Most classrooms in the Maricopa County Community College District are not expected to be open to students until 2022, but students are being encouraged to open their minds and begin their journey to humility beginning August 11. That’s when the District Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Engagement will begin offering new Cultural Humility and Equity Hours.
Faculty and Governing Board members are also invited to participate in various hour-long discussions covering everything from Racelighting and Critical Race Theory (CRT), offered by Professor Rod Golden to The Shift of Political Parties in the US with Professor John Coughlin.
Cultural Humility is described as the process through which an individual engages in self-critique. Cultural Humility for white individuals would include acceptance of the belief that they are oppressors.
This past legislative session, an amendment offered in the House would have prohibited training that included seven concepts of “blame or judgment grounded in the basis of race, ethnicity, or sex.” However, Governor Doug Ducey vetoed the bill after the Legislature failed to approve his budget fast enough for his tastes.
The Governor later signed House Bill (HB) 2906, which prohibits the state and any local governments from requiring their employees to engage in orientation, training or therapy that suggests an employee is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.
Shortly before that, the Governor signed HB 2898, a law which ensures that students cannot be taught that one race, ethnic group or sex is in any way superior to another, or that anyone should be discriminated against on the basis of these characteristics. The law allows a fine of up to $5,000 for schools that violate the law.
Those laws however, will not take effect until September 29, in accordance with Arizona’s Constitution which requires a 90-day waiting period from the time the Legislature adjourns to when it becomes law, making August and September potentially busy months for those in the Community College system who want to teach their race-based curriculum.
The events scheduled in October, such as Educational Equity: Nationally recognized Student Led Session- Dismantling Microaggressions in STEM and MCCCD offered by Dr. Nichole Neal, may be illegal and observers are playing close attention to whether or not the Community Colleges will follow Arizona law or not.
District Office Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Engagement (DEIE) invites you to participate in: Cultural Humility and Equity Office Hours
- September 2 and 4 – Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Engagement “Working Language” – what they are and how they apply.
- Wednesday, September 2 from 1 – 2 pm Link: https://meet.google.com/jyj-vfjk-ync?authuser=1&hs=122 or by phone (US) +1 929-329-2419 PIN: 879 547 719#
- Friday, September 4 from 3 – 4 pm Link: https://meet.google.com/xnu-qodj-bgd?hs=122&authuser=1 or by phone (US) +1 402-866-0186 PIN: 128 806 676#
- September 16 – Perceptions and Misconceptions (some examples: looting/rioting/policing/HR/faculty hiring)
- Wednesday, September 16 from 1 – 2 pm Link: https://meet.google.com/dkc-pakj-vqb?hs=122&authuser=1 or by phone (US) +1 857-529-6566 PIN: 674 069 191#
- September 25 – People who identify as biracial and mixed race.
- Friday, September 25 from 3 -4 pm Link: https://meet.google.com/ajz-dbci-ztf?hs=122&authuser=1 or by phone (US) +1 406-530-7662 PIN: 202 408 968#
- October 7 – Whiteness/White Privilege and socioeconomic status.
- Wednesday, October 7 from 1 – 2 pm Link: https://meet.google.com/cmv-smic-azd?authuser=1&hs=122 or by phone (US) +1 385-645-7127 PIN: 240 538 912#
- October 21 – Colorism versus Racism.
- Wednesday, October 21 from 1 – 2 pm Link: https://meet.google.com/vcw-reow-shi?hs=122&authuser=1 or by phone(US) +1 505-445-8009 PIN: 572 317 726#
- November 18 and 20 – Organic/Open topics.
- Wednesday, November 18 from 1 – 2 pm Link: https://meet.google.com/pco-uawu-hgj?hs=122&authuser=1 or by phone (US) +1 352-973-0371 PIN: 892 085 798#
- Friday, November 20 from 3 – 4 pm Link: https://meet.google.com/wpv-fnqg-hrp?hs=122&authuser=1 or by phone (US) +1 440-783-4574 PIN: 214 380 832#
Note: If you have a disability and need an accommodation to participate, please contact our office at 480-731-8763. Every effort will be made to provide you with a reasonable accommodation.