反对系统性的种族主义和不平等

总统 Kratochvil的 message to the LMC community

在2017年的告别演说中，奥巴马总统呼吁全国采取行动。 He noted that the United States is exceptional, not because it has been “flawless from the start,” but because we “have shown the capacity to change and make life better for those who follow.” He acknowledged that change does not come easily or happen swiftly. “是的，我们的进步是不平衡的，”他继续说道。 “For every two steps forward, it often feels we take one step back. But the long sweep of America has been defined by forward motion, a constant widening of our founding creed to embrace all and not just some.”

We are still striving for, but struggling to achieve, progress on a number of fronts in this country – particularly when it comes to equality and justice for Black, indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), and for marginalized, minoritized, and historically-underrepresented groups. At Los Medanos College, we are committed to strengthening a culture of equity, diversity, inclusion, and racial justice. However, we recognize that our own efforts to provide education, opportunity, respect, safety, and success for all have not been flawless. Although many members of our College community have engaged in important equity-focused work, we have much more to do as an institution – namely around anti-racism and social justice. We have a tremendous capacity for change, a collective vision to make a positive difference in the lives of our students, and a commitment to “embrace all and not just some,” all of 澳门威尼斯人网上赌场 will serve us well in this endeavor. LMC strives to provide an equitable learning and working environment for all, and to realize that goal we must stand against racism. We must work to root out and strike down systemic racism and white supremacy. We must demonstrate our commitment to learn, listen, and act in order to achieve that goal – not just on paper, but in practice.

One of our recent institutional actions demonstrating that commitment was joining the 南加州大学种族与平等中心加州社区大学公平领导联盟. This new consortium has been designed as a “sustainable, multi-dimensional effort that addresses long-standing racial equity issues and campus racial climate problems.” In June, 20 members of our College community – including classified professional and faculty leaders identified by their respective Senates, along with our 总统’s Cabinet team – participated in an initial session entitled “Leading Productive Conversations about Racism.” Even in the face of fiscal challenges and uncertainty resulting from the economic impact of the global pandemic, we are committing financial resources to this work as an institutional priority. As a member institution, LMC will be able to utilize the resources and tools offered by the Alliance, including:

• 参加每月的“econevening”专业学习经验，每篇文章都侧重于种族平等的一个特定方面。 Among the tentative topics are: Fostering and Sustaining Inclusive Classrooms for Students of Color; 问责制 and Incentives for Advancing Racial Equity; Confronting Explicit Acts of Racism and Racial Violence on Campus; Creating Equitable Pathways to Leadership Roles for Employees of Color; 分类数据识别种族不平等； Eliminating Racial Disproportionality in Student Transfer Rates; 聘用和保留有色人种教员； Meaningfully Integrating Race Across the Curriculum; Recruiting and Strategically Diversifying Staff at All Levels; 以及利用调查数据改善校园种族氛围。
• 访问虚拟股权资源门户, an online repository of resources and tools (e.g. equity-related rubrics, readings, case studies, videos, conversation scripts, etc.).
• 三次校园气候调查的管理：全国大学生校园气候评估中心（NACCC）； and two additional surveys – one for personnel at all levels, the other for all faculty – designed using the NACCC as a guide.

In addition, we have taken steps to incorporate anti-racism objectives and language into our 2020-25 Educational Master Plan, 澳门威尼斯人网上赌场 is still in development, and to align it with the 加州社区学院校长办公室（CCCCO）“行动呼吁”战略. Efforts are also well underway to develop an online resources site to support and strengthen our efforts to fight racism and injustice – as individuals and as a College community. 这个新网站预计不久就会推出。 And, plans are in the works for a “town hall” College Assembly on racial justice – jointly hosted by the Senates and 总统办公室 – to be held in the Fall. LMC was also selected to participate in 关怀的校园, an initiative of the Institute for Evidence-Based Change that engages classified professionals in developing behavioral commitments to proactively support and interact with students. 关怀的校园 supports institutional equity efforts by fostering an environment where all students – including those who have been historically marginalized or underserved – feel cared for and connected.

LMC’s focus on students, sense of community, commitment to equity and inclusion, and collaborative spirit will support our efforts to stand together against racism. It may not be an easy process, and some changes will take longer than others, but this work is critical and necessary to fully achieve our mission. And, along the way, we must make the effort and take the time to really listen to one another, truly see one another, authentically engage with one another, and respect one another.