Locating your institution within the racial justice continuum:

The journey to racial justice is a continuum, one to always deepen and engage in. These questions will help guide institutions to navigate their work in racial justice. It is a starting point to locate current needs and realities of your apostolate. It is important to note that an institution may be located in more than one category.

Beginning of your journey:

• If you and/or members of your community are wondering: 

  • What are the first steps to racial justice at my apostolate? 

  • Do you not know where to start in the work of racial justice? 

  • Are you paralyzed by the current moment of racial injustices being brought to light?

  • Are you wanting to respond to the signs of the times of current racial uprisings? Or backlash of alumni, donors, families about negative experiences? 

• Is there a DEI role at your institution?

• Is there a faculty or staff diversity committee? Does your apostolate lack affinity groups? 

• What, if any, are some fears or concerns around beginning the work of racial justice? 

Middle of your journey:

• Your institution has a DEI practitioner, but no formalized strategic plan. 

• Is there administrative and/or staff buy-in for racial justice work? Is there buy-in from those who you serve for racial justice work? 

• Has the effort in the work for racial justice stalled? Why?

• Is there a formal DEI committee within your apostolate? 

• Are there stated goals, objectives, learning outcomes for racial justice in your institution? 

• Is your institution willing to conduct an audit to evaluate all policies, procedures, and structures that disproportionately affect racial minorities?

• Is there a dedicated budget to racial justice work in your institution?

• Is there formal space dedicated to racial justice work? 

• Is there racial justice curriculum?

• What, if any, are some fears or concerns about deepening the work of racial justice?

Deepening your journey:

• Your institution has a DEI practitioner. (Have you evaluated if you need more human resources?)

• Your institution has a formalized strategic plan that includes racial justice.

• Your institution is willing to evaluate and change policies, procedures, and structures that disproportionately affect racial minorities. 

• Your institution has administration, staff, and community buy-in for racial justice work. 

• Your institution has a budget for racial justice work. 

• Your institution has regular racial justice programming. (trainings, discussions, guest speakers, curriculum reviews)

• Your institution has designated a physical space for racial justice work.