LACC: Equity & Ethics Statement

This is charting a course for us to make sure every student and every staff member at LACC feels as if they belong. It will help us to be an institution of excellence! Thank you to all who joined.

We are a community college. We belong to the community and it essential all students feel welcome and equal and that faculty energize that equity to all!

I commit because I feel a sense of responsibility, to help others, and uplift our communities.

It is true that for too long it has only been talk without action in regards to rooting out the systemic racism in this nation's institutions. Never have black and brown people had a fair and equal opportunity in this country due to racist bias and institutionalized barriers. I am proud that LACC is taking deliberate steps to make things right for all of our students, staff, faculty, and community, and with great joy pledge my commitment to the LACC Equity and Ethics Statement.

The Equity and Ethics Statement is warranted and overdue. This statement is a pledge for the LACC community (administrators/faculty/staff) to demonstrate to all the stakeholders.

That we will ensure equity is given to everyone, to call us out if inequity is taking place ,and hold us accountable for those actions so they are corrected to provide equity to all.

I sign this statement because demonstrating anti-racist and non-discriminatory practices and the inclusion of people of all identities must be at the core of who we are as educators.

Utilizing ethical practices and being equity minded in my daily work are part of my core professional values. This commitment is important to me because it is the reason I come to work every day. Everyone deserves fair and equitable opportunities for education. I have made it my personal mission to work every day to make this possible for our community.

I am 100% wholeheartedly committed to the LACC Equity and Ethics Statement!

Please report any discrimination or harassment to SpeakUp@lacitycollege.edu.

The population we serve is under-represented and therefore they need to be treated with respect. It begins with us and we represent what that student will expect of the Administration and Teachers of LACC.

Ethics and equity are the glue that holds a society together. We have given these principles "lip-service" for too long. They need to be formally recognized on a recurring basis in our schools and public institutions and consciously practiced throughout our greater community.

It is important to me to publicly state my commitment to supporting ALL of my students of various backgrounds. They are a vibrant voice in our community!

Education is a pathway to empowerment, success and security which must be equally accessible to all.

Living in the NOW is important and support of our student population is our highest goal.

I am committing to the LACC Equity and Ethics Statement because I believe it is important we recognize privilege and the social boundaries that create inequity. At the same time, I believe it is essential that all students should be included fairly, without discrimination and that we recognize the inequities that exist in our society.

Equity and ethics mean equal opportunity for every single student, principles embedded in my teaching.

We have a responsibility to our students, colleagues, and community to examine our college and our practices in order to eliminate racism from our college. This Equity and Ethics Statement, empowers us to do so.

I find myself in agreement with all the tenets described in the Statement.

Being an African-American man I have seen systemic racism in government, the justice system and education. The time is now for everyone to come together and right the wrongs of the past. So my commitment is twofold: 1. I want to hold my institution accountable for doing what we set out to do. Rhetoric and statements are fallen by the wayside if there is no sincerity in our actions. Let's not talk the talk but walk it with intention. 2. I want to be part of the change in my institution that transcends into our community. Our students and community deserve more. If we can create change, we can instill it to our stakeholders, who will then reproduce it in others.

During this time of social unrest and difficulty, we realize the importance of taking on the challenges of our country's history head-on at last. Along with the rest of our outstanding faculty and staff, I stand firmly on the side of minorities, both on campus and worldwide, in their pursuit of a life that truly is equal, free, and just.

I firmly believe that a commitment to equity and ethics by each member of the institution is necessary to advance our college mission.

I am excited that we are having the LACC Equity and Ethics Statement! Being a faculty member here for 18 years I have experienced many different forms of microaggressions and I have seen our students experience many forms of microaggressions. This is amazing that our leadership has taken this charge!

This is a cornerstone of all work we do for our student and community.

It is very important to me that I always remain vigilant as a teacher of young people in treating every person I encounter equally regardless of race, sexual orientation, or a set of beliefs different than my own. To that end, I will provide the same opportunities of access to learning and knowledge to all my students in an equitable manner.

I am committed to the LACC Equity and Ethics Statement because it is time our actions match our words.

I serve students from different racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. I believe that all of them can thrive and succeed regardless of their background. Committing to the LACC Equity and Ethics Statement is important to me.

For far too (forever) long, equity, ethics, racism seem to only be addressed in talk or on paper. Who is it exactly not getting the message? It is time for a change, I hope this is it!

The LACC Equity and Ethics Statement is personal to me, as a woman of mixed background I am so proud to see my workplace and alma mater commit to growth and positive change. I know it isn't easy and it challenges us in unexpected ways. We are forging a stronger and more compassionate and educated community this way and I have never been more proud to be a part of something so powerful. I have also never felt so seen and supported in a work environment. I cannot wait to see what progress we make, thank you!

I believe and have always believed that my role is to support each student regardless of color, race, nationality, individuality of who they are and especially those with delays or disabilities. I will continue to strive to find ways to support each student’s needs, especially when they may not share what those needs maybe. I choose to be a careful listener and reader when interacting with the student, so that I can provide support for those who for whatever reason are not comfortable sharing their personal needs, this is a challenge. I will make every effort to meet the challenges to meet the needs of students support their success as a student at LA City College.

Exhibiting principles of ethical, equitable, and effective service is very important to me.

Equity and access on college campuses made an impact for me and helped me get to where I am today. It is my turn to help students in the same manner that I was. I am here for you!

Committing to the LACC Equity and Ethics Statement is showing to our students that they are important, that they are more than student ID numbers. This shows our students that we will make our very best and honest effort to help close the equity gaps. We need to work to support our students, hear their concerns, and never judge them.

This statement will remind me and hold me accountable. By extension it signals my personal intention to my students and colleagues of my desire and promise to educate myself to be, to think, act Anti-Racist. It acknowledges that I need to learn, grow and improve my thinking, actions and my community. It hold me accountable to put practices that will support real action. Front and center.

It is basic humanity to treat all persons with respect. As an educator, provide assistance for all students who come in my purview.

It is important to me because without these vital components to life and education, we are on a path to destruction.

I am, I live and I desire to treat others the way we all want to be treated and sometimes that takes empathy, commitment and ability to want to seek knowledge that is different from what we know.

Equal opportunity should be a universal right and, though not meant to be universal statement when stated, we should strive to fulfill the inherent promise of "all men are created equal" to include women

and men of all races, colors, religions, gender identity and sexual orientation, and socio-economic class (we discriminate a lot against the "have-nots" as well).

This is so important and I want to be a part of creating a new world that will be fair and equitable for all. I believe in our shared future.

Stating a goal and committing to it, makes it possible!

It is time for change and I would like to commit my participation for progressing towards equity, transparency and ethics.

I strive to work for Equity on campus and I am very optimistic about the direction our college is taking. I am so proud to work at LACC!

We are all human and have the same rights, it's time to level the field!

It is important to have a guiding star, and it is important to articulate what that star is. When we get lost (and as imperfect humans, we will), we have a star to look to and course-correct.

Equity is vital to the success of our students and our community. This level of commitment is long overdue.

I'm proud to join all of you in this commitment. I'm particularly proud that our leadership and stakeholders lead us in this commitment to upholding LACC's equity and ethics standards at a highest level.

The commitment moves us closer to addressing issues associated with race, equity, and social justice.

As educators it's incredibly important that we actively participate in anti-racist teaching practices. That includes faculty, staff and the administration. I'm signing because I believe students have a right to a campus that has fully embraced the principles of equity.

A commitment to equity and ethics should be the driving force in all decision making. A failure in equity deprives others of the societal advantages we rely on and limits the ability of some people to contribute to and benefit from institutions. A failure of ethics undermines the basis of civil society.

On May 25, 2020, the unfortunate death of George Floyd was a global wake-up call! Now is the time for us to address issues associated with race, equity and social justice in our workplace, community and the nation. Committing to the Equity and Ethics Mission Statement keeps me focused on the need to do so and confirms that support is available to ensure social change. It is important that we do not continue to stand in the shadow of the historical monument of social injustice but become an active participant in a meaning movement of social change.

I hope this quote from the amazing Isabel Wilkerson guides the college with regards to its power in the coming weeks, months, and years: “Radical empathy, on the other hand, means putting in the work to educate oneself and to listen with a humble heart to understand another's experience from their perspective, not as we imagine we would feel. Radical empathy is not about you and what you think you would do in a situation you have never been in and perhaps never will. It is the kindred connection from a place of deep knowing that opens your spirit to the pain of another as they perceive it... The price of privilege is the moral duty to act when one sees another person treated unfairly. And the least that a person in the dominant caste can do is not make the pain any worse.”

Equity and Ethics is vital for the success of our campus family students, and community!!! Let us continue to TRAILBLAZE away as District Leaders in Equity, Race, and Social Justice!!

Life is better for everyone if we treat each other with respect, fairness, dignity, and kindness!

Our work as community college faculty is to ensure that all students have equal access, support, and experiences to be successful in college.

I commit because I believe that with my privilege, I sometimes am unaware of the inequities that surround me. I am taking a stance to become more aware so that I can educate myself and the people that I associate with. I especially want the students that I serve to know that I am an ally.

If things are to be changed then I must start with myself. Commitment to change includes education self-evaluation, recognition, and validation.

It is essential that we support the diversity in its entirety to our campus and community. We are fortunate to have an array of different backgrounds attending our campus, and I would say equality belongs to us all, it is a right that should always be the valued center in what we do and when that right is threatened; speaking out, peaceful demonstrations, and anti-racism practices should be forefront in our educational systems. Our education is in fact one part, a development of reasoning which is a drawing of inferences or conclusion. This is usually done through a lens of our history and our latest history gives me top of list conclusion. The top of my list in conclusions is a lacking of human dignity, equality, and respectfulness from our hired protect and serve. I believe that LACC is committed to change and is supporting an equality based process, restoring better conclusions to our future.

I support the Equity and Ethics Mission Statement and hope that we as educators will learn more ways to implement equity practices in our areas of responsibility to create an equitable campus culture for administrators, faculty, staff, and students.

I support the LACC Equity and Ethics Statement because in a better world, we wouldn't need one.

It's time to stand up for what's right and do whatever it takes to combat the injustice endemic in the government, judiciary, and law enforcement of the United States.

Signing this statement is the right thing to do and allows all who participate to come together as an educational community with an understanding of our shared goals and aspirations to progress towards a more equal and just society.

I commit because some of us have been doing this work already—both in our personal and professional lives. But in order to make meaningful and sustainable change for our diverse student population, the campus as a whole must have a unifying mission that centers and consistently promotes and strives for equity and ethics. Equity mindedness and non-discriminatory practices cannot simply be recommended or desired but must become a necessity. It should be an expectation, not simply a recommendation hat all who wish to teach and work here commit to these values and practices.

The LACC Equity and Ethics Statement is incredibly important to me because I have always felt that we must be 'committed to a campus culture of respect that promotes equitable access and learning opportunities for students, faculty, and staff. Our campus culture should 'demonstrate anti-racist and non-discriminatory practices, exhibit principles of ethical and effective service, recognize equity as an essential asset, foster cultural relativism, protect the rights and freedoms of others, and value and ensure meaningful participation and inclusion of people of all identities.'

For too long, the culture on campus has often not been one of respect, equity, or inclusion, and has not practiced 'anti-racist and non-discriminatory practices' or 'exhibits principles of ethical and effective service'.

We have an essential 'responsibility to the communities we serve, and we should be committed to taking action and holding ourselves and others accountable.' This Equity and Ethics statement by the administration, faculty, and staff should not be for appearance sake, but a true foundation and precedent for not only for our college, but for other colleges to embrace as we move forward towards a more positive and equitable world.

My work prior to coming to teaching was through my two unions Actors' Equity Association and Screen Actors' Guild. For many years I served on the Equal Opportunity Employment Committee and one of our tasks was to draft contract language that encouraged producers to hire actors and stage managers of diverse backgrounds. Now as a Faculty member of the Theatre Academy at LACC I am proud to be providing education and opportunities for a diverse student body. I firmly believe the adage "diversity is our strength".