Local
Comings & Goings
Leaving D.C. for Tufts University post
From left, Mark Brimhall-Vargas and Joshua Souk (Photos courtesy of the subjects)
The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at [email protected].
Congratulations are in order for Mark Brimhall-Vargas, Ph.D., who is now the Chief Diversity Officer and Associate Provost (CDO/AP) at Tufts University. He was recruited for the position because of nearly two decades of expertise in campus-wide diversity and equity management and programming, cultural competency and conflict resolution.
As the CDO/AP, Mark is responsible for aligning diversity policy and programming for faculty, staff and students across the three major campuses that comprise Tufts in areas of 1) recruitment, retention and success strategies; 2) cultural competence training and preparation; 3) assessment, metrics and maintaining the diversity dashboard; and 4) messaging, communications and passive education.
Brimhall-Vargas and his partner moved from D.C. where previously he worked for the University of Maryland in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion as its Deputy Chief Diversity Officer. In this role, he was responsible for managing diversity grants, undertaking campus-wide initiatives such as the overhaul of the search and selection process, and overseeing the campus’ award-winning intergroup dialogue program.
Brimhall-Vargas earned a Ph.D. in Social Foundations of Education from the University of Maryland. His academic expertise includes critically conscious pedagogy, social justice and identity development (particularly religious, spiritual, faith-based identity). He also holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from Pomona College. He originally hails from Albuquerque, N.M.
Also due congratulations is Joshua Souk, who is now at the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) as a legal intern in the legal department/general counsel. AFA-CWA has nearly 60,000 members at 19 airlines. During his internship he is also doing work for the Government Affairs Department. His work includes research on the congressional intent behind the Fly America Act, assisting the Government Affairs Director in dealing with issues related to the ME3 (Qatar, Emirates, and Etihad) receiving government subsidies in violation of the Open Skies Agreement. The premise here is that by undercutting U.S. airlines these countries threaten the jobs of U.S. workers. The AFA-CWA is working on the Federal Aviation Administration Re-authorization Bill and last week they were successful in having an amendment included mandating a minimum of 10 hours rest for flight attendants, which brings them in line with the pilots’ rest provisions.
Souk is a juris doctor candidate, class of 2016, at the California Western School of Law. While in school he worked as a mediator in North County, San Diego small claims court and mediated cases using a family style mediation model. He also interned at the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office, where he worked in a small, specialized office that only dealt with the most serious felony cases and spent an entire semester working on a triple homicide.
Joshua was a flight attendant for many years. When asked why he went to intern at AFA-CWA he told the Blade, “Because it combined my professional experience as a flight attendant with my legal education and gave me the opportunity to advocate on behalf of my colleagues in the airline industry. The work is extremely rewarding and after graduation in April and the bar in July I hope to return to D.C. to work in the labor law sector, specifically in transportation/aviation.”
District of Columbia
Blade welcomes fall intern
Alexis McLean is student at University of North Florida
The Washington Blade this week welcomed Alexis McLean as its fall intern.
Alexis is studying political science at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla. She is interning with the Blade as part of a continued partnership with the Washington Center.
“I am looking forward to spending my time in the fall with the Washington Blade, as this is a new experience for me,” said Alexis. “I have not experienced any journalist jobs in the past so this would be my first time, and I am excited to better my writing and communications skills with this internship.”
Alexis’s internship with the Blade ends in early December.
Rehoboth Beach
SUNFESTIVAL takes center stage as Rehoboth Beach closes out summer
Labor Day Weekend bustling with events, including David Archuleta performance
Labor Day Weekend marks the unofficial end of summer in Rehoboth Beach, but there will be no shortage of LGBTQ events, with CAMP Rehoboth’s annual SUNFESTIVAL taking over town this weekend.
Thursday (9/3)
Get your Labor Day Weekend started early Thursday night with happy hour from 5-7 p.m. at Diego’s Bar & Nightclub, followed by Naughtee Bingo hosted by Magnolia Applebottom at 8:30 p.m.
After bingo, the party continues with Dancing at Diego’s from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Aqua Bar & Grill will also kick off its Labor Day Weekend festivities Thursday with a DJ spinning from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Friday (9/4)
The weekend ramps up Friday night at Aqua, where DJ Matt Bailer will keep the dance floor moving from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Over at Diego’s, DJ Steve Sidewalk will then take over Diego’s for Freedom Friday from 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m.
Saturday (9/5)
The main event of the weekend arrives Saturday with the opening night of CAMP Rehoboth’s SUNFESTIVAL.
Billed as the ultimate party to close out the summer, SUNFESTIVAL has become one of Rehoboth’s signature Labor Day Weekend events. The annual celebration sells out each year, with proceeds benefiting CAMP Rehoboth.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with refreshments available at the cash bar while attendees are invited to socialize and find their seats.
Saturday night will feature local singer Ashley Williams as the opening performer, followed by headliner David Archuleta. The event will also feature a live auction.
Back across town Saturday, Aqua will continue its Labor Day Weekend DJ lineup from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Diego’s will also have plenty happening, with ‘Splash Party’ hosted by Magnolia Applebottom at 5 p.m., followed by a Saturday Dance Party with Brett Oosterhaus from 9 p.m.- 1:30 a.m.
The Blue Moon hosts its popular Legends Show at 9 p.m. It’s an all-live singing show by the Blue Moon cast of celebrity impersonators.
Etienne Pilon has taken Rehoboth by storm this summer. Check out the talented singer/pianist at The Pines from 7-10 p.m.
Sunday (9/6)
Sunday’s SUNFESTIVAL event will shift the focus to the dance floor, with globally renowned DJs Robbie Leslie and James Anthony scheduled to perform. Doors open at 7 p.m., with dancing continuing until 1 a.m.
On Sunday, Aqua will throw its annual White Party, with DJs spinning from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Guests are encouraged to dress in white for the holiday weekend celebration.
Diego’s will host its Sunday High T-Dance with Pamala Stanley at 5 p.m. Later that evening, DJ Tannr will be spinning at 9 p.m.
John Flynn is on the piano from 6-8 p.m. at the Blue Moon.
Monday (9/7)
The final day of Labor Day Weekend brings one last chance to hit the dance floor before summer officially winds down.
Aqua will close out its five-day Labor Day Weekend celebration with DJ Biff from 3-7 p.m.
Maryland
Anne Arundel schools now need parent permission to call trans students by preferred names
Conservative groups challenged system’s policy
By JESSICA CALEFATI | Anne Arundel County Public Schools staff cannot use transgender students’ preferred names if their parents oppose it, according to an internal document reviewed by the Banner, a change that comes after conservative groups challenged the school system’s approach to gender identity.
Teachers union president Kristina Korona told members in an Aug. 20 email that the new guidance undermines district policy on acceptance and inclusivity and “will begin harming affected students immediately.”
Previously, the district didn’t require parental permission to use a high school student’s chosen name and pronouns corresponding to their gender identity, the internal document says. Now it does. The change comes as parents challenge the suburban school system’s gender identity policy and regulation in court and the Trump-Vance administration threatens the district’s funding.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
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