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America is in crisis and our hearts are breaking. It isn鈥檛 just one thing. It is the combination, and the fact that things are all happening at the same time: the the , the data showing that and that, with NYC coming in at #6. The crisis isn't just the murders of , , and so many others, or the fact that . It is everything at once that is so intolerable and so combustible. It is the fact that these current intolerable injustices are just the latest in centuries of violence against black and brown people on this land.
At CESR we work on issues of Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Identity. Our focus is on the business environment. But the business world is a reflection of society. Who gets a seat at the table is first established in childhood with . It starts with , the ways , and the ways our public officials respond to the need for , and . This is the context in which corporate diversity and inclusion programs operate, and which makes them necessary.
We are heartened to know that our school is committed to creating an environment in which all students can reach their full potential, which believes that diversity is strength, and which actively works to instill a sense of purpose and strong values in future leaders. In that spirit we are sharing with you some words of wisdom and insight from thought leaders at the Leeds School of Business and First Peoples Worldwide, as well as a roundup of resources that we urge you to use in your own journey toward justice. We are grieving alongside communities of color, and recognize that their anger and pain are far greater and more important than our own. We believe fundamentally that we can make the world better, but not without those of us who benefit from racism and systems of oppression recognizing our responsibility to fix what is so broken in our society and taking meaningful action.听
As CESR Interim Director, Julie Waggoner, says 鈥淲e need to recognize that we are a white-woman-led organization, and for all white folx social and racial justice has to start with the internal work of recognizing our own racism and constantly questioning and challenging our own thoughts and actions. Asking not the unhelpful 鈥業s what I just thought/said/did racist?鈥 (if you have to ask, the answer is likely yes), but rather 鈥楬ow much did my own racism play a role in that thought/statement/action, and how so?鈥欌
We invite you to join us.
Phil DiStefano, CU 麻豆影院 Chancellor:
As I see national news stories about the death of , I reflect on the conversations I had earlier this year with our students about these very issues.听
Even though a global pandemic is keeping us apart from each other, I share in your pain, anger and sadness. When we see acts of racism, it affects us deeply and takes a physical, mental and emotional toll. We must reach out and support each other as we process what has happened. For me, I will not lose hope. . . These intolerable injustices, whether they happen in Minnesota, New York or here in Colorado, strike at the core of everything we believe. Let me be clear: I am committed to diversity and inclusion of everyone on our campus. . .
As a campus community, it is incumbent on us to encourage civil discourse that lifts us all from this darkness. Universities can be, and must be, at the heart of social change. As a campus, we continuously work to cultivate a diverse, inclusive and welcoming community. We best illustrate this through our moral actions when we see injustice, close to home or far away. . .听
Carla Fredericks, Director, American Indian Law Clinic, University of Colorado Law School, Director, First Peoples Worldwide, University of Colorado and Faculty Affiliate, Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility, University of Colorado Leeds School of Business:
Native Americans are disproportionately impacted by both the negative effects of COVID-19 and the under and over-policing of their communities. Historic and ongoing human rights violations have created conditions such as under-resourced health care systems and lack of access to running water that have predisposed Indigenous communities to the worst impacts of the global pandemic.
Additionally, Native Americans experience a disproportionately high rate of violence and death from police interactions. The militarized use of force that we are witnessing across the country is reminiscent of the force used against the water protectors during the #nodapl Dakota Access Pipeline movement.
First Peoples Worldwide is collecting resources and suggested reading on the website and have also written a couple articles including:
- Indigenous Peoples and the 2020 Human Rights Review of the U.S. during a Global Pandemic
- The Time We Are In
Additional Recommended Resources include:
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Sabrina Volpone, Director, , Leeds School of Business:
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for society -and organizations- to consider the topic of ethical leadership and to do so through a diversity and inclusion lens. This need is illustrated with statistics that show successful COVID-19 crisis-related outcomes (e.g., reduced hospitalizations, infection rates, and deaths, the ease of country-wide lockdowns) are associated with the type of leadership that heads of state are exhibiting. Ethical leadership focused on diversity and inclusion could truly make a difference in society and in our organizations. For example, COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting Black and Native American communities. This is in addition to ample reports of overt and subtle racism that many members of the Asian community have endured related to COVID-19 and the concerns about domestic violence victims confined at home with their abusers through stay at home orders. These societal concerns impact organizations and workers alike, but there are further employee-specific concerns that show why the topic of ethical leadership and diversity are needed in our organizations specifically to address additional concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, requirements to wear masks in workplaces present barriers for the deaf and hard of hearing community (many of whom use lip reading and facial expressions as key elements in their communication) and the trend to work from home has shown that women鈥檚 careers have been disrupted as they become increasingly responsible for childcare and homeschooling while also working from home. These are just a few examples to show why organizations need to focus on the topic of ethical leadership and to do so through a diversity and inclusion lens.听听
Ruby J. Batalla, Director, Office of Diversity Affairs, Leeds School of Business:
I鈥檓 having a hard time processing George Flyod鈥檚 murder on top of Ahmaud Arbery being hunted and killed-听 and what has unfolded over the past week; the killing of a bystander in Louisville, KY, the attack of our press at rallies, peaceful protestors being cleared out for Trump to have a photo op and his continuous threats to communities of color.听It鈥檚 a lot! And I think that鈥檚 what I want to share with you.听Being from a minoritized group, with family members with mixed status, it continues to be exhausting being in an elevated and constant state of fear, on top of helping family survive (physically, economically, emotionally) through COVID-19. Trump鈥檚 policies were clear as he was campaigning and he鈥檚 delivering on them.听To attack, vilify and kill all people of color in a variety of ways.听That鈥檚 why I hope (and I鈥檝e seen instances of this hope), that our white allies will become comrades in the fight and protect our brown and black bodies against his aggression and violence that he鈥檚 inciting.听They have the most power to make necessary changes, they are in those positions of power to make it happen.听And I ask that they continue to show up, not just when a public lynching happens.
Want to take learn more or take action? Check out these resources below. This is by no means an exhaustive list, it is just a way to get started.
Read some of the responses to current events from Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) practitioners, public leaders and news outlets:
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on the impact of COVID-19 on Indian Reservations听
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, author of and
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on The Daily Show
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on the deadliness of racism
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Barack Obama on and on
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Atlanta Mayor 鈥 address on the murder of George Floyd
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by
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professor of ethnic studies at CU 麻豆影院听
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Unemployment is hitting black communities harder听
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What can you do?听
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Support local black owned businesses. Here is a to get you started
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National Museum of African American History and Culture
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blog
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KGED 听
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, a Toolkit for White People
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, a Toolkit for Healing Justice
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, Tools for Addressing Conflict
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Check out these听- including where to donate and petitions you can sign - compiled by working on "a crisis response that Builds from Emergency to Transformation"
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Donate to organizations working against police brutality:听
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Want training, or to join a conversation about race and justice? CO based resources:
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tools and trainings for businesses, local governments, nonprofits and community organizations听
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(DJP) works with historically marginalized communities to address systemic racism by transforming law enforcement and the structure of the criminal justice system
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offers training and action for white people who work for racial justice
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is a fiercely faith-based, Black Womxn-led, racial justice organization focused on Black healing and Black liberation.听
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Creative Strategies for Change offers training and consulting on racial justice and related issues
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run by Dr. Timothy Tyler, the Pastor of Shorter Community AME Church, Denver & Dr. Nita Mosby Tyler, The Chief Catalyst/Founder of the Equity Project, LLC and the HR Shop, is a 9 -week study action group on how to lead active conversations about racism and white supremacy听
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is a place to learn about Race in our lives through monthly conversations
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- 鈥淐onnecting Inclusive, Responsive Communities Leading Education鈥 promotes a commitment to diversity and inclusiveness听
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Follow or get involved with Colorado based organizations working on racial justice:
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Colorado Criminal Justice Reform (CCJR)
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Some resources that have been helpful in our journeys:
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by Paul Ortiz
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by
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鈥檚 and her book
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and her
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by
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and by
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offers online courses and her is unapologetically action oriented
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An from 鈥檚 upcoming book on the connections between slavery and contemporary policing听
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Roundup of
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JEDI Collective鈥檚 of nonfiction and fiction books, articles, reports, case studies from the business world, blogs, podcasts and videos
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Othering and Belonging Institute that help move systemic change forward
For educators working with children:
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