ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUR COMMITMENT
On June 5, the Ignatian Center staff shared a public statement outlining our stance of solidarity with those fighting for racial justice and making a public commitment to join that fight. I am writing on behalf of the Center to share the actions we have taken to date.
Actions Taken:
- Staff Training: Our staff has completed two, three-part workshop trainings. The first series focused on implicit bias, bystander intervention, and code-switching. The second has focused on the intersection of racial justice and the Ignatian Tradition. In addition, many staff members have completed individual professional development opportunities focused on racial justice education and training.
- Social Media: We have prioritized sharing content on social media that provides educational resources or calls to action focused on racial justice
- Twin Pandemics Event: We co-sponsored a university event called “Twin Pandemics”, an interdisciplinary responding to COVID-19 and racial injustice.
- Immersion Program Developments: We are refocusing our New Orleans immersion explicitly on the theme of racial justice, and we are exploring a program partnership in Chicago that also focuses on issues of race. In addition, we have reviewed our immersion preparation education and reflection resources to ensure a diversity of voices and experiences are represented.
- Community-based Learning Program Developments: We have prioritized the anti-racist component in our community-based learning courses and invited student leaders to share reflections on race. In addition, we are developing an anti-racists training curriculum to share with community partners.
- University Efforts: Multiple staff members have joined University-wide efforts to combat racism as part of Fr. O’Brien’s commitment to “make Santa Clara an anti-racist institution.” (Sept 15, 2020)
We fully understand that there is much work to be done and that these actions alone do not represent a box we check off as complete in this fight. We also know that words and commitments are important, and actions even more so. We share these actions publicly to demonstrate that we are acting and that we are accountable for our commitments and our actions. We also invite you all to join us in this fight, so that together we may more fully activate the Jesuit, Catholic Tradition grounded in faith and justice at SCU and beyond.
All the best,
Michael Nuttall
Interim Executive Director