This year UBC established an Anti-Racism Initiatives Fund to support projects that celebrate and elevate diverse communities and advance anti-racism efforts at UBC. An annual allocation of $100,000 is available at UBC Okanagan. I am pleased to announce seven recently funded proposals on our campus.
Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies
Picturing Anti-Islamophobia: An Exhibition of Cartoons Challenging Racism
Yasaman Lotfizadeh, Master of Arts student; Hussein Keshani, Associate Professor; and Ahlam Bavi, doctoral student
This project will create an engaging and accessible event, a physical and online exhibition as well as a catalogue of curated cartoons that promote critical thinking about Islamophobia, change racist attitudes and foster empathy for Muslim communities.
The UBC Anti-Racist Reading Book Club and Reading Series
Kevin Chong, Assistant Professor
This reading series aims to increase awareness of how reading and creative writing are affected by racism through book club discussions with high-profile writers of colour who have written about racism in society, writing and publishing.
Irving K Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Anti-Racist Feminisms: A Speaker Series
Heather Latimer, Assistant Professor and Atmaza Chattopadhyay, third-year student
This speaker series will host five internationally renowned experts on anti-racist feminisms — an area of expertise lacking in current course offerings.
Anti-Racist Thought and Activism in History
Jessica Stites Mor, Associate Professor and Francisco Peña, Associate Professor
This initiative features guest speakers who will guide discussions on how past experiences and historical models of anti-racist activism can contribute to ongoing thought and anti-racist work.
Enhancing Racial and Cultural Inclusivity in UBCO’s Interprofessional Clinic
Ian Wellspring, doctoral student; Nina Gregoire, anticipated doctoral student (2021); and Carley Paterson, anticipated doctoral student (2021)
This project will evaluate the use of, and perceived barriers to, the UBCO Interprofessional Clinic (IPC) by marginalized groups and yield actionable information and collaborative opportunities as to how the IPC can be more inclusive and anti-racist.
Irving K Barber Faculty of Science
Diversity in Biology Speakers Series
Robin Young, Assistant Professor and Karen Hodges, Professor
This speaker series will invite early career researchers from diverse, under-represented communities to showcase their research in the biological sciences through presentations and moderated discussions.
School of Engineering
Advocacy and Allyship for Racialized Engineering Students
Jannik Eikenaar, Assistant Professor and Sam Charles, Communications Manager
The experiences of racialized students in the School of Engineering will be shared through a series of short videos, encouraging students, faculty and staff to become allies to racialized students and creating a more inclusive environment.
I look forward to seeing the evolvement of these inspiring projects and their positive impact on our campus community.
Warmly,
Ananya Mukherjee Reed
Provost and Vice-President Academic
UBC Okanagan
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