Invitation to Be Part of the Black Thriving Initiative

November 14, 2022

At Cal Poly Pomona, we are committed to dismantling racism and discrimination, building an inclusive and diverse community, and advancing the success of all students, faculty and staff. Inclusivity is one of our university’s core values and each of us is responsible for creating and sustaining an inclusive campus.

 Through a series of town hall meetings, listening sessions and surveys, we learned that we have more to do to fulfill our value of inclusion, particularly in our support of our Black community. Indeed, these engagements have revealed that a majority of Black students, faculty and staff have experienced racism on campus, such as racial trauma, microaggressions and tokenization. These findings are deeply troubling and warrant specific institutional and collective efforts to address anti-Blackness in our community.

 As a way to heal and build consciousness, capacity and accountability for realizing the inclusive community we aim to be, I am announcing the launch of a Black Thriving Initiative. We invite the entire campus to participate in this initiative, with the aim of transforming our collective culture as a place where everyone – including Black students, faculty and staff – succeed and thrive.

 You are invited to the Black Thriving Initiative Launch Symposium that will take place on Thursday, Dec. 8, from 1 to 5 p.m. Those who are unable to participate in the in-person convening may attend remotely via Zoom from 1 to 2 p.m. The program will include inspirational speakers and opportunities for discussion on racial healing and justice, truth-telling, cultural humility and how individuals can take action as allies and advocates.

 Please confirm your participation by registering online by Thursday, Dec. 1, at 5 p.m. To learn more, visit the Black Thriving Initiative website. This site will continually be updated as the initiative moves forward.

 We can and must do better as an institution and community to support the well-being and success of all our community members, including our Black students, faculty and staff. The responsibility for creating this reality is a collective one, and I urge each of you to join in making it happen. Thank you for upholding the values and ambitions of this university.