Diversity

MIDCAR 2023

MIDCAR 2021

MIDCAR 2020 This mid-career event was held on February 11, 2020 at AAAI. Check the synopsis.

I was a member of the Academic Curriculum and Program Review committee of the Drexel University Anti-Racism Work Force. See these slides for a brief introduction to it.

My commitment to diversity and inclusiveness stems from my upbringing. I am fortunate to have been exposed to diversity in various senses, as I grew up in Brazil, a culture that lacks self-esteem and hence favors the foreign, the different, the diverse. Brazil can be seen as a real melting pot continuously receiving immigrants from from Europe, Asia, and other countries in South America since its discovery. For example, Brazil has the largest population of Japanese outside Japan. I moved to the US permanently in 1999, and I am still surprised to see how people hesitate to embrace diversity and inclusion.

See this article about the sculpure 'Medusa With the Head of Perseus' by artist Luciano Garbati that dennounces victim-blaming suffered by rape survivors and by victims of multiple types of abuse and harrassment. Reuters article

This is an excellent short video that explains how one can be an ally - someone who wants to help with the equality of a marginalized group they are not a part of.

If you understand Spanish, please check this out Comision8M , which aims at sharing knowledge that can help transform society.