Reaffirming Safe and Brave Spaces at UIC
November 15, 2016
The Centers for Cultural Understanding and Social Change at the University of Illinois-Chicago are committed to social change grounded in the principles of inclusion, access, and equity.
The Centers vehemently reject racism, xenophobia, misogyny and other expressions of bigotry and discrimination – expressions that unfortunately are not new, but have recently resurfaced in public threats and acts of violence across the country and are in opposition to our campus and community values.
In the aftermath of the highly charged and divisive 2016 presidential campaign and election, we reaffirm our collective purpose: to expand understanding of the value of cultural diversity, connect diverse assets to find creative solutions for common challenges on our campus and extended communities, and promote cultural understanding that leads to social change.
The Centers remain vigilant, steadfast and unified as safe and brave spaces for our students and the broader campus community. We affirm that we are here and are full of people gathering together under the umbrella of our diverse legacies of struggle and resistance, to reject violence and hatred. Our doors are open for coming together, holding up one another, and realizing the values of respect, social justice, belonging, safety, dignity and love.
If you need immediate support, please reach out to us. If we don’t have the information or resources required, we can direct you to an appropriate source of support.
The Centers will continue to draw upon our expertise in scholarship and practice to share and mobilize the stories and experiences of members of our diverse communities to create an environment where all people are welcomed in their identities, valued for their contributions, and feel their identities can be openly expressed.
In Solidarity,
African-American Cultural Center aacc.uic.edu
Arab American Cultural Center facebook.com/arabamericancc
Asian American Resource and Cultural Center aarcc.uic.edu
Disability Resource Center drc.uic.edu
Gender & Sexuality Center genderandsexuality.uic.edu
Rafael Cintrón Ortiz Latino Cultural Center latinocultural.uic.edu
Women’s Leadership and Resource Center wlrc.uic.edu
- Download the Official Letter: CCUSC Election Statement [PDF]