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<div>Good morning! Y'all have been on my heart this week.</div>
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<div dir="ltr">A friend and DEI colleague in my doctoral program shared this article with me last night. You may have already come across it, but if not, I hope it's both a reminder that our struggles in this work are shared <span style="font-size: inherit;">across
many institutions and that this work, as important as it is, simultaneously does not require martyrs of us and our people. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr">I know for some, it names very clearly what you have obseeved and experienced in your institutions and in this field. </div>
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<div dir="ltr">Please know that however I/we at the state board can advocate, advance, come alongside you, we are ready.</div>
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<div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: inherit;"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2023/02/03/frustrated-dei-staff-are-leaving-their-jobs">https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2023/02/03/frustrated-dei-staff-are-leaving-their-jobs</a><br>
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<div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: inherit;">Love to you all this day.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: inherit;">Onward,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: inherit;">Sophia </span></div>
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<p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Medium", sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 56, 100);"><b>Sophia Kristina R. Agtarap (she/siya)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Medium", sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 56, 100);">Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion</span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book", sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 56, 100);">Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges</span></p>
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<a href="https://aka.ms/o0ukef"></a></div>
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