Adjusted Locality, Antiracist Aims

Abstract

Following the police murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, every sector of the country was wracked with the truth of their insufficient racial equity. In higher education, this resulted in solidarity statements and diversity action plans. Many of our colleagues in higher education across the United States now lament a waning energy around ensuring institutional equity, a trend which has been exacerbated by legislation such as Florida's Stop WOKE Act. These efforts toward equity are additionally challenged by ever-changing avenues of support, limited staffing, and the finite bandwidth of those staff who do commit. This chapter will address the limitations and opportunities of DEI initiatives run by a small staff (in this case a graduate student and writing center director) in a larger institution (in this case a university writing center). The chapter will also propose methodological and pedagogical shifts to further the longevity of community programs and partnerships.