Our website uses cookies to understand how you navigate our content and to give you the best browsing experience.
Please read our Data Protection & Use Notification to learn more.
Anti-Black Racism Initiatives (ABRI)
Arcadia’s Anti-Black Racism Initiatives (ABRI) impact all members of our University community—from prospective and current students, to faculty and staff, alumni to leadership, and to our donors, friends, and neighbors. Since President Nair first announced Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) and ABRI as our focus, we have collaborated to advance and develop our initiatives with an eye toward action. While our work continues, we would like to provide a synthesized update to share some of Arcadia’s progress to date.
University Messages
Arcadia Launches Center for Anti-Racist Scholarship, Advocacy, and Action
Nov. 16, 2021
The anti-Black Racism Initiatives (ABRI) Project Team and the Provost’s Office at Arcadia University announced the establishment of the Center for Anti-Racist Scholarship, Advocacy, and Action (CASAA)--an interdisciplinary academic center that will bring together individuals from the University, the local community, and wider world to shape the thinking and mindset about racism across the globe.
Follow-up on Community of Practice and Care
March 19, 2021
"One of the many things I cherish about our community is our candor, especially in our most challenging moments. Thank you for sharing your feelings and experiences through our leadership “check-ins.” Hearing directly from you helps our leadership teams serve you to the best of our abilities. We were reminded that we must provide space to grieve the losses suffered through the pandemic and acknowledge the increasing demands and professional and personal challenges that many of our community members have been facing."
ABRI Spring Conversations and Communities of Practice
Jan. 19, 2021
The ABRI Project Team continues the work started in the 2020-21 Academic Year with the framework introduced by President Nair. In the Spring 2021 semester, further feedback was gathered during staff and faculty communities of practice exploring two books: Black Fatigue; How Racism Rodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit or The Racial Healing Handbook: Practical Activities to Help you Challenge privilege, Confront Systemic Racism, and Engage in Collective Healing. Arcadia community members were also invited to ABRI conversations through Zoom as well as surveys.
- May 12, 2021 – ABRI Curricular Infusion and What’s Next for All Modes
- Dec. 18, 2020 – Progress on University ABRI Initiatives
- June 18, 2020 – Follow-up to June 11 Message: Action Steps
- June 11, 2020 – The Time Is Now: Long Overdue Radical Change at Arcadia
- June 1, 2020 – Radical Change Is Necessary: No Justice, No Peace
- April 17, 2020 – Countering Racism and Xenophobia
On Oct. 26, President Nair served as a panelist for a Chronicle of Higher Education webinar, “Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in a Changing Time.”
Featured News
- Nov. 9, 2021 – Chronicle of Higher Education: Race on Campus
- Oct. 26, 2021 – Chronicle of Higher Education Webinar: President Ajay Nair: Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in a Changing Time
- February 2021 – Chronicle of Higher Education Case Study: Diversifying Your Campus
- August 10, 2020 – Educause Review: What Failure Can Teach About Leadership
ABRI and JEDI
Resources in Action
(Intro text about Arcadia resources around the community)
Contact Us
Office of Access, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Grey Towers Castle, 2nd Floor left side
215-517- 2657 or 215-572-2960
aedi@arcadia.edu
Angela McNeil
Assistant Vice President of Access, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
mcneila@arcadia.edu