Sep 29, 2021
Dear campus community,
Last month marked one year since the launch of the UCI Black Thriving Initiative (BTI) on August 25, 2020. The killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, while in police custody in Minneapolis, sparked an urgent national reckoning about systemic racism that continues. It, too, accelerated our own campus conversation about the imperative to build a university culture where Black people thrive.
To this end, the UCI Black Thriving Initiative mobilizes the entire campus community to translate this purpose into a lived reality in three integrated ways. These are: change the culture by confronting anti-Blackness, leverage the research and teaching mission to advance understanding about the Black experience and drivers of well-being, and link UCI’s future to the success of Black people.
Last academic year students and employees as well as alumni and the wider community responded positively and purposefully. Their strong support underscores the connection between Black thriving and the Anteater spirit. Please visit the BTI year-in-review recap, podcast and infographic to learn more.
As we return to in-person teaching, learning and working, now is the time and opportunity to build on this remarkable momentum and accelerate BTI. There are several ways that you can contribute to the transformation of UCI into the nation’s foremost destination for Black people to thrive.
- Take the BTI Pledge
- Complete one or more anti-Blackness in the United States course modules
- Visit the BTI website to keep abreast of events and to explore a wide range of resources
All undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff, and alumni are welcome to participate.
Sincerely,
Douglas M. Haynes, Ph.D. (Pronouns: he/him/his)
Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Chief Diversity Officer
Director, ADVANCE Program
Professor of History