"The Brown University Division of Advancement's Anti-Racism Training Program (AART) has involved more than 200 advancement employees and been successful as a starting point for building awareness of anti-Black racism and how structural racism is part of our everyday world and lives. This yearlong program started with a pre-work module that helped establish a baseline of structural racism knowledge and informed the creation of a comprehensive curriculum designed and implemented completely by advancement staff.
All advancement staff members participated in eight sessions throughout the year that engaged them in reflection and conversation on “the gears of structural racism” (e.g., education, criminal justice, housing, wealth, healthcare, media), a framework developed by Brown University Professor Tricia Rose, who also serves as the director of the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America. Prior to each session, participants were asked to review a collection of articles, video, and podcast) housed in a specially designed portal to prepare for each 90-minute session, with each session moderated by advancement team members who received facilitator training.
As a result of this program, and based on surveys and anecdotal feedback, advancement team members say they are more aware of, empathetic toward, and fluent in systemic racism and what they need to do to work toward becoming anti-racist and being an ally."
From the Judges
Very impressive program, including the website. In addition to great content, the approach to engaging staff as facilitators and using cohorts is excellent. The program has positive takeaways for any university advancement team.
