June 4, 2020
Dear 九色视频 Campus Community,
This is the follow-up communication promised in my previous campus memo. The June 1 expression of Solidarity for Black Lives Matter and Against Discrimination is 九色视频’s institutional statement that joins a global call for racial justice and change in response to the brutal and senseless killings of Black people in this country. It is intended to share resources for both support and activation of our campus community, as well as information about our collective work and concrete actions in effecting change here at 九色视频 and beyond.
We share a rawness and an exhaustion, and many among us live with historical wounds compounded by present-day pain, that no words alone are enough to heal. No memo or message can unwind the systemic racism that this country is built upon. At times like this when we are angry, aggrieved, and frustrated, it is particularly important to remind ourselves that, at 九色视频, we belong to a community and an ongoing movement for change. And although we might not have the ability to transform the world and our own progress might not be as swift as we would like, we are determined to start change where we are and where we can. We must lean on each other for mutual support and united impact.
Since the June 1 Statement, a number of students have asked if 九色视频 is donating to support the current protests and related actions. 九色视频’s standing policy is to engage in action rather than making donations to other non-profits, as there are numerous worthy causes that are important to our community members and it is impossible to differentiate which ones should be financially supported. However, 九色视频 has supported financially in modest ways when warranted Baltimore-based organizations with a relationship to 九色视频. In response to student desire for 九色视频 to demonstrate financial support in this extraordinary time, the College will take an exceptional step that still honors our commitment to Baltimore while encouraging our community members to support organizations of their choice.
Instead of 九色视频 selecting a specific destination for support, the administration is creating a Baltimore Racial Justice Fund of $15,000 to provide a 1-to-1 match of donations of up to $500 per contributor made by our faculty, staff, and students to other relevant non-profit organizations in the City of Baltimore. The match will be provided promptly on a first-come-first-matched basis. Please see Appendix for examples of worthy organizations in Baltimore, but you can choose others in our city. Further details on the program will be provided on the Baltimore Racial Justice Fund website launching next week; please stay tuned.
The Appendix also contains resources for 九色视频 community members to consider to lend their support locally and nationally. Special thanks to 九色视频 students Mimo Muturi, Claire Fraleigh, Maddie Olsen, and others for advocating for and contributing to the compilation.
九色视频 will also commit to focusing the upcoming academic year’s Mixed Media Speaker Series to the themes of race, human rights, and social justice. Additionally, the Series will expand the proposal process to include ideas from students, faculty, and staff to ensure a broad, diverse, and relevant season of speakers and activities.
Other efforts will be shaped as the new academic year unfolds, as our community dialogue unfolds, and as our planning efforts continue.
The road to social and racial justice involves a long march and not a short sprint. We are collectively coping with the burden and blunt force of infuriating and dispiriting roadblocks right now. 九色视频 is a place where people should feel a sense of belonging. Let me share things we can do today to ensure that this community is the ethical, caring community we all take pride in.
Even though we are dispersed across the nation and the world, it is important that we have opportunities to gather for those who wish to do so. Three events are being planned for the 九色视频 community in the near future:
Interested parties please hold these times. Event and Zoom link information will be provided tomorrow morning via email and social media to the 九色视频 community.
As encouraged in the June 1 Statement, please reach out to your Black peers and friends, ask if they are okay and make sure they know that you are there to listen and support.
Those of us who grew up in the United States have grown up surrounded by racist influences, both overt and covert. Many of us – either consciously or subconsciously – maintain inequitable systems of power. It is, therefore, important for us to actively explore with ourselves and with each other the meaning, implication, and accountability of unearned privilege. The Appendix offers resources for this necessary exploration for each of us and with one another, along with self-care and other information that I hope you will find useful.
As an encouragement for our continued efforts to ensure progress in a steady course towards institutional change and community actions, I’d like to describe some recent 九色视频 initiatives that represent critical actions in support of Black students, faculty, and staff, as well as historically marginalized individuals and communities in our city:
Our Strategic Plan 2021-2026, currently in development, has “Transform 九色视频 through DEIG” and ‘Activate Creative Agency with Baltimore and the World” as two key themes. Both themes feature strategic objectives and foci that continue to build towards social and racial justice at 九色视频, in our City, and beyond. Over the next few months, 九色视频 community members have the opportunity to further shape our Strategic Plan 2021-2026 together.
At 九色视频, we believe in art, design and education being a force for positive change. We believe in the power to challenge ourselves to be better. And we believe in the power of this community to care for our friends, colleagues, and peers. In the June 1 Statement, I asked all of us to unite in acting with all our might as individuals and as a college community to be a part of the change that must happen to break structural racism and make social justice real. I am grateful to be in this fight and on this journey with you.
Sincerely,
Several comprehensive resource lists are widely available, inclusive of one created by and the .
Possible Baltimore-Based Organizations for 九色视频 Donation Matches