Luis G. Pedraja: Deep reflections to end the year
December is a month that often gives me hope. It’s a time when we are a little bit kinder to one another and compassionate to those who many not have the same resources and opportunities afforded to us.
Recently two events on the national and local stage have caused me to once again reflect on the hope this time of the year brings to me.
On Nov. 30, at Worcester’s City Council meeting, City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr.'s recommendation to create a Latino Advisory Commission was met with resounding approval. It now just needs to go through some formalities before the City Council can give final approval. This Advisory Commission will ensure that Latinos have equal access to all public services and full enjoyment and exercise of their civil rights.
As a Latino who has worked tirelessly for equal access to higher education for all, this formal show of support for equity and inclusion gives me a sense of optimism for our collective future. Approximately 40,000 Latinos reside in the city of Worcester and are the largest minority population, yet they experience some of the greatest inequities in education, economic development and health care. I believe this commission will bring about positive change in our community moving forward.
On the national stage, the recent guilty verdict in the Ahmaud Arbery murder trial, was met with a profound sense of relief that finally justice was served. Too often, the systemic racism that has plagued our nation is relived by our communities of color, when the outcomes of these high-profile trials perpetuate structures of racism and privilege. However, the three men found guilty in the Arbery murder trial by an almost all-white jury showed the nation that there is hope that every day more people are rejecting racism and what it has done to our society. Yet, there is still much more to do until we can achieve an equitable and just society.
Recent history has shown that only through acknowledging our past, educating our citizens, and working together to advance racial equity and justice in America will we be able to move forward as a unified nation. I believe that colleges and universities must take the lead in this type of education, no matter how uncomfortable this process can be. I have said many times that Quinsigamond Community College is not just a college in Worcester, we are Worcester’s college and as such, it is our mission to educate and empower our community to do better and be better.
Diversity, equity and inclusion are the cornerstone of who we are as a higher education institution, and DEI initiatives are happening throughout campus and with the input of the full community. We have partnered with Inclusivity Education, a firm that is helping us assess the college’s status in DEI work and supporting us in the development of an actionable DEI strategic plan. With equity lenses, we are currently revising our college’s strategic plan, making sure that we are intentional in improving our DEI strategies and outcomes.
We have a President's Advisory Council on Equity whose purpose is to support the college’s commitment to diversity and inclusion as reflected in our mission statement and strategic plan, with the priority of creating a campus climate where all feel welcomed, valued, and appreciated, and where diverse practices are applied to both academic and administrative decision-making processes. PACE makes recommendations that include the development and implementation of initiatives that will lead to concrete reforms in college policies, procedures and practices, to resolve institutional inequities related to all categories of difference.
Since fall 2018, we have nurtured a collaborative initiative into equity and inclusive excellence, using reality pedagogy to innovate teaching and learning in our college’s classrooms and beyond. The Equity and Excellence Experience welcomes faculty from all disciplines, and staff from all departments and divisions, to ensure we spread diversity and inclusion throughout the entire college. We also promote DEI through continual lecture series and discussion groups to help build awareness and promote inclusivity.
I am proud to say that QCC is doubling-down on its efforts to eliminate the barriers, biases, prejudices and stereotypes that have historically kept many in our community from realizing their full potential. We have expanded our HomePlate Food Pantry and Resource Center, increased access to support services both in-person and virtually, expanded access to financial aid, offered in-person, online and hybrid courses, increased access to COVID-19 vaccines and testing, and are continuing to work on increasing diversity representation in our faculty and staff.
While we are moving forward, there is still much work to be done. Our students continue to battle challenges with food and housing insecurity, transportation needs and a global pandemic that is disproportionately affecting racial and ethnic minority populations.
The pandemic has brought about unprecedented challenges to our underserved populations, but we are committed to doing everything possible to help keep our students, and by extension, their families’ safe, while ensuring that all have an equitable education. The devastation these populations experienced at the onset of the pandemic, and continue to experience, has been staggering and we must be cognizant of this as we seek equity for all.
Now, as the number of new cases of COVID-19 rise and a new strain of the virus has been detected, our most vulnerable are at an even greater risk. This is why we are requiring that all students, faculty and staff be fully vaccinated by Jan. 3, 2022, and ask that they uploaded proof of vaccination on QCC’s website. Only those students who wish to register solely for courses that do not require any in-person components, and who do not plan to come to campus for any reason, will not be required to provide proof of vaccination.
Rest assured this decision was not made lightly. All 15 community college presidents did their due diligence before coming to this decision. We were in united agreement that it was in the best interest of our students, faculty, staff and communities to be fully vaccinated to begin the winter/intersession and spring 2022 semester.
As we enter the holiday season and more people come together to celebrate with loved ones, the risk of COVID-19 cases increasing is high. After close to two years of limited interactions, we are excited about spending time with family and friends, and gathering in larger groups to enjoy the holidays, as we did before the pandemic. Yet, the coming holidays may increase the chances of getting COVID-19 if people do not take appropriate precautions.
While our global community is still dealing with the pandemic, the medical and scientific communities are gaining more knowledge, developing new treatments and making vaccines more prevalent, which makes me feel hopeful that we will leave these dark days behind. I wish each of you a happy, safe and peaceful holiday season and a brighter and more inclusive tomorrow.
Dr. Luis G. Pedraja is president of Quinsigamond Community College.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Luis G. Pedraja: Deep reflections to end the year
