Performances + Events
Center for Cultural Equity and Belonging: Resources
CEB Resources
Opportunities for Support
Whether it’s connecting with dedicated campus resources, building camaraderie through a campus organization, or speaking directly with the CEB team, there are are many opportunities to gain support for members of the NEC community.
Office of Academic and Student Affairs
The Office of Academic and Student Affairs works with and for students to enrich and enhance their NEC experience.
Tufts Medical Center for Collegiate Wellness
Through a partnership with Tufts University’s Center for Collegiate Wellness (CCW), NEC students have full access to Tufts Medical Center’s slate of medical services.
Build community at NEC by participating in student clubs and organizations.
CEB connects students to the support they need around equity and belonging-related concerns. Contact monique.vanwillingh@necmusic.edu to schedule a conversation.
NEC reviews reports of bias-related events, incidents, behavior or actions and supports restorative and educational responses to address the individual, collective, and institutional impacts. Use this form to report a concern.
CEB Resources
Heritage Months and Cultural Observances
At NEC we acknowledge, celebrate, and honor the socio-cultural, racial, ethnic, and religious beliefs and identities of those on campus. This calendar aims to be a representation of the NEC community, while acknowledging traditions may evolve.
This list of cultural observances presents an opportunity for NEC community members to deepen their understanding of traditions, histories, contributions, scholarship, and present-day experiences of historically marginalized identities. The commemorations are not confined to a specific timeframe. This calendar serves as a resource for fostering a sense of belonging among all members of our community.
Please note that his is not an exhaustive list. If you wish for us to include further listings, please email monique.vanwillingh@necmusic.edu, and we are happy to explore!
Heritage Months and Cultural Observances CalendarCEB Resources
LGBTQIA+ Resources
NEC offers a variety of resources on campus to support and affirm the LGBTQIA+ community while fostering allyship. More resources can be found here.
Queer Student Union is a group devoted to fostering an inclusive community that bolsters the visibility of LGBTQ+ individuals at NEC while providing resources to the community and their allies.
CEB Resources
Navigating Challenging Dialogue
Explore these resources for navigating and facilitating challenging conversations in the classroom and beyond. Please reach out to Monique Van Willingh (monique.vanwillingh@necmusic.edu) for further CEB support and questions.
Please note: The resources below have been gathered from multiple sources and institutional spaces outside of NEC, and may present a variety of approaches to moving through difficult dialogue. CEB is always here as a resource to help explore what might be most helpful for your specific classroom or rehearsal scenarios.
How to Lead Uncomfortable Class Discussions
Alexandra Sedlovskaya, Harvard Business Publishing, Education
Teaching Controversial Issues: A Framework for Reflective Practice
Judy Pace, Teaching Controversies
Guidelines for Discussing Difficult or High-Stakes Topics
Center for Research on Learning and Teaching, University of Michigan
Discussion Techniques, How to Hold a Better Class Discussion
Jay Howard, The Chronicle of Higher Education
Planning and Preparing for Discussions, Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning
Indiana University Bloomington
CEB Resources
Understanding Microaggressions
Brief, everyday exchanges that send denigrating messages to certain individuals because of their group membership. The persons making the comments may be otherwise well-intentioned and unaware of the potential impact of their words” (Dr. Derald Wing Sue).
A statement, action, or incident is regarded as an instance of indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group such as a racial or ethnic minority.
Video: Microaggressions in Everyday Life
Dr. Derald Wing Sue, Teachers College – Columbia University
Video: That’s a Microaggression! Now What?
Dr. Kira Banks, Raising Equity
Video: What Are Microaggressions?
Dr. Kira Banks, Raising Equity
Interrupting Microaggressions
Greta Kenney
Recognizing and Interrupting Microaggressions
Dr. Kathy Obear, The Center for Transformation and Change
CEB Resources
Past Events and Programming
CEB hosts a variety of events and programming throughout the year, helping the NEC community foster an inclusive, respectful, and safe environment.
Code Switching: Racialized Aesthetics and Conformity in Music Conservatories
View Recording
Cross Cultural Dynamics: International Perspectives
View Recording
Power Dynamics in the Teacher-Student Relationship
View Recording
NEC Perspectives Forum | A Way Forward Towards Greater Musical Diversity
View Recording
NEC Perspectives Forum | Remembering Your Roots
View Recording
NEC Perspectives Forum | Gender in Jazz
View Recording
NEC Perspective Forum | Afro American Music and Jazz at NEC
View Recording
NEC Perspectives Forum | African-American Studies and Jazz Studies at NEC
View Recording
Indigenous Peoples Day
National Coming Out Day
Thanksgiving and Land Acknowledgements
World Mental Health Day
CEB Resources
CEB Faculty Think Tank
NEC’s Center for Cultural Equity and Belonging (CEB) convened faculty members to consider collaboration, tools, and best practices for promoting cultural equity and belonging. Some faculty members pursued CEB-related projects or curricular plans that serve as helpful examples.
Mehmet Sanlikol, Music History & Musicology
Ken Schaphorst, Jazz Studies
Megan Barrett, Modern Languages
Warren Senders, Music In Education
Tanya Maggi, Community Engagement and Professional Studies
Felicia Sandler, Music Theory
- Nima Janmohammadi, Music Theory
- Carol Ou, Strings
Event spotlight
Upcoming CEB Events
