In It 5 explores antiracism, diversity and equity
Members of the Skidmore community explored issues surrounding antiracism, diversity and equity through workshops, film screenings, dialogues and other virtual events as part of the In It 5 series, which took place Oct. 6-9.
President Marc C. Conner said the programming offered an opportunity for faculty, staff and students to better understand and examine racial injustice as Skidmore continues its efforts to build “a community of trust.”
"Diversity, equity and inclusion are core institutional priorities, and this series of programming is an important part of yearlong projects in the College’s Racial Justice Initiative,” said Conner.
The annual series, which is supported by Skidmore’s Committee on Intercultural and Global Understanding (CIGU), aims to raise cultural fluency and strengthen the Skidmore community.
As part of this year’s programming, Ashley L. McCall, a bilingual English/language
arts teacher and community organizer, hosted a session titled “Autonomy, Equity and
Collective Responsibility” that encouraged participants to consider the ways in which
personal choices affect progress toward equity.
Journalist and political commentator Ari Berman discussed voting rights following a screening of the film “Suppressed 2020: The Fight to Vote.”
Janaya Khan, a Black, queer, gender-nonconforming activist and social justice educator who has been honored with several awards, including the 2015 Bromley Armstrong Humanitarian Award, led a discussion about the Black Lives Matter movement.
Kasey Catlett, director for the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the College of the Holy Cross, led workshops for faculty, staff and students about how to write an anti-racism action plan.
In It examines a different theme each year. The inaugural 2016 event focused on race; the 2017 program explored gender; the 2018 program examined socioeconomic class; and the 2019 program explored religion, faith and spirituality.
