CEO Letter to the DI Community Regarding Recent Racist Incidents
June 2, 2020 | DI In the News
June 1, 2020
Dear Members of the DI Community,
We are sad and we will not forget the Black lives and the names of all those taken from us too soon due to racism. My heart goes out to all of you who are suffering and may not feel safe. Like many of you, I reflected this weekend on the acts of violence and racism across the United States and studied the response, or in some cases the lack of response, by protestors, people in positions of power, influencers, business owners and more. I searched within myself about how to craft an appropriate message and what action we could take in the DI and local community.
I want to start by saying that DI condemns racism and anti-Blackness. We acknowledge that racism is not new and that it is a part of the very foundation of this country. With that said, DI remains committed to our Diversity Statement shared below as well as to find ways to work together to connect and address racism and injustice on our campus and in our society.
Diversity Statement
Design Institute of San Diego is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive design community that supports and enhances the educational experience of its students and the workplace environment of its employees. Diversity is welcomed and embraced in all aspects of the school’s operations including employment, recruitment and admission efforts, and exposure to diverse instructors. The curriculum at DI has been built to include opportunities for students to increase awareness of diversity, to provide learning opportunities and experiences that will encourage students to consider inclusivity and design in the widest possible context, as well as to foster a realistic understanding of their responsibility, role and potential, as professional interior designers, in making thoughtful contributions to improve their community, the nation and, finally, the current and future condition of the world.
DI welcomes all. The college does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geographic region, religion, abilities/disabilities, age, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin, or other categories in the administration of educational services, policies, admissions policies, employment or employment policies, financial aid programs, or other college-administered programs and activities.
We are here to talk to you, learn from you, support you, and collaborate with you, on how we can take action as a collective. If you would like to join a DI task force to promote diversity and plan community activities please email jhouchins@disd.edu.
If you would like to research this issue, learn how to be an ally, or prefer to engage privately please visit a few resources that we felt worthy of sharing:
Learn More and/or Take Action
www.obama.org/anguish-and-action/
How to be an Ally
https://sojo.net/articles/our-white-friends-desiring-be-allies
https://www.theroot.com/12-ways-to-be-a-white-ally-to-black-people-1790876784
Healing
With Sadness and Hope,
Margot Doucette, CEO