On Wednesday, February 27, the Federation of Students will officially launch its new student-run equity service: Racial Advocacy for Inclusion, Solidarity and Equity, or RAISE.
RAISE aims to address racism and xenophobia in the community and on campus through education and advocacy, peer-to-peer support, and community building. Students, staff, faculty, and community members, and members of the media are invited to attend RAISE’s launch event on Wednesday, February 27 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Federation Hall.
RAISE was formed in 2018 primarily by students belonging to the Black Association for Student Expression (UW BASE).
The service now has an executive team, coordinators, and a location in the Student Life Centre in the heart of campus. It offers a weekly Vibes night, office hours, and peer-to-peer counselling.
"The launch event will celebrate the student leaders who spoke out against issues of racism and xenophobia, who recognized a gap in services on campus and used that to create something positive that will benefit and support students," says the Feds' press release. "It will also encourage discussion on how the campus community can come together as a campus to take collective ownership in our efforts to dismantle systems of oppression – and how those systems prevent our students from fulfilling their full potential."