Name: Pursue Racial Justice - Higher Education and Racial Equity
Start: 2021-02-24T15:30:00-0500
End: 2021-02-24T16:30:00-0500

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Pursue Racial Justice - Higher Education and Racial Equity

Click on the VIDEO STREAM button to view the recording of this session.

Throughout American history, higher education has played a role in creating and reinforcing structural racism. Climate change disproportionately impacts communities of color, and is the result of the same unsustainable, extractive system that marginalizes and disempowers these communities. As institutions seek to shift their role to become actively anti-racist, how can we align climate action and all other institutional priorities with efforts to dismantle structural racism and lift up BIPOC communities? How can we ensure that climate solutions are led by and benefit these communities, and do not reinforce patterns of exploitation? What is the role of endowments in this work -- and what are the risks they face by not investing in racial equity? Leading thinker, author and entrepreneur, Nathalie Molina Niño will explore these questions with Valerie Red-Horse Mohl, CFO of the East Bay Community Foundation and Chair of Stanford’s Center for Comparative Studies on Race and Ethnicity.

Some key takeaways from this session:

Racial equity and climate change are not only “intersectional” but “fused” - they are inherently linked.
For higher ed to move the dial on racial justice, think about not just “racial equity” but “racial thriving”-- how people of color can thrive, have more access to ownership, to capital, to leadership positions.
Thinking about endowment investing and access to capital is key. Investment managers that are BIPOC owned and led, are more likely to inherently consider sustainability/ESG factors in their process.
Communities must control their own destinies - keep ownership at the front of thinking about racial justice - a lens for all decisions on hiring, investments, priorities, etc.

Speakers