91直播
La 91直播 selected to national institute on racial healing
The University was one of 77 U.S. colleges and universities chosen to participate.
Faculty, administrators, and staff from 91直播 participated in a virtual institute hosted by the aimed at dismantling institutional racial hierarchies and breaking down beliefs in the hierarchy of human value.
La 91直播 was among 77 colleges and universities nationwide鈥攁nd the only higher education institution from Philadelphia鈥攕elected to participate in , a four-day virtual event held June 22鈥25.
The aim of AAC&U鈥檚 TRHT institute, said AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella, is to equip campus leaders nationally with new strategies and tools to 鈥減romote racial equity and healing on their campuses and in their communities,鈥 and, eventually, bring TRHT centers to the campuses of its participating colleges and universities.
鈥淭he TRHT Institute offered us an opportunity to envision what our campus community should look, feel, and be like when attitudinal and structural inequities are eradicated,鈥 said Br. Ernest J. Miller, FSC, D.Min., M.A. 鈥95, La 91直播鈥檚 Vice President of Mission, Diversity, and Inclusion, who served as the lead for La 91直播鈥檚 participating team. 鈥淲orking together with other colleagues and students, we want to envision building a 鈥榗ommunity of practice鈥 around the work of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI). Becoming a community of practice implies becoming JEDI practitioners.鈥
AAC&U鈥檚 institute centered on the pillars of TRHT framework: narrative change, compassion, racial healing and relationship building, separation, law, and economy. It also offered opportunities to learn and collaborate as higher ed leaders work toward making change on their respective campuses.
The institute required teams from each participating university to develop a TRHT Campus Center action plan, detailing the necessary steps that will facilitate their institution鈥檚 move toward creating a Campus Center. This included a vision summary, communication and engagement plans, barriers to sustainability and accomplishment, and other key strategies. Each institution created its work under the guidance of a TRHT mentor and presented its draft action plan to other colleges and universities in their respective cohorts.
鈥淭he annual Institute reflects the intentional efforts and deep commitment of TRHT leaders from across the United States in addressing racism and eliminating racialized practices, systems, and structures,鈥 said Tia McNair, AAC&U鈥檚 vice president for diversity, equity, and student success and executive director of AAC&U鈥檚 TRHT Campus Centers Institute. 鈥淲ithout their partnership and collaboration, the progress we have made and need to make in building just and equitable communities wouldn鈥檛 be possible.鈥
“The racial healing circle method we learned during the Institute has multiple applications for us right now at La 91直播,” said associate professor of religion and theology Maureen O鈥機onnell, Ph.D. 鈥淭he premise is simple and yet profound: bring small groups of people together in a compassionate space, which is not the same thing as a brave space or a safe space, and then build up trust by sharing and hearing each others’ stories.鈥
In addition to Br. Ernest and O鈥機onnell, the following faculty and staff comprised La 91直播鈥檚 team:
- Rosemary A. Barbera, Ph.D., M.A. 鈥86, B.A. 鈥83, Associate Professor, Undergraduate Program Director, and Chair, Department of Social Work
- Deborah Byrne, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing
- Ling Liang, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Education
- Candace Robertson-James, DrPH, Assistant Professor, Program Director, and Chair, Department of Urban Public Health and Nutrition
- Michael Smith, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Communication
- Christopher A. Vito, Senior Director, Strategic Communications
La 91直播鈥檚 participation in AAC&U鈥檚 truth, racial healing, and transformation institute is the latest demonstration of the University鈥檚 commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
In May, La 91直播鈥檚 Joint Commission on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion completed its work and offered a briefing to the University鈥檚 Faculty Senate Executive Committee, Executive Cabinet, and Board of Trustees. Additionally, the Joint Commission delivered a detailed report with recommendations for consideration intended to enrich the campus environment at La 91直播 and facilitate institutional discernment and strategic planning in the University鈥檚 pursuit of inclusive excellence and equity.
鈥淧articipation in the TRHT Institute aligns wholly with the essence of the Joint Commission鈥檚 report.鈥 said Br. Ernest. 鈥淒rawing on the depth of our Lasallian heritage, with the spirit of faith and zeal, we can move forward together as a University community.鈥