As staff at the Center for Teaching and Learning at UNM, we have watched a tremendous uprising of countless protestors and activists who have drawn attention to the inhumane and racist treatment of Black people in the United States. The brutality we see today is not new; these injustices stem from hundreds of years of institutionalized racism that have caused generational trauma, disenfranchisement, and many more adverse effects for black and brown communities.

As educational developers, we cannot remain silent in the fight against anti-Blackness. We are compelled to voice our support and commit to anti-racism within our learning center. Our commitment to anti-racism includes:

• actively listening to Black students, staff and educators while doing the work to educate ourselves;
• anti-racism training for our staff and student employees;
• a culture of anti-racism as enacted through our organizational values and in our daily lives;
• open dialogue around racism and other forms of marginalization of black and brown people within academia;
• amplifying the voices of people of color in educational development work and research;
• acknowledging and honoring space for healing and recovery among black and brown communities;
• addressing structural inequities in learning opportunities through culturally responsive pedagogy and assets-based learning approaches;
• respecting and supporting student, faculty, and staff agency and participation in political action

We will continue to develop as allies in our advocacy for educational equity and in creating a safe and inclusive campus for Black students, staff, and educators.

In solidarity,
UNM Center for Teaching and Learning

#BlackLivesMatter