Events and Programs

The planned events and programs of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee are aligned with the structure of the committee's 2021-2022 Plan of Action. By following the plan's structure of curriculum, dialogue and resources, the committee aims to drive tangible transformation for the School of Education throughout the academic year.

Curriculum

Faculty Workshops: Decolonize Your Curriculum Series
This series will actively engage faculty, instructors and doctoral students in the process of curriculum decolonization; questioning whose voices are represented, identifying power structures, and de-centering Whiteness.

From SOE to the Community: Joining Forces to Foster DEI beyond VCU

Faculty, staff and students who have benefited from participation in DEI events and training (e.g., Becoming an Antiracist Educator Series, Decolonizing Your Syllabi and/or Curriculum Workshops, UndocuAlly) will be able to apply for community project funds (NTE $500.00 per project); these grants will support projects to advance antiracism and decolonization work - especially work that centers DEI as it relates to the intersectional nature of community members’ identities. Project funds could support curriculum materials, professional learning opportunities, or other related expenses exclusive of payment to faculty, staff and students. Project funding recipients will present a written and oral summary of their work to advance antiracism and decolonization in academia.

Dialogue

Intergroup Dialogue Discussion Groups Training/Certification for Anti-Racist Action
The purpose of this initiative is to explore how Intergroup Dialogue (IGD) can be a tool for anti-racist action and other intersecting identities, especially within the School of Education. This initiative will build upon prior knowledge in this area and will provide an intensive discussion facilitation for members SOE community members (including staff, leadership, faculty and students) to become certified leaders with this dialogue method. 

Igniting Progress: Using My Voice to Respond to Resistance
Highlight five local/regional educators who will each give a 5-minute “TED Talk” presentation about their personal stories related to racial equity and resistance in education. Participants will engage in reflective dialogue to discuss how this critical topic impacts their antiracist work in education.

Resources

Clarity, Counteraction and CRT
The purpose of this resource (and possible interactive session) will be to provide information relative to addressing the critics of critical race theory. It is anticipated that the DEI Committee will collaborate with SOE leadership who have already started to strategize efforts to educate the SOE community.

Community Engagement Event
This is a collaborative community event with SOE, internal and external community partners. Our goal is to partner with internal VCU partners, community organizations, and local schools to host a collaborative community event to serve the shared needs of the Richmond metro community. This event will feature presentations from each of our community project funding recepients. Topics will center around intersectional identities such as race, disability, gender and sexual identity.

New Student Welcome Event
This annual spring event celebrates and welcomes graduate and undergraduate students to the SOE community who identify as underrepresented minorities.