The Decolonization Study Group presents: Pathways to Decolonizing TC Workshop.
Join us in exploring fundamental concepts in decoloniality, collectively imagining pathways to personal change, and understanding and planning concrete strategies for applying decoloniality at TC.
Friday, March 26th, 2021, 9:00AM-12:00PM EST
RSVP at: tinyurl.com/1u50mrsy
To request disability-related accommodations, contact OASID at oasid@tc.edu, or 212-678-3689,
The event is cosponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Community Affairs, the Sustainability Task Force, and the Office of Graduate Student Life and Development.
The Decolonization Study Group (DSG) is honored to have received the Vice President's Diversity and Community Initiatives Grant (DCI) for our March 26th event, Pathways to Decolonizing TC. This 3-hour workshop is open to all members of the TC community and aims to: 1) explore fundamental concepts in decoloniality; and 2) understand the ways in which decoloniality can be applied at TC. We anticipate that this event will result in concrete strategies for action.
The DSG was established in 2019 to promote understanding of decoloniality and its implications. The DSG is composed of over 75 TC students, faculty, staff and alumni and meets monthly to explore concepts and applications of decoloniality. In April 2020 the DSG was pleased to present a memo to the Provost on strategies for decoloniality at the university. This memo was presented, along with student testimonials, in the October 2020 faculty meeting.
In receiving the grant, the DSG in collaboration with its grant partner the Sustainability Task Force and other supportive TC organizations, offices and individuals, hopes to build upon this earlier work to engage the TC community in dialogue around decolonization efforts. The purpose of the workshop is to provide an organic, human space for all members of the TC community to dialogue on decolonization processes and collectively imagine pathways to institutional and personal change.
Throughout the event, participants will learn about different existing initiatives, courses, groups, and efforts linked with decoloniality at TC and Columbia University. A mapping study of such efforts will be presented at the workshop. We will become familiar with strategies for how to implement decolonial initiatives and discuss how to carry out further strategic actions in concerted and collaborative ways. We recognize that decoloniality is an unknown, creative and potentially challenging process that requires understanding and motivation from many actors. We plan to create a positive and affirming environment for change at TC.
The event will include student presenters, faculty and staff panelists, a breakout session, and keynote speaker Dr. Rodney Coates, a public sociologist and Professor of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies/Global and Intercultural Studies at Miami University, Ohio. He outlined a 12-Step Program for Decolonizing the University which will be presented at the event.
This is a first-time initiative, which makes it both critical and historical for TC. The DSG believes that the first step in decolonizing the university is to create a safe space to begin this community-wide conversation. With the generous support of the DCI grant for this event, DSG seeks to raise awareness about the remnants of coloniality within TC and the ways in which we as members of the community - faculty, administrators, staff and students - can embrace new policies and practices for decoloniality, anti-racism and visibility of all, especially historically marginalized voices.