IBPOC Connections seeks to increase representation and cultivate belonging among staff and faculty who self-identify as Indigenous, Black, and/or People of Colour (IBPOC).
Through luncheons, speaker series, and book and coffee clubs, IBPOC staff and faculty are invited to come together and celebrate their multiple and intersecting identities as well as speak candidly about the challenges they face at UBC. The goal of IBPOC Connections is two-fold: to build community and to leverage existing networks to push for systemic change.
“IBPOC Connections isn’t about building something anew,” said Dr. Maryam Nabavi, a staff and faculty strategist with the UBC Equity & Inclusion Office who has been leading and championing the initiative since 2019. “Partnership is the bedrock of how we do our work.”
Read this feature story on the Equity and Inclusion Office website to hear from people in our community about some of the work being done, including from:
- Dr. Maryam Nabavi, a staff and faculty strategist with the UBC Equity & Inclusion Office
- Dr. Handel Kashope Wright, Professor and Senior Advisor to the President on Anti-racism and Inclusive Excellence
- Dr. Sheryl Lightfoot, Senior Advisor to the President on Indigenous Affairs
- Dr. Sara-Jane Finlay, associate vice-president for equity and inclusion
- Valentina Ruiz-Leotaud, a communications officer with the Sea Around Us initiative
IBPOC Connections seeks to enhance the experiences and outcomes of staff and faculty through capacity building, leadership development, recruitment and retention, and mentorship. Learn more about how we’re making UBC an inspiring place to work through Focus on People 2025.