From: Student Wellness and The Graduate School’s Initiative for Minority Excellence, part of the Diversity and Student Success program

We understand the negative health impacts of racism in our society and its influence within institutions that serve us.  We witness daily the building allostatic load our students, staff and faculty of color are experiencing as a result of the ongoing murder of Black citizens like Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Nina Pop, Sean Reed, George Floyd, Tony McDade, and sadly so many more, in our country, all too often through the actions of rogue police brutality and the systems that allow it to continue.   

We stand directly and unequivocally opposed to all forms of racism, oppression, and violence.   We stand clearly with and for our Black students and colleagues on campus, and see a clear moral and professional imperative to do what we can to right the wrongs of racism.  In an effort of creating greater health equity for our valued students, we are directly centering the needs of Black students in the work we are doing to fulfill our mission of creating a safe, just and equitable environment for all.   As well, we are working closely with other members of campus to provide support for our colleagues, while also advancing anti-racist efforts.  

To this end, Student Wellness and IME/DSS are partnering to offer a Holding Space for Black graduate students onlyto come and share their thoughts and engage with each other in solidarity to find some healing. 

The session will be moderated by Shahnaz Khawaja, Assistant Director for Resilience and Recovery Strategies in the office of Student Wellness, and Dr. DeVetta Holman, Health Equity, Resilience and Student Support Programs Coordinator in the office of Student Wellness.