Racial Equity and Belonging at NEC

To Members of the NEC Community:

I have taken very seriously the Black Student Union’s request for "time to mourn and space to heal”;  as I wrote in my last email, respecting that request was our first best expression of support.  And I write now to reiterate my commitment—both personal and institutional—to creating meaningful and sustained change across NEC around matters of racial equity and belonging.

Today, this day after Juneteenth, we begin the serious institutional work required to effect that change. The critical first step is actionable planning with members of the BSU and the DEI Task Force, which begins this coming week. Additionally, we will provide details about the systematic and comprehensive process NEC will take in the coming weeks, and will establish frequent and transparent communication about the process, the progress being made, and opportunities for the entire NEC family to get involved. And, as promised to the NEC Progressive Alumni Coalition, I will respond publicly by the end of the week to their Open Letter.

We have much to do as an institution to build an educational experience and institutional culture that purposefully and emphatically live up to our stated values of community: respect, equity, inclusion, and belonging.  I remain committed to those values and to the work needed to realize them, but know also that they can only be made fully real with the commitment and help of the entire NEC community. I invite you to join in our institutional work to effect the change we seek, and look forward to working with you towards a better NEC—-and, hence, towards positive impact on our field and on our society.

As always, please feel free to be in touch directly if you have questions, concerns, or thoughts you wish to share.

Sincerely,

Andrea Kalyn
President