Our dedication to Racial Equality and Social Justice (RESJ) spans decades. Learn more about our RESJ Initiative

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Racial Equity and Social Justice

 

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For fifty years, our commitment to social justice and inclusion has been the bedrock of our mission and purpose. We believe that Cambridge College has contributed to helping to create a more equitable and inclusive world, but more work is still needed. We envision a society that promotes the health, well-being, and empowerment of all people. We recognize that particular attention needs to be paid to oppressed groups, those most affected by institutional racism and an economic system that prioritizes the profits of a few over the well-being of many.

Together, we will continue to stand against the systemic racism and inequities that pervade black and brown communities in social, health, education, and workforce development and will strive for the liberation of all. 

Under the leadership of the Office of the President and with guidance from our inaugural Equity & Inclusion Committee, Cambridge College will create and implement a series of events, discussions, and resources to educate and inform our community about systemic racism, social and economic inequities, and related concepts to heal our communities and the world.

 

The Racial Equity and Social Justice Initiative (RESJI)

Overview

This initiative will address the societal challenges of systemic racism, social injustice and inequity.  A central theme of this initiative is to cultivate a diverse and equitable community to dismantle racism through an ongoing process of education and self-assessment.

Our commitment to this work is rooted in the belief that all members of our community are valued and must work collaboratively to further the social justice mission of the College; and to nurture an environment that embraces diverse backgrounds, cultures, ideas and perspectives that contribute to a rich learning experience.

Mission

Cambridge College is committed to instilling a collective impact of racial equity, diversity and social justice where equal opportunities and equitable outcomes exist for all. Through the implementation of the Pillars of Impact we will support a diverse, equitable and inclusive community that nurtures respect, understanding and belonging.

The RESJI Framework

The Framework consists of Four Pillars of Impact where the collective efforts of the committee members that make up each of the four pillars will focus on how the College will dismantle systemic racism and social inequities to create a culture of inclusion, respect and understanding.

#1: Governance

  • Ensure that our Board composition reflects our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and the College’s commitment to racial and social equity and justice in its actions.
  • Sustain the College’s commitment to diversity equity and inclusion among students, staff, faculty and trustees.

Committee Membership

  • Deborah Jackson, Chair (President)
  • Kevin McCall (Chairman)
  • Jim Siegel (Trustee)

#2: Workforce, DEI & Supplier Diversity

  • Create a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce by advancing a culture of belonging through thoughtful recruitment, equitable compensation, promotions and opportunities, and nurturing inclusive and supportive teams and teamwork.
  • Utilize tools and resources to access our current status and progress toward goals for diversity and inclusion.
  • Ensure that everyone in the College has the same opportunities to succeed, to contribute, to be recognized, to be equitably compensated, and to achieve their full potential in the workplace.
  • Leverage our purchasing power to engage women and minority-owned businesses.
  • Be intentional in our procurement practices to engage and encourage/require vendors to be more responsive to and to show evidence of DEI in their companies.

Committee Membership

  • Lauretta Siggers, Chair (VP-HR)
  • Maria Vasallo, Co-Chair (AVP)
  • FeLisa Albert (Academic Success Coach/Senior Faculty)
  • Michael Dickinson (Director of Undergraduate Academic Advising, Faculty SAS)
  • Salina Duggan (Part-time Faculty Member)
  • Jomary Marrero (Assistant Director of Social Media & Digital Marketing Operations, CCPR)
  • Blair Ross (Admissions)
  • Anthony Viola (Library Director, CELT)
  • Lidon Weatherly (Director of HR)

#3: Academic, Faculty and Students

  • Inculcate the concepts and practices of racial equity and justice into our academic programming, including faculty training and supporting student events, workshops, and resources.
  • Re-examine curricula that unconsciously reinforces and endorses systemic racism.
  • Create and offer academic programs that require cultural competency to equip our faculty and students with facts and data grounded in the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
  • Provide students with support to excel in an environment that respects, embraces, and nurtures their diverse backgrounds and perspectives. 

Committee Membership

  • Niti Seth, Chair (Provost ad interim)
  • Joseph Reed, Co-Chair (Core Faculty, SBT)
  • Stephen Healey, Co-Chair (President ad interim)
  • Tracy McLaughlin (Associate Provost)
  • Deborah Merriman (Core faculty, SEC)
  • Massomeh Namavar (Core faculty, SEC)
  • Lucilia Valerio (Core faculty, SAS)
  • John Alonso (VP, Enrollment; Adjunct Instructor)
  • Tahia Bell-Sykes (SAS staff, Adjunct Instructor)
  • Sandra Bridwell (Core Faculty, SEC)
  • Jeff Cronin (Librarian & Professor, CCG)
  • Diane Harper (Senior Instructor, SEC)
  • Nelleen Knight (Chief of Staff - Academic Affairs)
  • Linda Kuramoto, (Program Co-Chair, SEC; Senior Instructor)
  • Maria Mangual (Program Coordinator, SEC; Senior Instructor, Puerto Rico)
  • Sofia Nova (SEC staff)
  • Shannon Dion (Program Chair, SEC; Senior Instructor)
  • Shannon Thomas Allen (SAS student, CC CA)
  • Tiffany Bocage (SAS student)

#4: Community

Influence, support, and advocate for racial and social justice and equity outside of our college, and in our communities.

Committee Membership

  • Phillip Page, Chair (VP Partnerships)
  • Daniel Ibarrondo, Co-Chair (Asst. Dean, Online)
  • Carmen Mendez (Assistant Director of Business Operations/DSO/SCO, CC PR)
  • Natasa Ninkovic (Alumni, SAS)
  • Barbara Reid (Core Faculty, SAS)
  • Kevin Sibley ( Alumni, SBT)
  • Cheryl Williams (Part-time faculty, CC SPR)

Past Events

February 22, 2023: A Fireside Chat with Rob "ProBlak" Gibbs & President Deborah C. Jackson, hosted by Cambridge College. Watch a recording of the event; Read Rob's bio and see some of his work; Visit Rob's website.

October 14-November 4, 2022: Sofrito Manifesto. Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción (IBA), a long-time partner of Cambridge College, presented an exhibit in the CC Town Common in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The exhibition featured large-scale photographs from San-Juan based pop artist Bernardo Medina’s book, which is a "tribute to the cooking of his late abuelas."

February 18, 2022: DeeDee's Cry Mental Health While Black Summit. Encore Boston Harbor, 1 Broadway, Everett, MA.

February 17, 2022: Webinar: How a Black-owned business creates community.

August 11, 2021: Justice, Equity & Inclusion Series: Creating a Culture of Compassion. Online. Presented by The Boston Globe, The Massachusetts Conference for Women, The Texas Conference for Women, and State Street.

July 22, 2021: What If We All Had Enough? Freeing Our True Selves from the Locks of Oppression. An online presentation by the City Spotlights Teen Leadership Program.

July 21, 2021: Cambridge College Panel Discussion - Part 2 of Pride & Pain: Black Triumph and Trauma in America. A discussion about the significance of the Tulsa Race Massacre.

July 13, 2021: Black Health Summit, Community invited to hear from nationally-acclaimed experts on chronic disease, mental health, fitness, wellness, and more. Free. Presented by Black Health Matters and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Learn more

July 9, 2021: Public Reading of Frederick Douglas's Fourth of July Address, Museum of African American History, 46 Joy Street, Boston. More info at masshumanities.org

Ongoing March through June 2021: Mass. Historical Society & Northeastern Univ. School of Law, Confronting Racial Injustice Series

Every Tuesday, May 18, 2021 - June 15, 2021: Boston Foundation,  Book Discussion: "Waking Up White, And Finding Myself in the Story of Race"

April 30, 2021: Racism is a Virus: The Impact of Racism on Overall Health, A panel discussion hosted by Cambridge College.

December 10, 2020: Student Virtual Coffee Hour

December 9, 2020: Faculty Conversations on Race: Moving Towards Racial Equity

November 18, 2020​: Faculty Conversations on Race: Racial Consciousness and The Current Reality

November 12, 2020, Student Virtual Coffee Hour

October 14, 2020, Faculty Conversations on Race: Why is Talking about Race So Difficult?  

Feb 23, 2020, Boston Public Library, Anna Malaika Tubbs — The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation

Feb 18, City of Boston Department of Youth Engagement and Employment, Dream Chasers 2021: One Mic, Many Voices

Feb 13, Boston Public Library, A Nubian Movement: African Dance Workshop ft. Wyoma

Feb 9,  Harvard Radcliffe Institute, AHOTB - based on Fanny Lou Hamer’s idea that “a black women’s body is never hers alone”

Feb 8, Cambridge Public Library, How the Turntables Have Turned! A Conversation About Hip-Hop & The Media

November 19, 2020,  The Dinner Group - Boston, Men of Color Conference: Equity, Justice, Development - Day 2

November 12, 2020, The Dinner Group - Boston, Men of Color Conference: Equity, Justice, Development - Day 1

November 2, 2020, Eastern Bank, Virtual Celebration of Social Justice

October 21, 2020, Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus, From Protest to Power, Part 2: Electeds Enacting Policy

October 13, 2020, Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus, From Protest to Power, Part 1: Activists in Action. 

2018, cosponsors: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and National Museum of African American History, Symposium: Finding Common Ground. 

 

 

Resources

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These resources are gathered as part of an ongoing, collaborative effort. Please reach out with your recommendations by emailing us at OfficeofPublicRelations@cambridgecollege.edu.

Articles

COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter: Examining Anti-Asian Racism and Anti-Blackness in US Education, (co-authored by Cambridge College faculty member, Divya Anand, MA, MPhil, PhD) International Journal of Multidisciplinary Perspectives in Higher Education

Toward a racially just workplace, Harvard Business Review, 2019

Why diversity matters, McKinsey & Company, 2015

Create a Shared Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Vision, young nonprofit professional network - Boston, 2017

Microaggressions: More Than Just Race, Psychology Today, 2010

Day-to-Day Experiences of Emotional Tax among Women and Men of Color in the Workplace, Catalyst.org, 2018

Success Comes from Affirming Your Potential, Harvard Business Review, 2019

A Letter to My POC Sisters and Brothers, CompassPoint, 2016

Awake to Woke at Work: Building a Race Equity Culture, Equity in the Center

A Call to Action: Addressing Racism at Four Levels, Tamika Mason, SHRM-SCP, SPH, 2020

Cambridge College Online Library collection of African American journals - available to CC students, faculty and staff

Burning Tulsa: The Legacy of Black Dispossession, Zinn Education Project, 2013

The Color Line, Zinn Education Project

How Red Lines Built White Wealth: A Lesson on Housing Segregation in the 20th Century, Zinn Education Project

Teaching SNCC: The Organization at the Heart of the Civil Rights Revolution, Zinn Education Project

What We Don’t Learn About the Black Panther Party — but Should, Zinn Education Project

When Black Lives Mattered: Why Teach Reconstruction, Zinn Education Project, 2020

Videos, Documentaries & Television

6 Ways to be an Antiracist Educator. Edutopia. August 2020.

7 videos that help explain racism and how to be anti-racist. The Renewal Project. June 2020.

Baldwin-Buckley race debate still resonates 55 years on. PBS News Hour. February 2020.

The Color of Fear (Documentary). Wah, Lee Mun. 1994.

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi: Creating a More Equitable Society is in White Americans' Self Interest. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. June 2020.

From the Inside Out: Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging. Wendy Knight Agard, TEDxKanata. April 2020.

How We Fight 2 Point Plan Video. How We Fight. June 2020.

Let's get to the root of racial injustice. Megan Ming Francis, TEDxRainier. March 2016.

Minding the Gap: A Look at Income Inequality in the U.S. Time. February 2020.

On Diversity: Access Ain't Inclusion. Anthony Jack, TEDxCambridge. June 2019.

"Stamped" and the Story of Racism in the U.S. The Daily Show. March 2020.

Thomas Sowell on the Myths Economic Inequality. Hoover Institution. December 2018.

White Fragility & Other Anti-Racism Videos. Barclay, XayLi. June 2020.

Websites

Blackfacts.com

Live Another DayLive Another Day's mission is "equal access to live-saving resources." The site offers guides for People of Color and an editorially curated list of the top-rated rehab centers in Boston.

Obama.org - Meet Anguish with Action

Racial Equity Tools