Solidarity With the Black Community

Denouncing acts of violence against Asian communities

Colleagues,

As many of you are aware, there have been an increasing number of attacks against Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders. These despicable and unfathomable acts have been physical attacks and verbal assaults against older/senior adults and other members of the Asian community. While these assaults have occurred in many different places across our nation, they are also occurring in Washington state. I want to make it clear that as the college President, I unequivocally denounce these racist acts.

In June 2020, our college’s Board of Trustees passed Resolution #20-6-2 denouncing xenophobia and anti-Asian sentiment due to fears of the COVID-19 pandemic and affirmed EC’s commitment to the well-being and safety of Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Additionally, I along with all my CTC president counterparts signed a resolution denouncing anti-Asian discrimination caused by the pandemic on June 6, 2020. I stand by these resolutions and affirm our commitment to the safety of our Asian and Pacific Islander communities.

I appreciate the work we’re all doing, individually and collectively, to move us further toward becoming an anti-racist and inclusive institution. During such challenging and difficult times, it is important to remember self-care. Support is available for students and employees if needed:

• Students: The Counseling and Resource Center offers free and confidential mental health services through virtual telehealth sessions. Call 425.640.1358 or email counseling@edmonds.edu. You can also get support from the Center for Cultural Diversity and Inclusion (CSCDI). To book an appointment, email eduardo.torres@edmonds.edu.

• Employees: The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services to employees. Call the EAP to set up a confidential appointment at 1.800.648.5834.

Also, please remember to report any acts of bias at Edmonds College to your supervisor or by filling out the Bias Incident/Hate Crimes Reporting Form.

Sincerely,

Amit B. Singh, PhD
President
Edmonds College

Dear Triton Community,

We are saddened and outraged and join with the families and nation to mourn the tragic and unjust killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, and Manuel Ellis in Washington. Around the nation and world, people are incensed, grieving, and standing up to denounce police brutality and racism. They are marching, protesting, sending money to support protesters, writing letters, and calling on their institutions to take a stand.

As leaders of the Edmonds College community, we unequivocally denounce racism, bigotry, police brutality, acts of racial violence, and other injustices. We acknowledge that it is imperative that we speak out and demand justice for the Black lives lost as a result of police brutality and anti-Blackness.

Acts of violence persist in the U.S. because systemic racism and oppression plague our nation. Within our institutions and society, Black people continue to be oppressed, criminalized, and denied their basic human rights. These acts of racial violence against Black people are ingrained in the fabric of this nation and will persist until we dismantle systemic injustices.

In order to address systemic racism and create sustainable antiracist solutions at Edmonds College, we must acknowledge the trauma, stress, and anxiety that Black students, faculty, staff, and the Black community are experiencing. Our Black students are continuing to attend school and are expected to excel even though they are deeply impacted. Black employees are still required to be productive and go to work even though they are stressed and concerned about their health and safety. Black people have made the decision to engage in marches, protests, writing campaigns, and many other activities and events that raise their stress and anxiety levels and put them in unsafe spaces. These are experiences that White people may not understand because of their White privilege. With this knowledge, it would be negligent for our institution not to take a public stance.

As leaders of our campus community, we must create a safe space for Black students, employees, and other minoritized groups to share their concerns, experiences, and suggestions on how to address racial inequities; hire, maintain, and promote Black faculty and staff; evaluate and interrogate policies and procedures that perpetuate institutional racism to eliminate barriers; invest more in professional development focused on eliminating racism, bias, and other forms of discrimination; create space for feedback; and consistently demand accountability.

We know this work has already proven itself to be challenging, but in order to truly create transformative change on our campus, antiracism work must be a focal point. We must remain vigilant and hopeful. We unwaveringly stand in solidarity and declare that Black Lives Matter. Standing up and taking action is not an option; it's a moral imperative.

#BlackLivesMatter

Signed,

Edmonds College Leadership Team

Dr. Amit B. Singh, President

Dr. Charlie Crawford, Executive Vice President for Instruction

Christina Castorena, Vice President for Student Services

Dr. Yvonne Terrell-Powell, Vice President for Equity and Inclusion

Gregory Hinton, Vice President for Finance and Operations

Danielle Carnes, Vice President for Innovation and Strategic Partnerships

Dr. Terry Cox, Vice President for Workforce Development and Training

Jim Mulik, Senior Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Grants

Mushka Rohani, Executive Director of Human Resources

Brad Thomas, Executive Director of the Edmonds College Foundation

Eva Smith, Chief Information Officer

Kristen NyQuist, Executive Assistant to the President

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