March 21 Marks Beginning of Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge
The 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge invites faculty and staff to complete a curriculum of daily short assignments, typically taking less than an hour a day. The series will last five weeks, beginning the week of March 21, with group discussions occurring Friday afternoons from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. via zoom.
The 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge is intentionally crafted to focus on the diverse Latinx experience. Latinx communities are truly diverse across race, language, culture, history, and experiences. The UTSA faculty and staff team that created this Challenge hope to build deeper knowledge and awareness about the diversity of experiences within the broader Latinx communities to better understand and serve the Roadrunner community.
UTSA is hosting the 2022 Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge, a concept introduced by Dr. Eddie Moore Jr. to better understand the intersections of race, power, privilege, supremacy, oppression, and equity. The Challenge is intended to engage faculty and staff in learning about racial injustice and advocating for anti-racism.
⇒ Interested in joining this Challenge? To sign up, complete this form.
Starting on March 21, week number one begins with an overview of the program, terminology, and language. The discussion on Friday, March 25, will be facilitated by the 21 Day Racial Equity Challenge planning committee members.
Starting on Monday, March 28, week two will focus on Latinx history. On Friday, April 1, the discussion will be led by Dr. Gabriela González and Dr. Omar Valerio-Jimenez, Associate Professors of the Department of History.
Week three’s topic, beginning Monday, April 4, Colorism and Anti-Blackness, will include discussions facilitated by Dr. Marc D. Perry, Associate Professor of African American Studies, and Dr. Marco Cervantes, Associate Professor of Mexican American Studies.
This annual Challenge seeks to build more profound knowledge and awareness about the diversity of experiences within the Latinx communities.
Monday, April 11, marks the beginning of the fourth topic: current issues impacting Latinx Communities. That Friday’s discussion, on April 15, will be facilitated by Roger Enriquez, Associate Professor & Executive Director, Criminology & Criminal Justice, and Damaris Ibarra, Assistant Director of the Dreamers Resource Center.
Beginning April 18, the short assignments and discussion will focus on allyship and action steps. The final conversation will take place on April 22 at 11:00 a.m., led by Victoria Lopez-Herrera, Senior Associate Director of Campus Recreation, and Dr. Courtney Balderas, Director for Student Diversity and Inclusion, Division of Student Life at Trinity University.
The 21 Day Challenge planning committee is comprised of Dr. Traci Guinn Buckley, Assistant Vice President for Inclusive Excellence, Dr. Alvin Curette, Interim Director of Student Assistance Services, Laura Munroe, Executive Director of Campus Recreation, Dr. Brandi Scott, Director of Multicultural Student Center for Equity and Justice, and Victoria Lopez-Herrera, Senior Associate Director of Campus Recreation. Faculty staff and students are encouraged to sign up for the 21 Day Racial Equity Challenge by March 21.
Anyone needing accommodation to fully participate in any program or event should contact the specific event organizer at least 72 hours before the event.
