Racial Justice Commitments

Everyone at the University of Wisconsin–Madison deserves to feel welcomed and included. We, at the Center for Leadership & Involvement (CfLI), are doing our part to make that happen for our campus community, including addressing racism and dismantling systems of oppression, especially within our own programs and services. We commit to being engaged in a never-ending process of improvement, self-reflection, learning, and unlearning. 

We shared four racial justice commitments in summer 2020, which can be read below. We will be  accountable to those commitments through a routine public process and are dedicated to transparency in our inclusivity work. Below, we also made a tracker of key progress available. Recent highlights include staff education; creating quarterly training for CfLI student staff that addresses power, privilege, and elevating marginalized student voices; and developing a pilot registered student organization (RSO) diversity, equity, and inclusion training program. 

We are also excited to announce a new partnership with CultureBrokers, a diversity, inclusion, and equity consulting firm, that will help us identify actionable ways to improve our policies, practices, and situations for our marginalized campus community members through an organizational audit. We will be seeking campus community involvement through targeted surveys and report debriefing sessions. This process will yield an “Equity Strategic Action Plan” that will guide future diversity, equity, and inclusion work.  

We want to thank all those taking action to address diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus, including but far from limited to the Gender and Sexuality Campus Center, McBurney Disability Resource Center, Multicultural Student Center, the Office of Inclusion Education, University Veteran Services, and our partners in the Division of Diversity, Equity and Education Achievement. We know that others are actively engaged in this work. We are honored to work alongside you to create a more welcoming, equitable and inclusive campus. We welcome ideas, thoughts about current efforts, and suggestions for partnerships to create positive change together. You are welcome to contact us at cfli@studentlife.wisc.edu. 

In Solidarity and Community,

Center for Leadership & Involvement Staff

The Center for Leadership & Involvement staff acknowledges and shares in the pain and anger experienced by our students, colleagues, and community at the senseless death of George Floyd at the hands of police.  This tragic act serves as a stark reminder of the existing and historical oppression of our Black and African American communities.

We have an obligation, as a leadership department dedicated to inspiring purposeful action and positive change, to address racism and dismantle systems of oppression.  Our staff is committed, individually and collectively, to this work.  That labor has historically been shouldered by our most marginalized communities, including our Black and African American colleagues – student organization leaders, advisors, and staff.  We seek to share that burden and stand committed to:

• Intentionally reaching out to our marginalized students to support them where they need it through advising, leadership development, and funding.
• Providing leadership training to our UW-Madison community that elevates and centers minoritized voices while addressing existing systems of power and privilege.
• Reviewing our policies and procedures to make certain they meet the needs of marginalized students.
• Assessing our programs, resources, and services through a social justice lens and making necessary changes to limit gaps and ensure accessibility.

We look to translate this moment into a movement.  An inherently inclusive movement that appreciates the shared struggles and the unique stories of our marginalized communities – advocating especially for those whose intersectional social identities often result in disproportionate suppression.  This will require listening, on-going learning, and a commitment to change.

Ultimately, we will be judged by our behavior and not on our mission, core values, or statements.  We acknowledge and apologize for our silence to date.  We will hold ourselves accountable for our actions and we encourage you to partner with us in bringing forth a more just University and community.

In Solidarity,

Center for Leadership & Involvement Staff