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Loyola University Maryland

Messina

Commitment to Anti-Racism

Please read our letter to the Class of 2024 describing our solidarity and commitment toward anti-racism.

Existing Efforts Related to Anti-Racism
Summer 2020 Work
Work Moving Forward
Resources That Area Guiding Our Work

Existing Efforts Related to Anti-Racism

  • Theme-wide programming: each semester, Messina offers a variety of events connected to our Messina themes open to Loyola and the surrounding Baltimore community. Over the years, many of these programs have addressed topics related to racial justice. Past programs have included: The Subtleties of Overt Racism- A Panel Discussion (Spring 2020); Baltimore Health Justice in Action (Fall 2020); Charm City Film Screening at the Senator Theatre (Fall 2020); What Truth Sounds Like: Robert F. Kennedy, James Baldwin, and Our Unfinished Conversation About Race in America lecture by Michael Eric Dyson (Spring 2019). 
  • BRJA Modules- These three lesson plans are designed to have students think critically about institutions and the causes and roots of oppression; think about race through a critical lens at the institutional level; and help students determine how to actively participate in a solution (organizing, letter writing, taking related courses, offer different takes on what justice looks like).
  • Each year, Loyola chooses a Common Text for all first-year students to read before arriving on campus. During Fall Welcome Weekend, the incoming first year class convenes with their Messina faculty member, Evergreen, and classmates to discuss this text using ideas presented in the provided study guide. The text is revisited throughout the year in course discussions, assignments, and events sponsored by Messina. View our past Common Text selections.
  • Investment in Baltimore through Explore Baltimore events and Loyola at the Senator.
  • Supporting Ella Baker Day on campus since 2016.
  • Partnering with the Assistant Vice President of Student Development to make Speak Up! Microaggression Training available to all students.

Summer 2020 Work

  • Offered free e-book copies of Ibram X. Kendi's How to Be an Antiracist to interested Messina faculty, mentors, Evergreens. All recipients will complete a post-reading reflection on the content of the book and one commitment they are prepared to make for the fall semester in their work with students and colleagues. An optional reading group will also be facilitated by Messina.  
  • Webinar for Messina Working Groups- Facilitating Conversations on Anti-Racism, Race and Justice in Messina.
  • Development of an additional Messina Modules to address anti-racism. 
  • Annual Messina August training opportunities for Messina faculty, mentors, and Evergreens from a racial justice lens.

Work Moving Forward

  • Explore new curricular offerings in Messina that provide better venues to discuss power, privilege and anti-racism.
  • Engage with Loyola alumni of color through programmatic and advisory functions. 
  • Discuss how we recognize exceptional effort toward addressing topics of anti-racism and racial justice within Messina and hold accountable those that are not engaging in this work.
  • Preference anti-racism, equity, and inclusion innovations in Messina Innovation Teaching Grants.
  • Evaluate how we are delivering on this commitment- reaching out during the semester to ask for feedback from students.
  • Partner with others on campus to bring additional facilitation and identity development training to campus for faculty and mentors.
  • Review Messina assessment findings through an equity lens to see if there are disparities in experiences in responses by race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual identity; and use these findings to guide our work.

Resources That Are Guiding Our Work

Articles

  • Boutte, G. S., & Jackson, T. O. (2014). Advice to white allies: Insights from faculty of color. Race Ethnicity and Education, 17(5), 623-642. Doi: 10.1080/13613324.2012.759926
  • News Staff. (2020, August 25). The quest for justice: Acknowledging race. TuftsNow. Retrieved from https://now.tufts.edu/articles/quest-justice-acknowledging-race

Books

  • Baldwin, J. (1963). The fire next time. [Audio Book].  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi43zpigptI
  • Kendi, I. X. (2019). How to be an antiracist (1st ed.). One World.
  • Verschelden, C. (2017). Bandwidth recovery: Helping students reclaim cognitive resources lost to poverty, racism, and social marginalization. (1st ed). Stylus Publishing.

Podcasts/ Videos

Websites

  • Collection of Anti-Racism Resources gathered by the Office of Equity and Inclusion, Academic Affairs, Campus Ministry, CCSJ, Counseling Center, and individual student and faculty contributors
  • Anti-Racism Daily: On this website developed by Nicole Cardoza, you are able to sign up to receive a daily email on ways racism continues to be perpetuated in different ways in the US and throughout the world. The emails also include personal reflective questions and tangible actions you can take toward working on dismantling white supremacy.
  • Bellamy, P. L. (2020). Resources. Academics for Black Survival and Wellness. https://www.academics4blacklives.com/resources
  • National Museum of African American History & Culture. (n.d.). Talking about race: Whiteness. https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race/topics/whiteness 

 

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Advising and Support

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Loyola student leaders support and guide students through their first-year experience.

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