Conversation About Disability Awareness

This week we had a conversation with Abbie S. Fink and Nico Meyering to discuss Disability Awareness within the PR and professional realm. Both had interesting takes on different ways that organizations can be more inclusive, while making the environment for people with disabilities easily accessible and comfortable.

Abbie Fink is the Vice President and general manager of HMA Public Relations in Arizona. As a non-disabled person, she spoke to her own experiences about creating an inclusive and comfortable work environment. She was adamant that there have been efforts for better inclusivity, but the corporate world has a long way to go. There needs to be a willingness to be uncomfortable and ask difficult questions, so we can better learn how to appropriately include people with disabilities in an equitable environment. Employers can implement training courses that are little to no cost in order for the workplace to be accessible for people with differing disabilities. She brought up a motto that people within the company use: “Nothing About Us Without Us”. Including people with disabilities in the conversation is pivotal to making change.

Nico Meyering is a disability advocate, civic leader, and Tedx speaker. He spoke about his experiences being someone who has a disability and how environments within the corporate realm could be more accessible to people with disabilities. He would like to see people with different disabilities in every level of an organization from the boardroom to the mail room. We also need to make sure to speak with multi-marginalized people with disabilities, and give them the opportunity to speak for themselves, in order for their stories to be heard, so that there is a comfortable, accessible environment in work spaces. People with disabilities have the same set of skills as a person without a disability, but they are not always given the same opportunities as them. There is an array of different disabilities, cultures, and experiences. Employers should give them the same opportunities and voice, so that there is an accessible, comfortable environment for all people of different backgrounds.

This blog post was written by Jaelyn Jennings, General Body Member

A Beginners Guide to the Best Cuisines Temple Has to Offer

As a third-year student at Temple University, I’ve picked up on life-saving hacks around this campus that can turn a day around. Recently, I’ve carefully curated a short list of the best dining experiences I’ve had on campus thus far. So, if you’re feeling hungry, or just want to try something new, here are my recommendations.

1. Zaydee’s. This fully Kosher deli located on Norris is a go-to lunch. Though their menu is not the most extensive, the food speaks for itself. A combo meal is one meal swipe ($9.25) and includes a sandwich on the bread of your choosing, a side, a drink, and a pickle. The array of meats include turkey, turkey pastrami, beef pastrami, salami, tuna salad, egg salad, and chicken salad - it’s your choice if you want it hot or cold. They also offer hot dogs. My ever-too-frequent order is a hot turkey pastrami sandwich on wheat, a side of potato salad, an extra pickle, and a diet Coke. You know those lunches that leave you satisfied even once dinner time rolls around? This is that kind of lunch.

2. Cosí. Located just north of Broad and Montgomery, Cosí is a Panera-type restaurant that actually leaves you feeling cozy. With autumn already here and colder weather quickly approaching, it makes sense that soup is on the agenda. A quick soup and sandwich combo hits the spot every time. After a long morning of difficult classes, it’s important to take care of yourself, so grab some soup from Cosí and get comfy on the couch with your favorite Halloween movie on.

3. J&H Dining Hall. Food isn’t always about the taste, sometimes it’s about the environment you eat it in. J&H dining hall has an indescribable ambiance that puts you in a working mood. While the dining hall does offer delicious hot meals that change everyday and their staple bars consisting of a pizza bar, sandwich bar, burger bar, salad bar, waffle bar, and dessert bar - the flavor of the food itself is not the only reason it takes the number three spot on my list. When you’ve got five assignments due tonight and Charles is full, J&H is always the answer. Having a slew of food at your fingertips and finding the quiet you need during stressful work days is what J&H is good for. And by the end of the day you can reward yourself with a handmade waffle topped with ice cream.

4. The Footlong Truck. The last item on my list, of course, had to be a food truck. This one in particular has always been my favorite. The footlong truck is always parked on 12th and Norris and has what seems to be endless possibilities. Whether it’s a full combo or just a sub, it’s always worth it. I recommend the spicy eggplant parmesan if you like some spice. Their fries are those oh-so-crispy ones that get fried to perfection, so never skip out on them. Overall a great and fairly cheap truck that always hits the spot.

It’s time to ditch the Chick-Fil-A line that’s always far too long and start trying some of these hidden gems on campus. Give your tastebuds a break from the Student Center options and relieve the workers of the unforgiving, steady line of students on a daily basis. Try these smaller businesses if you haven’t! And thank me later.

Written by Morgan Cooper

Temple’s PRSSA Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Recap

In the activity, Who are YOU?, we had our members break out into three groups. This icebreaker will allow us to get to know each other more, but also reflect on our own privilege and backgrounds. They were instructed to write down on a piece of paper what makes them who they are, then within their group they brainstorm in two columns their similarities and differences among all the group members. Through the key in the below image, they colored in a cloud with colors that represent their group. It was a great activity for our members to understand themselves, understand each other, and understand our privileges as individuals.

Next month, the DEI committee will host another DEI workshop to further dive into our identities within the Public Relations/Communication realm, discuss how this plays in today’s world, as well as host a Disability Employment Awareness workshop and possible speaker panel. Our Public Relations chapter looks forward to more workshops and speaker panels discussing the importance of DEI work, and spotlighting often overlooked communities through community service and expanded knowledge.

This blog post was written by Khalia Horton, Director of Diversity and Inclusion.