Drs. Chaundra Scott, Danielle Ligocki, and Robert Martin from Oakland University presented a sixteen-minute recorded session at the Lilly Conference Online 2022. The session title is: “The Initiative for Eradicating Racism: Boldly Confronting Racism Through Academic Practices and Programs.” The team is composed of Scott, a Professor in Human Resources and Development, Ligocki is an Assistant Professor in Teacher Development and Educational Studies, and Martin, a Special Instructor in Educational Leadership. The Initiative for Eradicate Racism (IER) is “an interdisciplinary Task Force dedicated to educating and transforming our colleagues, students, community members and other partners in dismantling racism in the United States.” The task force’s purpose is to “amplify anti-racist dialogue through teaching, scholarship, and service” among several other goals. Martin mentioned that racism is happening and not just to “the other.” They spoke about some of the racial incidents that have occurred in Michigan in the public school system. Martin highlighted that the incidents and war in Ukraine point to the global nature of this challenge. The task force scheduled and launched a series of videos, and conversations to engage the campus community in dialogue. The events were well attended, including the virtual ones. In the fall, they will have another symposium with keynote speakers of color. Among the accomplishments of the group, they have published an article, written a book chapter that is accepted, submitted mini-grants, submitted abstracts for academic conferences, and had an article published. Their goals include becoming a grant-funded Center for Eradicating Racism. The task force will seek out more opportunities to encourage dialogue and develop policies and procedures. I was amazed by how much this group has accomplished in a year or so!
