Racial & Social Justice Initiatives
RESOURCES
https://www.deanza.edu/equityoffice/
https://cosida.com/sports/2020/7/8/CoSIDAforChange.aspx?
Forum for FHDA Athletic Departments (March 25, 2021)
The De Anza and Foothill athletic departments united for an online town hall for student-athletes, coaches and staff to discuss recent events affecting the AAPI community. The event featured moderator Dawn Lee Tu, student-athlete panelists from both campuses, Foothill basketball coach Anna Harp, De Anza political science instructor Jim Nguyen, and members of the De Anza Student-Athlete Advisory Council. Many powerful stories from personal experiences added to an educational and insightful two hours together in districtwide solidarity.
Black Lives Matter
Forum for Student-Athletes (June 4, 2020)
- Student-athletes took part in an online discussion with Frank Ortega, African-American Studies lecturer at San José State University; Michele LeBleu-Burns, dean of Student Development and EOPS; and Melinda Hughes, faculty assistant director of EOPS; with support from William Firmender, Derrick Felton and Kristiana Guan of De Anza Psychological Services; Louise Madrigal, Athletics counselor; Dawn Lee Tu, faculty director of the Office of Professional Development; and Eric Mendoza, dean of Physical Education and Athletics.
DA Student-Athletes BLM Video Message (June 19)
- Led by the DA Student-Athlete Advisory Council, current student-athletes released a video on social media to demonstrate support of the BLM Movement. The video included the following statement: "De Anza College student-athletes stand in solidarity with our Black student-athletes and the Black community. Many of us will never know the pain and oppression the Black community has and continues to face. We hear you, we see you, and we stand with you!" VIEW VIDEO HERE
Forum for Black Student-Athletes and Coaches (July 7)
- The De Anza College Athletic Department hosted its second forum in support of its African American Ancestry/Black Community. Student-athletes and coaches took part in an online discussion featuring Glynn Wallis (De Anza College EOPS Counselor) and Steve Kinney (De Anza College mentor, 100 Black Men of America, former NFL player). Student and coaches were able to engage in important dialogue to address hidden biases and blind spots in the department and on campus.
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Presentation: "Overcoming Embedded Barriers to Black Male Students' Academic Success"
Utilizing an anti-deficit approach to view the experiences of Black males, this session presents qualitative research that explores Black male experiences at California Community Colleges related to their resiliency in overcoming institutional barriers to achieve their academic goals. This session’s intent is also to review best practices, embedded in social justice, that provide opportunity for equitable outcomes for this student group.
Dr. James Reed, Project and Program Coordinator, STEM, Mt. San Antonio College, CA; Dr. Maisha Jones, Associate Professor, Sociology, and Vice Chair, Behavioral and Social Sciences, Los Angeles Southwest College, CA; Dr. Nyree Berry, Instructor, Sociology, Los Angeles Community College District, CA