Several UNCG librarians participated as presenters at this year’s CACE (Conference on African American and African Diasporic Cultures and Experiences) event. One of those librarians, Candace Jacobs, wrote more about her experience:
“The Conference on African American and African Diasporic Cultures and Experiences (CACE) 2026 is one I look forward to attending annually. This year, the focus was on Race & Education. I had the pleasure of experiencing a first, presenting with my sister, Dr. Angela F. Jacobs and friend Camia Rhodes (both from North Carolina A&T State University) for the first time! Even though I have presented at CACE twice in the past, this presentation was extra special. We presented on a topic that meant a lot to us, as well as others, “Leading with Care: Advancing Mental Health Advocacy for Faculty in Academia”. In this presentation, we discussed workplace triggers, bell hooks’ “Ethic of Care”, as well as wellness and well-being in the workplace. This topic means a lot to us because of the stress and expectations placed upon those who work in higher education. Those who do the work are usually called and passionate about the work. So, caring for yourself and creating personal and professional boundaries often takes a backseat to the purpose-driven approach many often take to the work. Vocational awe aside, we who do the work deserve the same care we give to those we serve. We are truly grateful for the opportunity we were given to present this work and to, hopefully, help others to learn to care for themselves while doing this important work. What I love about CACE is the breadth and depth of topics discussed. Each year, the sessions leave me feeling seen, heard, understood, encouraged, excited, and edified. One takeaway from our session is that, even though we are professionals, we are humans first who must advocate for ourselves. That humanity is what allows us to serve our students and patrons with the care necessary to effectively carry out the missions of our institutions and positively impact the next generation of scholars and leaders.”
