Diversity

Jul 8, 2021 • Caitlin Burns

Arcadia Examines Curriculum, Professional Development in ABRI and JEDI Framework

Following a year of progression on its 41 Anti-Black Racism Initiatives (ABRI), which were implemented by President Ajay Nair and Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Jeff Rutenbeck in June 2020, Arcadia University faculty and staff are examining curriculum, scholarship, and...

May 26, 2021 • Caitlin Burns

Arcadia Community Advances ABRI Efforts

Through its community of practice, Arcadia has made facilitating a safe and welcoming environment for Black students a priority and has progressed significantly in its Anti-Black Racism Initiatives (ABRI) efforts, which President Ajay Nair implemented last June. The six action steps presented by...

Arcadia University student Jared Ellison

Apr 27, 2021 • Caitlin Burns

Ellison ’21 Focuses on Mental Health in Black Communities for Internship, Thesis

For his English thesis paper, English and Creative Writing major Jared Ellison ’21 explored the role Black women play in the household and family through a variety of literary characters in a novel by James Baldwin. This includes how these women are considered “the rock” of the family, and need to...

Apr 13, 2021 • Caitlin Burns

LOVE Pilot Holds Act-Up on Intersectionality

By Josephine Mueller '21 The LOVE Pilot program held its second Act-up, “Doing Antiracism Work: When IsIntersectionality a Bridge & When Is It a Roadblock?” on March 24. Attendees heard from four panelists: Dr. Graciela Slesaransky-Poe, professor of Education; Troy Young, assistant...

Artist rendering of the Act Up conversations.

Mar 15, 2021 • Caitlin Burns

Love Pilot Launches for It’s Second Semester With Act-Up

By Josephine Mueller ’21 The LOVE Pilot Program kicked off its second semester with an act-up on Feb. 25, “Mapping and Dismantling Systemic Racism.” After last semester’s teach-in events, the LOVE program is moving toward action. Speakers at the first act-up included Alex Otieno,...

Debra Powell Wright with the cover of Philly Jawns

Feb 25, 2021 • Caitlin Burns

Q&A with Debra Powell-Wright, Co-Editor of “Philly Jawns”

On Friday, March 26, Arcadia University will host the event Philly Jawns Speak: Mississippi Goddam Revisited 2021 in honor of Women’s History Month. This panel and discussion will focus on how art meets activism. Moderated by Director of Young Men's Initiative at Philadelphia Futures Gabriel...

Jan 29, 2021 • Caitlin Burns

Arcadia Celebrates Black History Month

The Arcadia community is celebrating Black History Month with several events held throughout February from departments and offices across campus for students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members. Throughout the month, Pan African Studies will host Film Fridays. More details on this event...

Dec 16, 2020 • Caitlin Burns

LOVE Pilot Program Hosts Final Teach-In on Racism

By Josephine Mueller ’21 The LOVE Pilot Program held its last teach-in session of the semester on Dec. 2. “What more can we do? Facing Race and Racism on Campus,” was done in collaboration with the Just Act Ensemble as a living lab that included audience participation during the performances by...

Aquilla Lee with friends in a kayak in New Zealand

Nov 19, 2020 • Caitlin Burns

Lee ’21 Uses Gilman Scholarship to Encourage Students of Color to Study Abroad

By Nik Kachuyevski '21 For Criminal Justice major Aquilla Lee ’21, studying abroad had been a goal ever since she was young. However, due to financial difficulties it didn’t seem like this goal would be achievable until Study Away Advisor Ashley Knueppel ’12 told Lee about the opportunities...

Arcadia University student Sanaa Scott-Wheeler sits in front of a tree

Nov 11, 2020 • Caitlin Burns

Scott-Wheeler ’24 Advocates from a Social Distance

“I went to a predominantly white school from kindergarten to eighth grade,” said Sociology major Sanaa Scott-Wheeler ’24. “I’ve basically been experiencing racial inequality my entire life. I had to go through that switch from being at home and being black and then going to school and being black...

Nov 10, 2020 • Caitlin Burns

LOVE Pilot Program Hosts First Teach-In

By Josephine Mueller ’21 The Arcadia Living our Values Experience (LOVE) Pilot Program held its first teach-in session, “An Arcadia Call to Action: How can we be better antiracists?”, on Oct. 22, which focused on what the Arcadia community can do to fight anti-Black racism. Attendees...

Arcadia University professor Dr. Bruce Campbell

Nov 5, 2020 • Caitlin Burns

“How We Fight White Supremacy” Looking at Grammy Nomination

By Nikolai Kachuyevski '21 The 2019 audio book How We Fight White Supremacy: A Field Guide to Black Resistance, which includes a contribution by Dr. Bruce Campbell Jr., associate professor of Education, could be up for a Grammy. How We Fight White Supremacy examines how Black...