The foundation for building an inclusive antiracist community is an articulated scaffolding of several key elements for success:
Naming Racist Structures: Taking proactive steps to identify and name existing structures that frame institutional racism. This foundational step is essential in understanding the harms imposed by these structures.
Building Alternative Structures to Eradicate Racism: Addressing racial injustice begins with dismantling the structures that perpetuate institutional racism. CoSE is committed to deconstructing racist structures (re) constructing alternative structures explicitly designed to eradicate racism and promote inclusivity.
Promoting Educational Opportunities for Self-Reflection: Providing educational opportunities and incentives for faculty, staff, and students to engage in a self-reflection process to address racism. This key element for success encourages individuals to examine and understand the realities of historic and structural racism in their personal and professional lives, communities, and within the institution.
Encouraging an Understanding of Historic and Structural Racism: Encouraging self-reflection and education for members of the CoSE community to foster an understanding and acceptance about the realities of historic and structural racism. This awareness is pivotal for creating a foundation upon which to build an anti-racist culture.
Recognizing Agency for Systemic Change: Urging members of CoSE to recognize their agency in changing problematic racist systems and structure. By facilitating active engagement in the work towards dismantling institutional racism, CoSE aims to cultivate a community united in creating an antiracism culture.
In conclusion, CoSE’s mission and vision involve a systematic and comprehensive strategy to deconstruct and replace racist structures. The commitment to fostering an anti-racist culture is underscored by proactive measures, educational initiatives, and a collective recognition of agency within the CoSE community to effect meaningful change.