Social Justice Action Plan
Established 6/5/2020
Introduction:
Black Lives Matter.
The Student Programs & Engagement team will put that statement into action through this Social Justice Action Plan.
Why is SP&E doing this?
We have created this plan in the wake of the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade and overarching racial injustice. This page is one way to hold Student Programs & Engagement accountable to our mission of creating a sense of belonging and affirming Black identities. Here, we will outline our commitments, advertise educational programs, share resources, and document what we have done – not just what we have said. Our statements must, and will, become our actions.
Who is this for?
Make no mistake: our primary goal is in the wake of these events is to more equitably serve and support the experiences of Black students at Bentley. That includes both support to Black students – elevating Black voices, sharing resources for support, and putting into action our commitment of solidarity. It also includes better educating ourselves and students who do not identify as Black on ways we can engage in allyship and anti-racist work. Elevating, supporting, and standing with Black students is our number one priority within this plan. As we move forward, we will also explore ways to enhance this plan to also better serve the needs of other underrepresented student communities. We can and must do both.
What can I expect?
This page is meant to be regularly updated and will evolve over time. We will add content and remove content in a way that balances student needs, current events, and upcoming opportunities, while keeping this page easy to navigate and digest. We invite members of the community to share feedback on what is included here, and to share any resources, programs, or relevant information you would like others to see. But to be clear, we see providing this information to students as our responsibility (it is not a marginalized student’s job to educate us or others), and we commit to updating content at least monthly (but certainly sooner as current events and upcoming opportunities dictate).
This plan contains a number of resources, opportunities, and other information. We want you to know in addition to these items that we – the SP&E staff – are also a resource. As you browse this page for things that might offer you some support and/or topics you are interested in learning about, please know that we are here to guide you and process your experiences. For those seeking support: don’t hesitate to reach out. For those looking to learn: we are on this learning journey with you. This content is just a start. We welcome feedback, community contributions, and opportunities to collaborate.
A Note About Language
We use the term “Black” throughout this page with the intention of being inclusive of various African, African American, Multiracial, and Black identities. How each student self-identifies is an individual decision. If you are a non-Black individual working to be a better ally, we suggest you ask folks how they individually identify.