Local Efforts Aimed at Addressing Institutional Racism
In 2018 CAN staff helped support the following local activities aimed addressing institutional racism:
AISD Schools Renaming Taskforce: CAN Executive Director, Raul Alvarez, served on this task force which was formed to develop criteria for renaming AISD schools that were named in honor of confederate leaders. The renaming criteria developed by the task force was intended to assist campus committees and school board trustees in evaluating proposed names for the identified District facilities.
City of Austin Anti-Displacement Taskforce: CAN Executive Director, Raul Alvarez, served as co-chair of this task force. The task force met monthly starting in December 2017. Task force members reviewed previous recommendations on this topic, weighed in on hot topics being considered by City Council and received input through three public forums. The "recommendations for action" from the task force were submitted to the City Council in November 2018. The recommendations addressed challenges relating to expansion and preservation of affordable
housing, small businesses and cultural/historic assets.
Courageous Conversations About Race. There has been much interest with CAN partners and other local organizations in the Beyond Diversity training model that aims to develop a shared understanding and language so that we may more effectively address issues relating to institutional racism and systemic inequities. Leadership Austin stepped up to assume the role of facilitator and coordinator of these training opportunities and as a result, more than 900 people participated and/or already registered for Beyond Diversity training since June 2018. Additional training opportunities are already scheduled for 2019. Use the link below if you would like to register for an upcoming training session.
Truth and Racial Healing Transformation Center Project:
ACC was one of 10 institutions of higher education that were selected as sites to develop Truth Racial Healing and Transformation campus centers. TRHT centers are part of a multi-year initiative to educate, prepare and inspire the next generation of leaders to break down racial hierarchies. The ACC TRHT center will launch in 2019. The hope is that there will be multiple centers in the community to facilitate community access.
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