Anti-Racism Statement

We strive to build an equitable, diverse, inclusive, and supportive mathematical community that is welcoming to educators of all identities, positions, and backgrounds. The PNW-COMMIT leadership team aspires to uphold the anti-racism statement by the COMMIT network. We acknowledge that the discipline of mathematics has historically excluded marginalized populations, including those that identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), LGBTQ+ people, and women. We also recognize that mathematics faculty at postsecondary institutions in the PNW disproportionately identify as White. The leadership team commits to listen and learn so that we can help address, 1) inequitable power structures that perpetuate this lack of representation and inclusiveness, 2) racism that still permeates through mathematics classrooms, denying students full access to the field of mathematics.

This organization shares recognition of research and experience that shows the value of student inquiry to broadening access to mathematics for students of all backgrounds and identities. We are committed to learning additional ways that we can engage and support underrepresented students in inquiry-focused classrooms, as well as disseminating this knowledge within our spheres of influence.

Our organization will start to fulfill these commitments by:

1. Doing outreach to engage with and involve educators at a variety of public and private institutions in the PNW, including: 4-year institutions, 2-year colleges (who disproportionately educate BIPOC students in our region), and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI), and learning how PNW-COMMIT can support their pedagogical and professional goals.

2. Promoting the learning and implementation of characteristics of anti-racist teaching that are intrinsically linked to effective methods of inquiry-based teaching.

3. Prioritizing diversity in our leadership team and organization activities.

4. Seeking guidance from the COMMIT network advisory board, other regional COMMIT chapters, and our regional networks.

As we continue to reflect and grow, we will add to this list more ways that we can help dismantle inequities and racism in our region and more broadly. We will remain open-minded to developing and sharing meaningful ideas for empowering one another and our students.