UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

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Chancellor’s Call to Action Initiative

Symposium Research Sessions

Chancellor’s Call to Action to Address Racism & Social Injustice Research Symposium

9:30 –10:00 a.m.
Systematic Racism & Social Justice

Partnerships in Equity, Access, and Representations in STEM (PEAR-STEM)

Levis Room 308

  • Lara Hebert, Assistant Director of Engineering Public Engagement

  • Tracy Dace, Founder and CEO, DREAAM
  • Kellye Smith, IMAGINE Parent Liaison, Urbana Neighborhood Connections Center
  • LaTina Taylor, Program Director, Chicago Pre-College Science & Engineering program
  • Delores Lloyd, Teacher, Pleasant Acres Elementary School
  • TBD, IMAGINE STEM Saturday’s student

During the 2021–2022 school year, an interdisciplinary team from the university partnered with three community-based organizations and local families to narrow opportunity gaps and nurture the development of STEM identities for black and brown children who have historically been pushed out of science and technology pathways, both in and out of school. This panel presentation will spotlight the perspectives of program planners and participants as they discuss the initiative’s strengths and opportunities for growth in the future.

Launching Uni High’s Bridge and Equity Program to Affirm and Support Incoming Underrepresented Students of Color

Levis Room 108

  • Valerie O’Brien, Coordinator of Equity and Public Engagement, University Laboratory High School

  • Melissa Goodnight, Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology, and Core Affiliate Faculty, Center for Culturally Responsive Evaluation and Assessment (CREA)
  • Anthony Sullers, Jr., Lecturer, Department of African American Studies and Program Evaluator, Center for Culturally Responsive Evaluation and Assessment (CREA)

Uni Pathbreakers is a collaboration between University High School and the College of Education, which aims to ensure the success and sense of belonging of incoming Uni students from underrepresented backgrounds. The program seeks to cultivate strong peer-peer and student-teacher relationships through a week-long summer camp and year-round support activities.

Understanding Racial Disproportionality in Finding Permanent Homes for African American Children in Out-of-Home Care: A Study of Subsidized Guardianship

Levis Room 210

  • Theodore P. Cross, Senior Research Specialist, Children and Family Research Center
  • Cady Landa, Research Specialist, Children and Family Research Center
  • Heather Fox, Research Specialist, Office of Translational Research
  • Robin Lasota, Director of Translational Research
  • Magdalene Thebaud, MSW Candidate, School of Social Work
  • Diamond Hines, MSW Candidate, School of Social Work
  • Tachuana Parson, MSW Candidate, School of Social Work
  • Eun-Jee Song, PhD Candidate, School of Social Work
  • Sharva Hampton-Campbell, Student Affairs Coordinator, School of Social Work
  • Soonhyung Kwon, PhD Candidate, School of Social Work
  • Mary Steiner, MSW Candidate, School of Social Work

Combatting Anti-Asian Racism

Levis Room 208

  • Junaid Rana, Head and Associate Professor, Department of Asian American Studies

The presentation will highlight the year-long public speaker series and symposium titled “In Plain Sight: Reckoning with Anti-Asian Racism” by the Department of Asian American Studies.