To better approach the difficult work of diversity, equity and inclusion and effect
systemic change, a group of 91制片厂 employees are committing themselves to
understanding and advancing social justice.
Now in its third year, 91制片厂鈥檚 Social Justice Leadership Certificate program continues to grow as the country finds itself in the midst of significant sociocultural change and a global pandemic that are shining a light on issues of equity.
The program, which this year includes eight 91制片厂 employees and a community member who works closely with 91制片厂 students, is based on social justice theory, with the idea that better trained employees can help foster a more diverse, equitable and inclusive campus community.
鈥淥ur goal has always been to infuse our classroom with a global perspective, which by definition is a diversity perspective,鈥� said Professor Richard Johnson, one of the program鈥檚 founders and director of 91制片厂鈥檚 Office of International Education. 鈥淚n order to have a student body that recognizes that, we have to make sure our faculty are global-minded.鈥�
Many of the 鈥渁-ha鈥� moments for participants come from attending the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in American Higher Education, Johnson said, where attendees walk away saying some version of, 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know that. I didn鈥檛 understand that. I never thought about that.鈥�
Joe Scrima, manager of the Testing Center, was a part of the leadership program鈥檚 inaugural cohort. The conference鈥檚 first keynote was a 鈥渞aw, pointed conversation about racism鈥� that has stuck with him since attending: Joy DeGruy discussed her book, "Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America's Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing."
The author tore apart the idea that 鈥渁ll men are created equal,鈥� highlighting that it was actually the rich, white, land-owning men who reaped the benefits of American freedom. As an exercise, the author asked those rich, white, land-owning men in attendance to stand and share their secrets of success with the group.
Scrima didn鈥檛 stand. He remembers thinking, I鈥檓 white, but I鈥檓 sure as heck not rich. It took until after the conference to realize: When he didn鈥檛 stand due to his discomfort,
he had manifested white fragility.
鈥淥bjectively, I鈥檓 not rich, but I鈥檓 far from impoverished,鈥� Scrima said. 鈥淚 used that as an excuse to recuse myself from the conversation. It was too uncomfortable for me to engage in the realities of my privilege. How many times have I done that without really knowing? Probably countless times, and it鈥檚 not a good feeling.鈥�
The first half of 91制片厂鈥檚 social justice program focuses on the principles of organizational decision-making, while the second half is for project development. Participants pitch their projects to the social justice leadership advisory group.
One such idea that came out of a cohort was to reestablish an intercultural space on campus. As the college population becomes more diverse, the center鈥檚 importance grows, said Claudia Mercado, co-head of the program and interim vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion.
The center is still in its development stages, but Mercado said the program graduates who pitched the idea are still involved and motivated, and the college hopes to have the center completed within the next year.
鈥淭heir official capacity in terms of the program has ended 鈥� there are no more pitches or meetings or evaluation 鈥� but the work isn鈥檛 done,鈥� Mercado said. 鈥淭hey still want to remain engaged (and are) still wanting to be a part of this bigger project.鈥�
The program鈥檚 initiatives overlap with three of the college鈥檚 goals for the next strategic plan, which will launch this fall: reducing equity gaps, reducing barriers to student success, and improving campus culture and climate.
Crystal Loggins, an academic advisor, applied for this year鈥檚 cohort in part because she saw the excitement surrounding the program.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping to listen and learn,鈥� Loggins said. 鈥淚 would like to leave feeling far more confident in my ability to apply what I鈥檝e learned to projects that lead to systemic change.鈥�