Dear Colleagues,
As a campus, we are called on daily to address complex, sometimes emotional, and oftentimes uncomfortable circumstances in our positions. Consider how quickly we were called on to respond to COVID-19. Suddenly we spent weeks addressing leaves issues, setting up and developing alternative working arrangements, advising managers and supervisors about how to manage remotely and responding to the health and safety needs of everyone.
Then George Floyd was killed and 8 minutes and 46 seconds of video shifted the country’s focus to racism against the Black community. For over two months now, we have witnessed images of protests, re-visited other unjust and violent situations throughout our history as a country.
Here at Berkeley we cannot avoid or ignore the impact of what’s going on literally around the world and expect ourselves and our colleagues to go about our day as usual. Additionally, we are not exempt from examining our own organization and rooting out systemic racism and bias. And just like we did with the other pandemic, we must respond to and give guidance and support in this space. People & Culture have developed a resource website to assist with this work.
I invite you to visit this website and encourage you to share it broadly with colleagues who may be struggling with the moment.
And if you find that you are uncomfortable and feel like you are not prepared to address this topic, that is okay and you must now get prepared. Here are three things you can do today:
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Familiarize yourself with the new resource website and the articles, training, and suggestions there.
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Read and re-read our UC Berkeley Principles of Community. If we refer back to those values, they will have a positive effect on our collective work.
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Reflect on your own departments and ask your own colleagues for ideas about how you can add value to this space. In other words - “How can I help?”
You are not alone on this journey and my office is looking at other ways that we can help you with training, facilitation guides, and dialogue. We all play a role in ensuring the climate at Berkeley is welcoming and brings out the best in us all.
Thank you,
Eugene
Eugene Whitlock, Chief People & Culture Officer