Building Inclusive Schools: April 2020

APRIL 2020

Greetings!

For 85 years, the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities has served the Commonwealth with a mission to bring people together to promote respect and understanding for all, especially those who have been disfranchised and marginalized. In our work, we have found human interactions create powerful experiences to help individuals overcome their biases and prejudices. When that happens, the institutions those individuals lead are able to implement more equitable policies and practices. We recognize that our current reality with COVID-19 limits our physical connection, but it does not stop us from communicating with, learning from, and supporting one another.

While the VCIC team continues to adjust to this moment, we have taken the following actions over the last two weeks:

Established a page on our website to catalog our statements, cancellation and rescheduling notices, and FAQs related to our response to COVID-19.

Spoken out against a rise in anti-Asian rhetoric, harassment, and violence with our own statement, a statement from our Standing Together Steering Committee, and by amplifying a statement from our friends at the Virginia Asian Advisory Board.

Partnered closely with program clients to reschedule nearly 100 engagements in March, April, and May.

Researched ways to adapt some of our program content to online learning while maintaining the integrity and quality of our work. While we still have more work to do in this regard, we expect to be able to launch some initial offerings later this spring.

Began cataloging resources for educators and families on equitable and inclusive distance learning practices. (Two initial favorites include Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Remote Education and Countering COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Stigma and Racism: Tips for Parents and Caregivers.)

We know that there is additional work to do, both internally to engage volunteers, program partners, and friends, and externally as we speak out against inequities along lines of race, class, and ability status that are even more amplified in this crisis. As the needs evolve, VCIC will continue to find ways to live out our mission as we adapt to the present realities.

Please let us know how VCIC can support you. Contact the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities State Office by phone at (804) 515-7950 or by emailing VCIC .

New Promotional Video

The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities' new promotional video was recently completed! It can be viewed by clicking here . We have posted it on social media and will be showing it all of the next Humanitarian Awards Dinners across Virginia. Please share it with your networks!

2020 Census Day

Today is Census Day! All households have received their invitation in the mail from the Census Bureau. To date, Virginia has a 40% response rate. Because Census data is used to make decisions around funding and representation, these populations that have historically been overlooked, excluded, or discriminated against in our country stand to lose the most by being undercounted. However, all of us will benefit if we make sure that everyone counts. Please watch this video from VCIC President & CEO Jonathan Zur and help to spread the word about the importance of participating in the 2020 Census.

Welcome LaTina Pitts

Please join VCIC in welcoming LaTina Pitts as our new Executive Assistant! Since 2011, LaTina has served in a variety of administrative roles at Virginia Commonwealth University. While at VCU, she became a certified facilitator through the Building Inclusive Communities Train-the-Trainer Initiative, and she also served on the VCU Task Force for Individual, Institutional & Systemic Bias, the VCU Leveraging Diversity Task Force, and the VCU Committee for Cultural Action. Send an email to welcome LaTina!