Today, as Black History Month—also known as Black Awareness Month—begins, I want to update you on where we are with our efforts to advance racial justice
at the University of Miami. It is worth noting that yesterday marked exactly 60 years since the University desegregated. Since then, our progress toward equity on campus and advocacy off campus has, like in other communities around the globe, been filled with moments of exhilarating energy yet dotted with points of heartbreaking frustration.
The historic time in which we are living, as we work to overcome not only a pandemic but the economic and social ills it has accentuated, hearken us to press on toward the vision of a campus—and a world—where opportunity and accomplishment are truly dictated by the aspects of our identities over which we have both control and responsibility: our character, our integrity, and the way we treat others.
As an institution, we have taken a number of steps this academic year aimed at advancing progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion, including the appointment of Professor Donald Spivey as Special Advisor to the President for Racial Justice; organizational commitment with new and reinvigorated working groups among students, faculty, staff, and trustees to address issues of diversity and social justice; development of a university-wide plan for the Center for Global Black Studies; the launch of explicit initiatives to recruit Black faculty; better-defined equity criteria in our procurement practices; as well as nine Provost Research Awards and 10 U-LINK grants made—nearly 30% of funding through these programs so far this year—for research in the areas of race and social
justice. Creating a culture of belonging includes both holding space for different points of view and working hard to right past wrongs and prevent future harm.
Next week, we will host the first of our Courageous Conversations on Wednesday, February 10, at 7 p.m. (registration information will be out this week). Each person on this campus has a seat at the table. In encouraging us all to come to these conversations well-informed, I want to make you aware of some key recent developments related to the plan we unveiled last summer:
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The Office of Civic and Community Engagement, Multicultural Student Affairs, and the Butler Center for Service and Leadership launched the new Racial Justice Grants to support service, research, and/or programmatic activities that focus on race, racial justice, and racial equity with an emphasis on Black communities on campus and in South Florida more broadly. I am delighted to report that we have received some 37 applications, with projects ranging from a documentary about racial injustice in South Florida to a Student Career Day for young people in First Star Academy (a college readiness program for youth in the foster care system) to research on displacement of Black communities in Miami as the climate changes. I am excited about the opportunities these grants will provide for us to
strengthen relationships between UM and Black-led community organizations in South Florida and look forward to congratulating the recipients when grants are announced at the end of February.
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Last week, the Division of Student Affairs launched Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Students, an online training course provided in partnership with EverFi. All undergraduate students must complete the 45-minute course no later than February 22.
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The Human Resources Office of Workplace Equity and Inclusion launched two online courses in the fall titled Managing Bias and Diversity: Inclusion in the Modern Workplace. I am happy to report that over 7,000 employees across all campuses have completed both online training modules. In addition, Human Resources is sponsoring a second annual panel for employees in honor of Black History Month entitled Leadership Insights: Authenticity and Professional Development on February 23 at 9 a.m.
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Since November, nearly 200 leaders on the Coral Gables and Marine campuses have attended Diversity Interactive Theatre training. Two more leader sessions are scheduled for February and design is underway for customized sessions for faculty in the spring and continuing into fall 2021, which will provide tangible examples from our own students’ experiences. Moreover, a racial inclusivity employee training has been piloted with more than 80 human resources staff and members of the UM Police Department.
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This year’s One Book One U program has begun, with the selection of So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo. The first community discussion took place last Thursday, with additional sessions scheduled for February 11 and February 25.
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The reinvigorated Standing Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has embarked on a university-wide survey of initiatives, so that we may both track progress and ensure everyone has the opportunity to engage in this important work.
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The Historic Review Committee on Naming has met to consider recent petitions, and the Board of Trustees Ad Hoc Committee on Social Justice and Diversity will meet later this month to deliberate and forward its recommendations to the Executive Committee of the Board for a decision.
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The School of Education and Human Development, in collaboration with the WWMA-Black Faculty and Staff Association and Africana Studies, is hosting two Zoom panel discussions on key topics. The first, on COVID-19, Vaccinations and the Black Community, will take place Monday, February 8, at 6:30 p.m. The second, which will address Post-Election and Inauguration, What Does it Mean for Communities of Color?, will take place later this month.
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The Division of Development and Alumni Relations is planning a February campaign around Black Excellence at the U in partnership with UM’s Black Alumni Society. Our Story: Black Excellence is aimed at building, teaching, and strengthening Black alumni with three days of activities including forums on financial literacy and wealth development; education and advocacy during the current climate; and physical and mental health.
United Black Students and other student organizations will sponsor a
Black Awareness Month opening celebration this Friday, February 4, on the Foote University Green, as well as other events including a cookout, a Black art pop-up at the Lakeside Patio, and a day of service later in the month. I hope you will join us in celebrating this month, as we continue to work toward the ideals of justice and equity that are central to our mission and our identity as an exemplary institution.
If there is one thing we know about the quest for racial justice, it is that change depends on deep commitment translated into specific plans and subject to transparent accountability. Equally important is the driving force derived from everyday decisions and actions by each one of us. Thank you for doing your part to ensure that every ’Cane is valued and has the opportunity to add value. |
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