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The deep educational inequities that are correlated with race and continue to persist are reflected and experienced in and around the localities in which anchor institutions are situated. The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on affirmative action is not only a call to action to advocate for racially equitable policies, it is also a reaffirmation of the significance of local multi-institutional cross sector collaboration designed to reduce inequities and expand opportunities for young people.
A number of years ago, AITF’s Higher Education Presidents Subgroup committed to ongoing learning and strategic thinking regarding the role of institutions of higher education along with other anchor institutions and community partners in strengthening educational and career pathways, especially for historically underserved and underrepresented populations. Ongoing mutual learning on such strategies could lead to promising practices and potentially joint activities across numerous localities to bring about new and more effective practices that enhance educational and career outcomes.
As a result of these discussions, AITF’s Educational Subcommittee was formed a few years ago. Currently, this Subcommittee is comprised of representatives appointed by the presidents and chancellors in the Subgroup, who are responsible for programming on their campuses and in their communities that lead to greater social and economic mobility. The work of this Subcommittee has always been important; but it feels increasingly significant in the current political and legal context.
As the Subcommittee continues to meet, some of the kinds of strategies being shared by participants include an effort to dismantle deficit perspectives about Black student achievement and re-envision holistic support systems for students; an effort to develop a value proposition around higher education that can distinctly meet the needs of communities; programming to recruit, retain, and prepare BIPOC teachers; a strategy that links education and career preparation and strengthens pathways to careers in healthcare; an approach that brings human resource directors directly into local schools to help create direct connections between employers, careers and schools; and pre college programming that provides high school students opportunities to earn college credit and become more aware of their higher educational options.
Of course, many other programs and strategies are underway across the institutions represented in the Subcommittee. As has been the case with other AITF ongoing formations, the Education Subcommittee will produce products that capture their learning, which can be of use to AITF’s broader members among others. Stay tuned for more information on any tools or publications that will emerge from this important group. To learn more about joining the Higher Education Presidents Subgroup, contact dmaurrasse@margainc.com.
Looking ahead, the challenge of educational and career opportunities in the context of centuries of structural and systemic racism remains substantial. The elimination of affirmative action in higher education takes away one particular practice, which was never the panacea to a comprehensive reality. However, it further complicates the work to dismantle generations of inequities. The collaborative efforts of anchor institutions in their communities are faced with many questions: How can we connect the many effective programs along particular segments of educational and career pathways into fully contiguous strategies in localities? How can we expand the scale of strategies working well in specific communities and adapt them in other settings? How can we promote the truly cross sector nature of this challenge as inequities in primary, secondary, and higher education touch every aspect of society? How can efforts to strengthen educational and career opportunities maintain and reinforce a racial equity lens in the face of political opposition and legal challenges? These are just a few among multiple questions moving forward.
AITF’s values include a commitment to democracy and democratic practice; collaboration; place; and social justice and equity, including a commitment to racial equity. These principles are important considerations for how anchor institutions continue to engage in their communities. In order for the efforts of anchor institutions to advance to a transformative next level, it will be crucial to center the work of equity and social justice, including racial equity and racial justice, with and for their communities. The current context also warrants expanded efforts to form and strengthen local partnerships to improve opportunities, particularly educational opportunities for young people in the geographic communities and cities in which anchor institutions reside. In this process, it is important to recognize the assets of the lived experiences of BIPOC students, which contribute to the excellence and relevance of curriculum, innovation, and community engagement.
The endeavors of AITF members like those in the Educational Subcommittee indeed has a renewed importance. It is important to appreciate their work and the work across AITF’s membership. As always, please let us know how AITF can continue to be a resource to support your work.
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