Acknowledgments

This publication is dedicated to those who have experienced racism and racial injustice. As an institution of higher education, we must confront racism and commit to ending all forms of racial injustice. As an institution founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph, we value the worth, dignity and potential of each human being; diversity and its expression; and right relationships, with God, self, others and creation. The first year experience takes commitment and collaboration from both Avila and our outside community. This is an opportunity to thank all of these dedicated people. A special acknowledgment and many thanks to Richard Gergel, United States District Judge and author of Unexampled Courage: The Blinding of Sgt. Woodard and the Awakening of America. Thank you for sharing the story of Isaac Woodard and for your countless hours of research to learn more about how Woodard impacted our nation.

A heart-felt thanks to Bill and Jean ’76 Buchanan and the Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence. Your generous spirit and support helped the issues of social justice permeate through the curriculum of first year seminar. Avila is forever grateful to you!

The Truman Lecture would not be possible without the support of our presenting sponsors Joe and Sue Fahey, Kevin and Connie Fahey and the J.M. Fahey Construction Company. We appreciate and value your support of this event. Truly, none of this would be possible without your interest and dedication.

Thank you to the Avila University Common Reading Program Committee led by Dr. Paige Illum.

Members were Dr. Sue Ellen McCalley, Dr. Abigail Lambke, and Dr. Natalie Cobb. We appreciate your time and dedication! A special thanks to Dr. Stephen Caliendo who suggested the book due to its connection with President Truman and issues related to social justice which is a cornerstone of Avila University.

The Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture Series Committee was committed to developing a meaningful program while also being safe in light of the on-going pandemic. The committee not only worked on the details for the Truman Lecture but also an interactive workshop titled, “Moving Forward” and a dinner featuring Black-Owned Kansas City catering businesses. A huge thank you to the Truman Lecture Series Committee including, Bailey Carr, Dr. Charlene Gould, Molly Fisher, Dr. Paige Illum, Kaliyah Meriwether, Shawna Pena-Downing, Darren Roubinek and the leadership of Dr. Sue Ellen McCalley. A special thanks to Kaliyah Meriwether for her development and facilitation of the workshop and to Shawna Pena-Downing for organizing the dinner.

J. Anthony Snorgrass, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, or as Avila knows him, “Dr. J”, was extremely helpful. He served as a sounding board and all-around GREAT colleague as we navigated through instructor training and the development of the curriculum.

Many thanks to Maggie Mohrfeld, Vice President of Advancement; Darren Roubinek, Senior Director of Marketing & Communications; Molly Fisher, Events & Engagement Manager, and Bailey Carr, Senior Director of Advancement & Alumni Relations for their countless hours of dedicated work to make the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture a success. Also, to Maureen Reardon, Creative Services Manager, and Mary Sommerhauser, Graphic Designer, who designed this reflection book with wonderfully creative and on-target project management skills.

The members of the Office of Marketing and Communication, the Advancement Office, the Theatre Department, Information Technology Services and Campus Services helped implement a series of stellar Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture events. Thank you for your excellent attention to detail and expertise in your respective areas.

The efforts of our First Year Seminar Instructors were evident and appreciated as we welcomed our largest first year class and navigated through difficult curriculum and stretched outside our own comfort zones. Many were first time instructors which made the experience even more challenging. You all led students through multiple experiences and helped make First Year Seminar meaningful for each individual student. You also were willing to take a leap of faith to teach during a pandemic that created challenge and change within the classroom experience. Thank you for working to make a difference for our first year students! Thank you to Dave Armstrong, Jason Baldwin, Bailey Carr, Sara Eckinger, Darby Gough, Dr. Paige Illum, Dr. Andy Jett, Kaliyah Meriwether, Ryan Meyer, Anna McDonald, Alicia Murillo, Shawna Pena-Downing, Casey Reid, Darren Roubinek, Melissa Shipman, Paula Tarwater, Maya Tilmon and Megan Stone.

We also thank those who helped educate our first year students in unique and meaningful ways though the First Year Seminar curriculum. Sara Eckinger shared her expertise by conducted Bystander Training to share with students what they can do when harm is being inflicted upon another. The wonderful Jabraan Pasha, MD, who helped us understand what implicit bias is all about, how we can counter implicit bias and how we can work through our own biases. We are also grateful to Kaliyah Meriwether, Coordinator of the Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence, for helping us understand how we can move forward with the information we learned in First Year Seminar to create change. Finally, many thanks to Arica Maurer for returning to Avila to help students understand that social justice problems can be solved to create a more peaceful world and one of the most effective ways to make a positive change is through a nonviolent, well-informed, logic-based approach to problem solving.

Lastly, thank you to all of the Avila University first year students. You took a leap of faith! Avila is proud of you! We thank you for your commitment and continued learning of issues related to racial discrimination and social justice. You did this even when it was difficult. We challenge you to live the values of Avila University as you learn more about how you can contribute to our global and local communities.

Thanks to our presenting sponsor

Celebrating the Worth, Dignity, and Potential in All

Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Avila University

The Office of Diversity & Equity leads and facilitates the development of institutional policies and protocols intended to create a more representative, equitable, and inclusive Avila University community. Our charge is to bring greater fairness, care, and belonging into Avila’s learning and work practices thus assuring all have opportunities to meet academic and professional goals; to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in research, teaching, public service, and training across campus; and to ensure accountability to all diversity, equity and inclusion efforts on campus.

The Center for Truth, Racial Healing & Social Justice at Avila University

The Center exists in three dimensions – an interior physical space, an outdoor space, and a virtual space. The Center for Truth, Racial Healing & Social Justice is located inside Dallavis Hall alongside the Doorways to Social Justice project; the Avila Food Pantry; the Center for Digital Advocacy; and the Thornhill Gallery. The Center’s unique vision is to provide a safe and private place for students to gather, relax, reflect, meditate, pray, and hold honest conversations about societal healing, unity, and acceptance. Also, a place to challenge and understand intolerance in its many forms. This space will be used for respectful reflection and communication about issues pertaining to: • Increasing awareness regarding privilege, power, prejudice, implicit or explicit bias, microaggressions, and blind spots. • Extinguishing racism, ableism, xenophobia, misogyny, sexism, heterosexism, gender binarism, and any other form of exclusion or discrimination.

• Fighting stigma, stereotyping, social stratification/castebased discrimination, targeted police violence, prison population representation, housing/healthcare discrimination, voter suppression, and other forms of societally anchored bias.

• Heeding the call of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet to work to bring loving unity to a divided world through the belief that everything is connected, everyone is included, and everyone is sacred.

The Center for Truth, Racial Healing & Social Justice offers support, resources, engagement and guidance to students interested in organizing for social change. Students convene to discuss local, national, and international issues; advocate and stand in solidarity with marginalized populations; host speakers, panels, and campus events; and form groups to explore issues of identity and justice.

For more information on the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion or The Center for Truth, Racial Healing & Social Justice at Avila University, visit www.avila.edu/about/dei-office/