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Recapping the Racial Healing Practice Challenge and Big Questions Events

The Racial Justice Task Force recently wrapped up the Racial Healing Practice Challenge and Big Questions series. Over eight weeks, over 250 individuals across campus collectively reflected on their racial identity through the Racial Healing Practice Challenge, how we have all internalized racist beliefs, what it means to raise our race consciousness and how to move towards collective racial healing. Participants have said they appreciated the space the challenge has created, as it has shown individuals how to not allow fear of difficult conversations about race prevent them from engaging, listening and learning from other’s perspectives and experiences.

Over the course of these sessions, participants shared a number of thoughts, reflections and feelings with the Task Force. These range from gratitude for those who have shared their experiences with racism on campus to recognizing race should be discussed more openly and authentically on campus to understanding the long term commitment needed to build anti-racist practices, systems and culture at Bentley. The Task Force is excited to see how these developing conversations will continue to grow in the months and years ahead.

 

Past Events Spotlight

The Racial Justice Task Force concluded the “Big Questions for Bentley” series this past Monday. These programs brought together students, alumni, faculty and staff to openly and bravely examine and uncover the ways in which race is discussed and enacted in our community. Over 150 students, alumni, faculty and staff participated across the three sessions.

This semester, the Racial Justice Task Force and our partners have collaborated to bring several speakers whose work focuses on different aspects of racial justice. Recordings for two of our sessions are available if you were unable to attend. The Office of Sustainability’s discussion with Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., the founder and CEO of Hip Hop Caucus and an environmental justice advocate, can be found here. The Valente Center for Arts and Sciences’ discussion titled “Tacit Racism” with Drs. Anne Rawls and Waverly Duck can be found here.

Beyond the Task Force

Several members of the Bentley community have initiated their own efforts across campus to combat issues of systemic racism. We are proud to see this activity and will continue to highlight their work on our website.


The Office of Sustainability hosted a Student Center Takeover titled “A Crime Against Humanity” which explored different aspects of environmental racism. Topics shown include climate change, mass incarceration and unequal food access, among others. More information can be found on the Office of Sustainability’s Instagram account.

Core Team Member Profile

With each update we will showcase an individual volunteering to serve on the RJTF Core Team.

This week, meet Victor Pacheco:

“I am a Bentley graduate, Class of 2018 and was a managerial economics major. I currently work as a senior analyst at the Collage Group, a multicultural focused market research firm. I joined the Racial Justice Task Force because, as an alumni of Bentley, I want to be proud of the university and believed the work in creating a more racial justice and inclusive institution is essential in the university long term success.”