From: Office of Equity & Inclusion
Date: January 12
Subject: The IDEA Newsletter! | January, Issue No. 25


THE IDEA newsletter January 2026, ISSUE NO.25

The IDEA Newsletter

The IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) Newsletter is a monthly newsletter that is designed to curate the diversity, equity, and inclusion educational opportunities and initiatives that help to improve campus climate at Loyola for all.

To read past issues of the IDEA Newsletter, please visit: 
https://www.loyola.edu/department/equity-inclusion/about/idea-newsletter.html
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Spring semester

January is associated with new beginnings, and one of the core components of this transition is reflection. As we start this new year and academic semester, the Office of Equity and Inclusion continues to reflect on our contribution to living and embodying Loyola's Guiding Principles.

Start your New Year's reflection strong and in community by joining us for this year's Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation! ⬇️
 

🚨 SAVE THE DATE 🚨
Loyola’s 33rd MLK Jr. Convocation is fast approaching!

Promotional flyer for the 2026 Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation at Loyola University Maryland featuring guest speaker Dr. Carla Hayden.

A Snapshot of Dr. Carla Hayden's Career

Logo for the Enoch Pratt Free Library.
July 1993 - September 2016
CEO
Dr. Hayden built the library system into a national model for community-based services, technology access, and educational equity.
Logo for the American Library Association (ALA).
2003-2004
President
Dr. Hayden ALA's theme was "Equity of Access."
Logo for the Library of Congress.
July 2016 - May 2025
14th Librarian of Congress
Dr. Hayden was the first woman and African American to lead; she focused on access, equity, and storytelling.
Logo for the Mellon Foundation.
July 2025 - Present
Senior Fellow
Dr. Hayden serves as a strategic partner and counsel in advancing public knowledge through libraries and archives.

First MLK, Jr. Convocation?
Learn what it is all about!

Logo for the Bunting Peace and Justice Speaker Series at Loyola University Maryland.

Loyola's annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation is a free and open-to-the-public event aimed at providing the Loyola and Baltimore community an opportunity to come together and launch the spring semester and New Year with a shared inquiry into issues of social justice, politics, spirituality, and the legacies of race and racial justice in America.

The MLK Jr. Convocation is part of the Office of Peace and Justice's "Bunting Peace and Justice Speaker Series", which focuses on hosting speakers and events that raise awareness about peace and justice issues.

The MLK, Jr., Convocation is co-sponsored by...

Follow us on Instagram:
@LoyolaEquityInclusion

The Office of Equity and Inclusion is on Instagram! Follow us at @LoyolaEquityInclusion for updates, events, and insights on fostering an inclusive campus community. Join the conversation and be part of the journey towards equity and inclusion!

📢 Do you enjoy the IDEA Newsletter's "Campus Highlights and Events" section?
This section of the IDEA newsletter is now featured daily on our Instagram Stories!

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Below are links to initiatives, support networks, and campus updates that help to foster inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility across Loyola. ⬇️

Sexual Violence Prevention,
Education, and Resource Survey
Opens Jan. 20, 2026

Loyola University Maryland remains committed to strengthening our efforts to prevent, educate about, and respond to sexual and gender-based misconduct. As part of this commitment—and in compliance with the Maryland state law—we invite all Loyola community members to participate in the anonymous Sexual Violence Prevention, Education, and Response Survey beginning Jan. 20, 2026. (Please note: Contractors are not included in this survey.)
 

Survey Details

  • Opens: Jan. 20, 2026
  • Closes: Feb. 10, 2026
  • Time to Complete: Approximately 15-20 minutes
  • Access: A survey link will be shared on launch day

Why Your Voice Matters

Your feedback helps us improve policies, prevention strategies, and support resources. This survey is conducted in compliance with the Maryland state law requiring institutions to collect and report results to the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Both Loyola and the State of Maryland use this information to monitor trends and strengthen advocacy efforts. Previous survey data has led to meaningful changes, including expanded Title IX intake officers, increased outreach, and resources for underrepresented communities. Participation is voluntary, and confidentiality is of utmost importance—all responses are anonymous.

Incentives: Weekly Raffle Prizes!

As a thank you for participating, Loyola community members who complete the survey will have the opportunity to enter a raffle for a prize!

Weekly raffle drawings will take place on Jan. 21, Jan. 23, Jan. 28, Feb. 4, and Feb. 10. Each drawing will include prizes for at least two students and one employee! Prizes include Legos, Meal Points, and Gift Cards.

To enter, community members may complete the separate entry form provided at the end of the survey. Please note: Raffle entry information is collected separately and is not connected to survey responses.

Informational poster about time and location of the Cohn Hall Cafe event with two clinking coffee cups in the center.
Picture of the Loyola University Maryland bridge with text that says "Campus highlights and events"
Loyola is host to a variety of training, activities, and events throughout the year, many of which foster engagement and open dialogue surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
Below are upcoming events taking place across campus this November. ⬇️

EVENT

"Can You Give Me a Hand?", a Solo Exhibition by Professor Beth Yashnyk

Clock Monday, January 12 at 10:00am
to Friday, February 13 at 4:00pm
Location pin Julio Fine Arts Gallery, DeChiaro College Center W131, 4501 North Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21210, United States
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The Julio Fine Arts Gallery is delighted to present an exhibition introducing the newest Visual and Performing Arts faculty member, Professor Beth Yashnyk, to the community! Professor Yashnyk's newest work explores touch with a focus on hands. The exhibition will feature several new interactive sculptures as well as digital animations, all in Professor Yashnyk's bright surrealist style.

All Julio Fine Arts Gallery programming is free and open to the public.
RSVP
Queer Talk on Monday, 12 January 2026 At 1:00 PM. No image description provided

EVENT

Queer Talk

Clock Monday, January 12 at 1:00pm
to Friday, May 8 at 4:00pm
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LGBTQ+ conversation space including student-led topics and intergenerational discussions! Biweekly from 5-6:30 on Tuesdays; dinner provided!
RSVP
Fefu and Her Friends on Thursday, 15 January 2026 At 7:00 PM. No image description provided

EVENT

Fefu and Her Friends

Clock Thursday, January 15 at 7:00pm
to Sunday, January 18 at 4:00pm
Location pin McManus Theatre, DeChiaro College Center W101, 4501 North Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21210, United States
Link
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Join us for a play by María Irene Fornés, directed by Alexis Piasecki, ’26, and presented by the Spotlight Players.

Set in the 1930s, the play follows a group of eight women who gather at the country home of their brilliant and eccentric friend, Fefu. As multiple conflicts unfold between the old friends, the women struggle to define who they are and what it means to be a woman in a patriarchal society. Though written in the 1970s, "Fefu and Her Friends" raises questions and anxieties around gender and identity that endure today.

Tickets can be purchased via Loyola's Box Office. Reduced price tickets are available for Loyola students, faculty, and staff.
RSVP
Duckpin Bowling at Stoneleigh Lanes on Saturday, 17 January 2026 At 7:45 PM. No image description provided

EVENT

Duckpin Bowling at Stoneleigh Lanes

Clock Saturday, January 17
7:45pm - 10:15pm
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Messina has rented out an entire local bowling alley for students to come and learn one of Baltimore's finest traditions, duckpin bowling! Come play and learn what makes this game a little different than regular bowling. Shoes will be provided at the bowling alley as well as all games you can play before they close. We will also be providing pizza and unlimited sodas. Bring your Messina classmates, roommates, friends or come by yourself and meet new friends!

A shuttle bus will pick-up students outside Boulder once at 7:45pm and another at 8:15pm. A bus will take students back to campus at 9:45pm and another at 10:15pm

Students need to register in advance as there is a 80 person capacity limit at the bowling alley. Students will sign-in on the Bridge when boarding the shuttle.
when boarding the shuttle.
RSVP
CCSJ Intern Information Session on Wednesday, 21 January 2026 At 12:00 PM. No image description provided

EVENT

CCSJ Intern Information Session

Clock Wednesday, January 21
12:00pm - 1:00pm
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Are you considering an internship with CCSJ? Speak with our current interns to gain insight into their roles, responsibilities, and professional experiences, and learn more about the application process and other important details!
RSVP
Community Engagement Fair on Wednesday, 21 January 2026 At 2:00 PM. No image description provided

EVENT

Community Engagement Fair

Clock Wednesday, January 21
2:00pm - 4:30pm
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Join us at the Community Engagement Fair where you can explore the various community engagement, service, advocacy, and justice opportunities offered by the Center for Community, Service, and Justice + York Road Initiative throughout our York Road and Baltimore community. Meet community partners and find the right opportunities for you. Community engagement, advocacy initiatives, and civic engagement are just a few of the opportunities at Loyola where you can live out our Jesuit values of being a person for and with others. Student leaders, community partners, and professional staff will be available to share more information about occasional/one-time and weekly service opportunities as well as advocacy opportunities and courses you can take on-campus that offer service-learning opportunities. If you're interested in learning more about ways to serve and connect to our Baltimore community, you won't want to miss this event.
RSVP
January Book Club on Thursday, 22 January 2026 At 4:30 PM. No image description provided

EVENT

January Book Club

Clock Thursday, January 22
4:30pm - 6:00pm
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Join us to discuss the themes of sacrifice, resilience, healing, and self-discovery in Kristin Hannah’s The Women.
RSVP

EVENT

Education Without Barriers: A Night of Equity & Action

Clock Thursday, January 22
5:30pm - 7:00pm
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Join us for our panel of three distinguished professors whose scholarship and advocacy have significantly shaped the field of educational equity. Together, they will discuss the barriers students face and the systems that must be reimagined to create more just, inclusive learning environments. All students, faculty, and staff are invited to join this important conversation on the future of equitable education.
RSVP
'Islam's Greatest Stories of Love' Film Screening on Thursday, 22 January 2026 At 7:00 PM. No image description provided

EVENT

'Islam's Greatest Stories of Love' Film Screening

Clock Thursday, January 22
7:00pm - 9:00pm
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Please join us in the screening and discussion of the new PBS film, Islam's Greatest Love Stories on Thursday, January 22 from 7-9pm at the LNDL Auditorium!

The film and discussion, part of the Bridges of Virtue project, aims to create discussion on the broader manifestations of love — compassion, selflessness, and charity — as essential virtues to individual and communal well-being.

This event is hosted by Campus Ministry in collaboration with the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies (ICJS) and the Unity Production Foundations.

There will be refreshments provided!
RSVP
🎶 Relay for Life Presents: Concert for a Cure! 🎗️ on Saturday, 24 January 2026 At 6:00 PM. No image description provided

EVENT

🎶 Relay for Life Presents: Concert for a Cure! 🎗️

Clock Saturday, January 24
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location pin McManus Theatre, Andrew White Student Center, Baltimore, MD 21210, United States
Link
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Join us for an unforgettable night of music, mocktails, and making a difference!

Come cheer on Loyola’s amazing student performers as they take the stage to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Enjoy mocktails, win big in our raffle, and grab exclusive Relay for Life merch—all while supporting a cause that touches us all.

✨ When: January 24th 2026, 6:00-8:00pm
📍 Where: McManus Theater
🎟️ All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society

Bring your friends, grab a drink, and help us turn good vibes into hope and healing. 💜
RSVP
33rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Convocation on Monday, 26 January 2026 At 6:30 PM. No image description provided

EVENT

33rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Convocation

Clock Monday, January 26
6:30pm - 8:00pm
Location pin McGuire Hall, 4501 N Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21210, United States
Link
Calendar Add to Google Cal,Outlook,Yahoo,iCal

Carla Hayden, Ph.D. will deliver the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation address at Loyola University Maryland on Monday, January 26, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in McGuire Hall.

A lifelong advocate for literacy and public service, Carla Hayden, Ph.D., champions the power of libraries as spaces for connection, opportunity, education, and transformation. She is the former Librarian of Congress, served as president of the American Library Association, and led the Enoch Pratt Free Library as CEO for more than two decades. Hayden made history in 2016 when she was sworn in as the 14th Librarian of Congress—the first woman and first African American to lead the nation’s library. She reimagined the Library of Congress as a dynamic, inclusive institution that connects all Americans to knowledge, creativity, and history. Her leadership has focused on access, equity, and storytelling. Today, Hayden—who is a recipient of Loyola’s prestigious Andrew White Medal—is a senior fellow for the Mellon Foundation and continues to pursue scholarship, writing, and research.

The event will also be live-streamed on YouTube, with closed captioning provided.

This event is part of the Peace & Justice Bunting Speaker Series and is free and open to the public, although advance registration is encouraged.

Celebrating its 32nd year, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation is an opportunity for Loyola and the Baltimore community to come together and launch the spring semester and New Year with a shared inquiry into issues of social justice, politics, spirituality, and the legacies of race and racial justice in America.

The convocation is co-sponsored by the Office of the President, Office of Equity and Inclusion, Office of Peace & Justice, the Karson Institute for Race, Peace & Social Justice, Messina, and the African and African American Studies Program.

Persons with disabilities who may require special services should contact the Office of Disability and Accessibility Services at 410-617-2062 (TDD) or 410-617-2141 at least 48 hours before the event.
RSVP
Kick off Session for Mother Seton Academy and GEDCO - Monday, Jan 26 on Monday, 26 January 2026 At 7:00 PM. No image description provided

EVENT

Kick off Session for Mother Seton Academy and GEDCO - Monday, Jan 26

Clock Monday, January 26
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location pin Private Location (sign in to display)
Link
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Learn about the logistics of weekly volunteering through CCSJ and build your understanding of how our own context and other individuals' context informs this work. This is the first step in completing the pre-service requirements for weekly service.
RSVP
Kick off Session for Bridges and Tunbridge - Tuesday, Jan 27 on Tuesday, 27 January 2026 At 7:00 PM. No image description provided

EVENT

Kick off Session for Bridges and Tunbridge - Tuesday, Jan 27

Clock Tuesday, January 27
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location pin Private Location (sign in to display)
Link
Calendar Add to Google Cal,Outlook,Yahoo,iCal

Learn about the logistics of weekly volunteering through CCSJ and build your understanding of how our own context and other individuals' context informs this work. This is the first step in completing the pre-service requirements for weekly service.
RSVP
CCSJ Presents: Civic Circle on Wednesday, 28 January 2026 At 6:00 PM. No image description provided

EVENT

CCSJ Presents: Civic Circle

Clock Wednesday, January 28
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location pin Private Location (sign in to display)
Link
Calendar Add to Google Cal,Outlook,Yahoo,iCal

Civic Circle is a space where we will have conversations on how immigration intersects with other civics issues like healthcare, education, labor, and more. We will collaborate with community partners to build context and discuss these issues. The program will culminate in an advocacy project where we can share a meal with our community partners and build long-lasting relationships.
RSVP
Kick off Session for CELP and Greyhound Math - Wednesday, Jan 28 on Wednesday, 28 January 2026 At 7:00 PM. No image description provided

EVENT

Kick off Session for CELP and Greyhound Math - Wednesday, Jan 28

Clock Wednesday, January 28
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location pin Private Location (sign in to display)
Link
Calendar Add to Google Cal,Outlook,Yahoo,iCal

Learn about the logistics of weekly volunteering through CCSJ and build your understanding of how our own context and other individuals' context informs this work. This is the first step in completing the pre-service requirements for weekly service.
RSVP
Kick off Session for Refugee Youth Project and Soccer Without Borders - Thursday, Jan 29 on Thursday, 29 January 2026 At 7:00 PM. No image description provided

EVENT

Kick off Session for Refugee Youth Project and Soccer Without Borders - Thursday, Jan 29

Clock Thursday, January 29
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location pin Private Location (sign in to display)
Link
Calendar Add to Google Cal,Outlook,Yahoo,iCal

Learn about the logistics of weekly volunteering through CCSJ and build your understanding of how our own context and other individuals' context informs this work. This is the first step in completing the pre-service requirements for weekly service.
RSVP
Campus Ministry Internship '26-'27 - Information Session! on Friday, 30 January 2026 At 11:00 AM. No image description provided

EVENT

Campus Ministry Internship '26-'27 - Information Session!

Clock Friday, January 30
11:00am - 12:00pm
Location pin Private Location (sign in to display)
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Campus Ministry Interns are responsible for assisting the professional staff in fulfilling the mission of the office of Campus Ministry. Interns will support the Jesuit, Catholic identity at Loyola, and promote opportunities to explore the richness of Ignatian Spirituality. Interns are ambassadors who welcome, honor and celebrate people of all faith traditions, spiritualities and identities. They are committed to building a just community and creating inclusive spaces for prayer, meaning-making and spiritual development.    
Info session dates:
Friday Jan. 30, 2026 at 11 am in Cohn Hall (Campus Ministry)
Friday Feb. 13, 2026 at 4 pm in Cohn Hall (Campus Ministry)

Applications Due: Friday, Feb. 27, 2026
RSVP


If you would like to contribute relevant news items, events, professional development opportunities, or community updates and accomplishments, please send them to officeoftheceio@loyola.edu


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33rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Convocation on Monday, 26 January 2026 At 6:30 PM. No image description provided

EVENT

33rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Convocation

clock Monday, January 26
6:30pm - 8:00pm
Location pinMcGuire Hall, 4501 N Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21210, United States
CalendarAdd to Google Cal, Outlook, Yahoo, iCal

Carla Hayden, Ph.D. will deliver the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation address at Loyola University Maryland on Monday, January 26, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in McGuire Hall.

A lifelong advocate for literacy and public service, Carla Hayden, Ph.D., champions the power of libraries as spaces for connection, opportunity, education, and transformation. She is the former Librarian of Congress, served as president of the American Library Association, and led the Enoch Pratt Free Library as CEO for more than two decades. Hayden made history in 2016 when she was sworn in as the 14th Librarian of Congress—the first woman and first African American to lead the nation’s library. She reimagined the Library of Congress as a dynamic, inclusive institution that connects all Americans to knowledge, creativity, and history. Her leadership has focused on access, equity, and storytelling. Today, Hayden—who is a recipient of Loyola’s prestigious Andrew White Medal—is a senior fellow for the Mellon Foundation and continues to pursue scholarship, writing, and research.

The event will also be live-streamed on YouTube, with closed captioning provided.

This event is part of the Peace & Justice Bunting Speaker Series and is free and open to the public, although advance registration is encouraged.

Celebrating its 32nd year, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation is an opportunity for Loyola and the Baltimore community to come together and launch the spring semester and New Year with a shared inquiry into issues of social justice, politics, spirituality, and the legacies of race and racial justice in America.

The convocation is co-sponsored by the Office of the President, Office of Equity and Inclusion, Office of Peace & Justice, the Karson Institute for Race, Peace & Social Justice, Messina, and the African and African American Studies Program.

Persons with disabilities who may require special services should contact the Office of Disability and Accessibility Services at 410-617-2062 (TDD) or 410-617-2141 at least 48 hours before the event.
REGISTER