebrating 35 years of the Principles of Community. As I regularly read the Principles, I am always positively impacted by the strength of the words used by those who wrote them years ago. 

Asian man with glasses and a grey sports coat, folds arms and looks over his shoulder at the camera.

Building Bridges Through Compassion

Dr. Hendry Ton shares expert insights on fostering connection and psychological safety during polarizing times.

An invitation from Renetta G. Tull, Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

We recognize that amidst life's new beginnings and daily responsibilities, many continue to carry the weight of stress and trauma from global events and societal challenges. We invite you to engage with the our ongoing efforts to highlight discussions that connect to health and community. We acknowledge effects of trauma, and shares ways to foster healthy paths forward through a blog series, developed and written by Dr. Hendry Ton, Associate Vice Chancellor for Health Equity by Design for Inclusive Excellence. Dr. Ton is also a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, with expertise in psychiatry, psychology, and public health. He writes in the spirit of sharing knowledge that can applied to healing, and contributing to building a beloved community.

Additional Resources

Hate Free Together is a partnership between UC Davis, Yolo County and the City of Davis.

Learn about the Race Matters resources from UC Davis Human Resources.

Read the latest Campus Community Book project and attend an upcoming CCBP event.

These 9 Tips for Managing Socio-Political Stress (download the pdf) were inspired by and adapted from lists created by the American Psychological Association, Texas Woman’s University, University of Michigan, Boston University and UC Davis students.

U.S. democracy depends on dialogues that represent a multiplicity of perspectives. Discover ways to pursue civic engagement.

Seek out a meaningful conversation through healing circles, educational events, and other community programming through the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Center

Make an appointment with the UC Davis Ombuds Office, which is a confidential, independent, impartial, and informal problem-solving and conflict management resource.

Report an incident if you believe you have experience or witnessed an act of hate, bias, harassment or discrimination. 

Find Places and Spaces to connect

Resources specific to students

Explore mental health services available to UC Davis students.

Connect with community at one of the many Student Affairs centers and programs that speak to your identity and culture.

Resource specific to staff and faculty

Schedule a healing circle for your team at UC Davis Health. 

Take out a course through UC Davis Learning and Development on such topics as conflict competence, interpersonal skills, and communicating with patients. 

Explore mental health services available to UC Davis staff and faculty through the Academic and Staff Assistance Program.