During these difficult times...

As members of the FCC College community, each of us is called upon to serve our mission of education and leadership. Each of us must be a teacher leader during these difficult times. Leadership is based on the ability to see how all humanity is interrelated, how all parts of society are connected, and how things can move in the same direction.

In the days and weeks ahead we must listen to the voices of our students, faculty, and staff. We must be especially attentive and each raise our own voice in support of justice, inclusion, peace, and equality. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Multicultural Student Services, the Center for Student Engagement, and our faculty provided support through a forum on June 10 called Building Capacity for Racial Justice, Community, and Connection, and one on June 18 for Co-curricular Planning on the Theme - "A Call to Action."

Stay well and stay strong,

Libby

Dear FCC Students, Faculty, and Staff,

I write you amidst a 2020 that I never imagined. We face two pandemics simultaneously—the devastation of COVID-19 and the longstanding blight of racism. Both, at times, feel insurmountable. And yet I know, as an educator and leader, that they are not. I know this about racism because of the change I have seen in my lifetime and even during the past few months where the largest movements for racial justice in recorded US history have taken place.

As students, educators, and leaders, we have unique and powerful roles in this time.  We can build the knowledge, awareness, skills, and capacity to actively interrupt racial bias and to lead us to racial justice. At FCC, we are deeply committed to anti-racist and anti-oppressive pedagogy and practice as well as racial inclusion, equity, and justice. Anti-Black beliefs, behaviors, and sentiments are counter to everything we seek to be, teach, and learn at FCC.

Many have asked me what FCC is currently doing and how we can do more as individuals and a College. We know that when working towards justice action is always essential. As a College, the Board of Trustees has named "furthering racial equity" as one of our annual strategic priorities. We are, as part of our institutional commitment to our values and to one another, and among multiple other efforts across  the College grounded in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan, making the following four commitments as an institution:

1. Racial Equity in Access & Success: To address and eradicate the gaps in access and success for Students of Color, in particular, for our Black/African American and Latino/a/x students. These are racial equity gaps at the College that we have lessened through deliberate interventions and need to continue to do so by intentionally, proactively addressing institutional barriers.
2. Strengthening the Racial Climate: Assessing the racial climate at FCC for students and employees and implementing specific, measurable interventions to continue to make FCC an environment where everyone thrives.
3. Building Antiracist Leadership Capacity: Continuing to build the capacity of FCC faculty, and staff to be culturally conscious and culturally responsive to our diverse students and colleagues. We will do this through learning, accountability, and strengthening our antiracist commitments and culture.
4. Responsiveness: Strengthening our ability as a College to acknowledge and respond to the racial struggles of our time in policy and practice. As part of this commitment, we have launched this webpage with letters from leadership as well as resources.

This is a time for fundamental listening, self- and community-work, and deep learning and we have a variety of ongoing ways to engage. We need to figure out what we don’t know and seek out the conversations, skill building, and learning that lead us to racial equity and justice. I attempt to lead with humility—and I ask that you all humbly join me during this time. We have a few options to support us in this learning. Faculty members, the Center for Student Engagement, and Multicultural Student Services, have created a full calendar of opportunities for students to dialogue, connect, and learn about racial justice. Similarly, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has a robust calendar of racial justice professional development options for faculty and staff. Please consider pursuing these opportunities to strengthen our community and build our capacity as individuals and as a community to work towards justice.

President Burmaster and I are deeply committed to furthering racial justice and equity in our community. We need every member of FCC to join us. We are with you in this journey.

Let's join together in engaging in this commitment and take good care of ourselves and each other during this time.

Tony D. Hawkins, PhD
Provost/Executive Vice President
Frederick Community College

To Our Students and Colleagues at Frederick Community College:

The recent horrific events make clear the tremendous impact racialized violence has on you, our classrooms, and our community. COVID-19 has further exposed gross systemic inequalities across our nation and has given rise to xenophobic attacks, fear mongering, and poverty that is unacceptable given the levels of wealth and education in our county. We bear witness to these injustices, and we grieve with you.

History has taught us that racialized violence is not the spontaneous actions of misguided individuals but is embedded in the policies and practices of our institutions; likewise, neglecting to dismantle racism at all costs is to be complicit with it. As professors, we publicly commit our support to those most harmed by systemic inequity, and to all who peacefully but vociferously advocate and fight for the dignity of all people.

While statements of support, like this one, are important symbolic steps towards change, we also understand the need for measurable and visible action in our community. We have been addressing institutional and structural bias through FCC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan, in our classroom praxis, and in the reflective evaluation of our daily interactions with one another. Additionally, initiatives across the institution are underway, including recruiting faculty of color, supporting the success of students who have historically been harmed by institutional racism, evaluating our curricula for the representation of all people, and addressing any of the College’s patterns that do not support anti racist practices. These plans have been shaped with input from staff, students, and faculty, and are further evidence of the actional steps FCC is taking to reimagine our College and community.

We thank all those who have joined to move our institution forward through their passion and commitment in this critical work. We hope to partner with you to cultivate reflection, creativity, action, and a willingness to risk complacency. In order to make Frederick Community College the place of true belonging to which we all aspire, we will heed John Lewis’ words: “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.”

As we begin the fall semester of 2020, let’s get right into the good trouble and the healing, together.

As One Voice,