We Rise: A Demand for Antiracist Action at Antioch - 5/22/2023

Conversation Overview

We are a grassroots student/alumni lead and run organization formed out of the need for change at Antioch. Our mission is to drive anti-racist action and propel systemic change across Antioch campuses and programs in order to advance  Antioch’s commitment to racial, social, economic, and environmental justice.

Antioch claims to be an “anti-racist” and “social justice” university. Many students attend Antioch for this reason. It is our  belief as an organization that Antioch is not living up to its purported and marketed identity.

Students are regularly harmed in classrooms and by the administration through racist practices. Both in process and content, white supremacy often goes unchecked. BIPOC students regularly experience gaslighting, tokenizing, minimizing,  tone policing, extra labor, and microaggressions. When discussing matters of racial justice in the classroom, BIPOC students regularly experience white fragility, defensiveness, stonewalling, white-centering, and in some instances, both  social and academic penalties.

Additionally, there is a lack of structural support in the institution for anti-racism. There is no mandatory anti-racism training at the university for faculty, staff, or students, and there is a shortage of anti-racism and social justice-focused materials in the curriculum. There is a lack of representation due to a lack of BIPOC professors employed by the institution due to a lack of effort and creativity in hiring pursuits and poor retention of BIPOC professors.

We would like to see a culture shift across Antioch campuses. The current culture is riddled with white dominance. We  would like to see a more relational culture arise, lessening harm within the institution.

Christine Chiou, 邱思庭, (she/her) is a current second-year MACP student at Antioch University Santa Barabra on the dual MFT/PCC track with  concentrations in Healthy Aging and Somatic Psychotherapy. She is an MFT/PCC trainee working in community mental health, and currently  serves on Antioch’s Student Council as the Interim President. Outside of school, Christine is a movement artist who has performed and taught  aerial arts across Los Angeles and Santa Barbara to a diverse population of folks from 18 months to over 60 years of age. Her  experience as a queer, neurodivergent, bi-cultural and bilingual child of immigrants facilitates a deep passion to restructure anti-racist and  more equitous practices into the fields of psychology, psychotherapy, and higher education. As one of the founding members of CEDI Christine  nurtures an unwavering belief that community activation and the creative process (with a sprinkle of compassionate persistence, of  course) will pave the way for positive social change.

Karla Julia, a bilingual professional, is an alumni who specialized in multicultural therapy  during her studies. During her time at Antioch she served on the Student Council and was a part of the Latinx Cohort. Currently, she excels in a  school-based setting, offering guidance and support to students and their families. With previous experience in working with seniors, Karla's diverse background enables her to connect with individuals of all ages. Outside of her profession, she channels her Dominican heritage  through Latin dancing, showcasing her passion for culture and movement. Karla's bilingual skills and dedication to fostering positive change  drove her to join CEDI.

Amber Lea Greene is an MFT trainee and current MACP student at AUSB working in community mental health in a  school-based setting serving children from traditionally underserved demographics in our community. In addition to being an MFT trainee  working full-time for a local non-profit, Amber is also a single mother and an active member of the local community fulfilling several ongoing  volunteer roles year-round. Throughout her career, elevating the most vulnerable populations in our community has been her passion. She  has worked with a variety of individuals from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds as well as individuals with physical and  intellectual disabilities, children and adults over 65 years of age. Amber has focused on populations impacted by trauma and is committed to  change-focused advocacy. 

Fox Aven Convey (they/she) is a second-year low residency MACP graduate student at Antioch Santa Barbara  (dual-track MFT/LPC) and a practicing social justice oriented psychotherapist in training in Portland, OR. Fox self-identifies as a multi-racial  white non-binary queer neurodivergent womxn. Fox is also a community herbalist, visual artist, musician, meditation teacher, and activist. Most  of Fox’s activism experience has been in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and also the LGTBQIA2S+ liberation movement. Fox is  the Vice President, Student-Faculty Liaison, and the Communications Chair of the MACP Santa Barbara Student Council and is also one of the  founding members of the Council for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (CEDI). Fox is thrilled and honored to be working alongside, supporting,  and learning from the brilliant and inspired activists and scholars of CEDI.