Formed during the height of a global pandemic and summer of social unrest, the Read To Act Collective served as a brave space to examine socio-political issues that impact the ecosystem of higher education.
Dr. Maya Angelou’s famous quote, “…when you know better, [you] do better,” is a catalyst for the Read to Act (RTA) Collective.
ODEI, in partnership with Instructional Support, invites GRCC faculty and staff to come together to increase awareness and understanding (know better) about the impact of structural oppression. As a group (collective), we will use applied knowledge and industry best practices to shift the culture in our classrooms, departments, and work environments (do better).
For the next installment, we will read and unpack the book An Unseen Unheard Minority: Asian American Students at the University of Illinois by Sharon S. Lee
According to a recent study, “Asian Americans and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) have a reputation for being successful students, with data on academic outcomes often painting the portrait of a high-performing group, especially for East and South Asian Americans.” “These perceptions, however, stem from group averages that mask the variation in both access to higher education and success after college enrollment … giving rise to a common misconception that Asian Americans and NHPIs attending our nation’s colleges and universities are universally succeeding without a need for better or more targeted support. Not only does this model minority myth harm students, but it also hamstrings college leaders and policymakers in ensuring practice and policy decisions reflect their constituents’ needs,” the report concludes.
The (virtual) three-part book discussion will meet weekly on Tuesdays from Noon to 1:15 pm.
The first session begins on August 2, 2022.
A complimentary copy of the book is available to registered participants.
RSVP by Monday, July 11 to: https://tinyurl.com/readtoact
The daily employee newsletter of Grand Rapids Community College 