[GuidedPathways] Communicating Company Commitment to Racial Justice as We Continue Guided Pathways Work

[Claudine Richardson]

Dear CTC Family,



Hello. Hope you are well and enjoying December. First, thank you for all the comments and feedback regarding the November 2021 Guided Pathway Retreat. I read every comment, thank you, and heard every recommendation. There was a comment that continues to resonate with me deeply, with regards to Guided Pathways and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.  It was “how do we communicate addressing equity and race with regards to Guided Pathways structures and work”. The reality is that is part of your communication and buy-in with members across your campus. That is a theory of care and belonging question.



Some of you know I am a researcher and EDI practitioner within higher education. I plan for the plan and possible plans that will become actions. Lol.  Today, in that spirit, I am sharing a video called, Episode 9 Communicating Company Commitment to Racial Justice (https://time.com/race-in-the-workplace/) with Shaun Harper and Damien Hooper-Campbell. It’s a long video and playing the video is optional. Nevertheless, there are many threads and that make a beautiful fabric. It’s “good trouble.” I hope the content will resonate, creating a space for reflection, assessment, accountability, planning, and continued informed action.



For those who don’t want to sit through the 1hr video… there is a summary version: https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/TFL-Zoom-Template-Takeaways-Episode-9.pdf. And remember, you seriously can miss the essence of what is being conveyed by just using the summary.



All the episodes are amazing and I would also encourage viewing episodes 1, 3, 6, and 8.



How is the content connected to guided pathways essential practices and the relationships I/we have and continue to build across my/our campus?



Much hugs and heart family.



SBCTC Vision: “Leading with racial equity, our colleges maximize student potential and transform lives within a culture of belonging that advances racial, social, and economic justice in service to our diverse communities.”


The value of your personal time is priceless, please feel obliged to not reply to this email outside of your working hours.

Respectfully and Humbly,


[signature_198601869] Claudine Richardson, Ph.D., M.S., M.P.A.

Pronouns: they |them |theirs

Policy Associate | Student Success Center

Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

PO Box 42495 | 1300 Quince Street SE | Olympia | WA | 98504

crichardson at sbctc.edu | c. 509.230.3690

sbctc.edu • Twitter: @SBCTCWashington • Facebook: @WASBCTC



Winter 2022 Guided Pathway Cohort 1 & 2 Retreat Condensed Agenda: https://bit.ly/3Gku9md


"While the battle against prejudice and discrimination must be a systemic national effort, there is much that can be done on an individual basis, especially as [an educator]. Race talk as a means to make the invisible visible; to confront biases, prejudices, and fears; and to help one another understand ourselves as racial/cultural beings opens the education gateways to self-reflection and positive change." ~Kiselica, 1998