Anti-racism Task Force
Waterloo Advancement recognizes the importance, value and richness that a diverse workforce and community brings. Within the framework set out by the University (PART) and in response to the George Floyd murder, we launched our Advancement-centered anti-racism initiative in August 2020 and created the Advancement Anti-racism Task Force (AARTF) which is made up of a diverse group of staff.
Our Vision
Our vision is to implement changes and practices that address racism and discrimination in all forms, by fostering a culture that fully adopts the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) for our staff and community. We aspire to create an inclusive environment where staff members of any equity-deserving group, can participate thrive and flourish within our Advancement family.
Our mission is to realize this vision within Waterloo Advancement through a series of activities including introspective reviews, community engagement, education, training, communication, hiring and the implementation of meaningful initiatives to address discriminatory practices or beliefs.
Our Accomplishments
The AARTF team has worked tirelessly to bring ideas to the forefront to help deliver on our vision. Work in the anti-racism and equity space is never-ending, and much credit to the team for its achievements to date which include:
- Development of recommendations to transform Waterloo Advancement. The recommendations are focused on five key areas: education, training, equity review, communication and the future
- Creation of an internal website to host various anti-racism and EDI materials
- Ongoing delivery of an educational “Lunch and Learn Series,” with speakers presenting on a variety of topics including Black History Month, Indigenous initiatives at Waterloo, Asian experiences, EDI and LGBTQ+ and Holocaust Remembrance
- Two Equity 101 sessions to help guide staff
- Engagement with the President Anti-Racism Taskforce (PART)
- Meetings with other groups, including SSO, Athletics, UW housing, St. Jerome’s University, affiliated colleges, Canadian universities and others, to share ideas on anti-racism and equity.
Work on anti-racism covers a broad spectrum. To be successful, we must pursue a path that allows Waterloo Advancement to effect change within our scope and work collaboratively with our campus partners and community to address any broader concerns. We must be bold, strategic and committed to “results-oriented” actions. The AARTF team looks forward to the journey and next steps to realize its vision for 2023 and beyond.
On behalf of the AARTF,
Nigel Henriques
Director, Systems
Office of Advancement,
University of Waterloo