To transform our academic and local community through the Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Healing, striving to prepare students to positively engage within diverse and pluralistic environments.
About
In response to the race-based violence of the 2017 Charlottesville protest, the Samueli Foundation and UCI sought to build a program for high school students that would unearth and jettison the deeply held, and often unconscious, beliefs created by racism - primarily a belief in the hierarchy of human value. Under the leadership of Director Teresa Neighbors, the University of California, Irvine has embarked on a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Mission
The mission of School of Social Sciences is to transform our academic and local community through the Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Healing program (DIRHA). DIRHA strives to prepare students to positively engage within diverse and pluralistic environments both within and beyond high schools.- To build empathy, cultural competency, and reduce stereotypes that are based in the false hierarchy of human value (race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, etc.) through faculty-led seminars, experiential learning, mentorship and leadership development.
- To enable participants to pass on their knowledge to their communities and peers through student-driven projects.
Through strategic planning and programmatic development we hope to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of diversity in race, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, age, and culture.
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Overview
Seminars
DIRHA seminars are led by UCI faculty, staff, and community organizations based on set themes of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Seminars take place select Wednesdays from 4:00–7:30 PM at UCI (a total of 13 seminars).
Diversity & Inclusion
Race & Racism
Religious Diversity
Immigration
Native American Culture
Gender & Sexuality
Ability
Racial Healing
Projects Methods
Mentorship
UCI undergraduate students are paired with each school to mentor during seminars and assist with projects. All mentors have had UCI diversity training or participated in diversity programs.
Current Mentors and High Schools 2022-2023
TBA
Past Mentors
Alliana Alcid
Nora Rajab Beik
Dayra Perez Bernal
Natali Berrios
Yara Boroquez
Ines Castillo
Michelle Cornelius
Bryanna Craig
Sage Cassidy Davis
Jagreet Dhaliwal
Daniela Fox
Cindy Garcia
Elian Guerrero
Elizabeth Anuhea Hafen
Roy Ho
Ta'Myrah Hudson
Jalen Jones
Catthi Ly
Katrya Ly
Sauntharya Manikandan
Sharen Monicqa
Ka-Leah Melanie Jones Mucthison
Noah Lumpkin-Nevarez
Andre Ngo
(Moon) Duc Minh Nguyet Nguyen
Valerie Orozco
Angel Leonardo Ramos
Alexis Rodriguez
Flor Tampan
Michelle Thomas
Dorilyn Toledo
Jacqui Torres
Mary Zheng
Esther Zhong
Field Trips
Students are provided with the opportunity to further develop their knowledge through field trips to sites of historic and contemporary importance. Students link seminar learning to the local context and experience networking opportunities. Past field trips include tours of Old Towne Orange and Heritage Museum in Orange County, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes and Hollenbeck Community Police Station in Los Angeles, OC Indigenous Peoples (Acjachemen & Tongvan) - Blas Aguilar Adobe and Putudeim Village.
Community Projects
This is the capstone of the DIRHA program, where students apply their knowledge in their community. High School students design and implement projects in & for their communities and/or school campuses. These projects are based on the needs of their community and/or school, as determined by the DIRHA high school ambassadors and are intended to create more inclusive environments.
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How to Join - Participate
For HS Students
A small cohort from each school will be selected to participate through the DIRHA application process. Contact us so we can connect you with your school supervisor for more information on applying.
FAQ
I want to join! Are there any requirements?
Be sophomore or junior-standing.Is there a GPA requirement?
There’s no minimum GPA requirement.Will it cost me anything to participate?
No financial costs!ONLINE STUDENT APPLICATION: APPLY NOW
DEADLINE: October, 10, 2024
For HS Teachers and Administrators Interested in Becoming a Liaison
Description of Duties:- Attend all seminars
- Communicate with undergraduate mentors, especially to coordinate high school visits
- Advise student projects in collaboration with mentors (regarding resources available and deadlines to meet)
- Coordinate with your school’s administration to secure student transportation to and from UC Irvine
- Connect your administration or transportation office to DIRHA staff so they may collect insurance certificates
- Keep DIRHA staff informed regarding feedback and student engagement with material
- Follow up with students to remind them to submit waivers and forms on time
Compensation:
- Liaisons will receive a $1,500 stipend
- Your high school can bill OCDE up to $1,000 in transportation costs
- DIRHA will cover substitute teacher day cost for field trips
Please contact us at dirha@uci.edu for details on how this program can benefit your campus.
For UCI Students
Description of Duties
- Support and encourage new high school student participants
- Lead mentees at every session through breakout rooms Q&A and program activities
- Develop and maintain relationships with and provide assistance and support for high school student participants
- Serve as a resource for students new to issues of Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Healing
- Help facilitate and encourage attendance to all DIRHA sessions
- Participate in training, programs and activities
- Attend both group and mentor meetings
- Analyze data and prepare material for the end of year project proposal
Qualifications
- Desire to work with high school students
- Demonstrated knowledge of topics of diversity, equity and inclusion
- Leadership capacity
- Able to attend in-person and remote seminars on the listed dates (see flyer for more
information)
ONLINE MENTOR APPLICATION: APPLY NOW
DEADLINE: October, 10, 2024
Please contact Teresa Neighbors, DIRHA@uci.edu, with any questions. -
Partners and Participatign High Schools
Partners
UCI School of Social Sciences
Orange County Department of Education
Samueli Foundation
California Wellness Foundation
Orange County Community Foundation
Rose Project, Jewish Federation & Family Services
Past Participating High Schools
Aliso Niguel High School
Buena Park High School
Capistrano Valley High School
Costa Mesa High School
Dana Hills High School
Edison High School
Estancia High School
Fountain Valley High School
Fullerton High School
Garden Grove High School
Huntington Beach High School
Marina High School
Newport Harbor High School
San Juan Hills High School
Santa Ana High School
Westminster High School
Woodbridge High School
University High School
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Donate
Making a Difference Throught Giving
Donor contributions provide a lasting impact on our students, faculty, and community. DIRHA welcomes gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Your gift facilitates the resources to assist with student programming, experimental learning, and reshaping the campus and community.
Donation Levels
15K - Sponsors 1 high school's participation for 1 year.
50K - Funds the undergraduate mentor training.
100K - Funds research in the effort to foster empathy, promote cultural competency, and reduce stereotyping among youth.
225K - Supports strategic programmatic costs for one year.
500K - Funds the implementation of DIRHA in another county (up to 15 schools for 2 years).
Testimonials from past students and teachers...
This program has completely changed my perspective on how I am going to approach college and my career.
Our school isn't one that really talks about difficult topics. We talk about trig or calc. We wanted to change that. We wanted people to feel comfortable. By including multiple religions, if one talked about it the others would feel more comfortable.
I can't tell you how much this program has meant to me, and to my family. It was such an empowering experience for us. My parents were so excited every time I came home from a seminar because they wanted to learn everything that I had learned, and now they can't wait for my younger sister to get involved.
When I started this program I didn't think there was anything I needed to learn but I'm really grateful for DIRHA because I became more open minded.
We have two students who are now motivated to apply to UCI based on their interactions with their mentors. [They] made college seem more attainable—seeing how diverse and down to earth mentors were. One of our students even said he thought college was mostly for 'white people' and he felt like he wouldn't belong - he now is looking forward to applying to UCI in the fall.
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Faculty Curriculum Advisory Team
Long Bui
Global & International Studies Assistant ProfessorCecelia Lynch
Political Science Assistant ProfessorDavin Phoenix
Political Science Assistant ProfessorSalvador Zararte
Anthropology Assistant Professor
For more information, contact:
