By Melissa Baluk on June 21, 2021
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.
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By Melissa Baluk on June 21, 2021
Endorsing the Government of Canada’s Dimensions: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Canada charter, UBC is one of 17 Canadian post-secondary institutions participating in a pilot project to help transform and drive change to enable more EDI in research in Canada.
The two-year pilot seeks to identify and eliminate systemic obstacles and inequities faced by, but not limited to, women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities/racialized groups, and members of LGBTQ2+ communities in research.
Dimensions is about creating transformational change in UBC’s research culture by adopting sound EDI-informed analyses, policies and practices that improve the university’s ability to attract and retain qualified researchers and other staff and students, strengthen research outputs, and increase overall excellence in research. It is anticipated that one of the outcomes of the UBC pilot project is the development of more formalized resources and services that will help enable researchers to integrate EDI practices into their work.
Learn more about the UBC Dimensions pilot, and access relevant documents and EDI in research resources, on the UBC Research website.
Participating in the Dimension pilot is one way that UBC is embedding equity, diversity and inclusion principles in our workplace. Learn more about how we’re making UBC an inspiring place to work through Focus on People 2025.
Posted in Catalyst #3: I am shaping the future of research, teaching and work, Focus on People Framework | Link | No Comments
By Melissa Baluk on June 21, 2021
Equity, diversity and inclusion are necessary conditions for attracting and retaining the best and brightest students, faculty and staff from around the world. This requires that we create inclusive environments free from racism in which to work, learn and live.
Working toward change
In June 2020, President Ono reaffirmed our institutional commitment to inclusion and called for the acceleration and intensification of our efforts to build a more inclusive campus.
We must all enhance our efforts to:
This is a call to action for all community members to confront hatred, oppression, violence and injustice and to support and elevate those who are traditionally, systemically and historically marginalized.
Visit the Anti-Racism at UBC website to learn about UBC’s efforts and accountability.
Anti-racism and inclusive excellence is one way we model our words through action, live UBC’s values, and hold each other accountable for inclusive and impactful leadership. Learn more about how we’re making UBC an inspiring place to work through Focus on People 2025.
See also:
Posted in Catalyst #4: I am inspired by diverse leaders who live UBC’s values, Focus on People Framework | Link | No Comments
By Melissa Baluk on June 21, 2021
The President’s Leadership Forum is a regularly occurring annual event that brings senior leaders from across UBC together on topics of strategic importance.
Hosted by UBC President and Vice-Chancellor Santa Ono, the 2020 President’s Leadership Forum featured an afternoon of conversation around systemic racism and UBC’s commitment to inclusion.
The discussion was led by Professor Malinda S. Smith, appointed Vice-Provost, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (University of Calgary), along with Dr. Ninan Abraham (UBC), Dr. Frances Henry (York University), Dr. Sheryl Lightfoot (UBC), Dr. Minelle Mahtani (UBC), and Dr. Handel Wright (UBC).
Watch the two-hour forum on Youtube.
The President’s Leadership Forum is one way we hold each other accountable for inclusive and impactful leadership. Learn more about how we’re making UBC an inspiring place to work through Focus on People 2025.
Posted in Catalyst #4: I am inspired by diverse leaders who live UBC’s values, Focus on People Framework | Link | No Comments
By Melissa Baluk on April 19, 2021
For the tenth consecutive year, UBC is recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers in 2021.
This special award recognizes Canadian employers that lead the nation in creating a culture of environmental awareness, developing exceptional sustainability initiatives, and – because of their environmental leadership – are attracting employees.
Some of the reasons why UBC is being recognized with this award include:
- UBC adopted the LEED Gold certification standard for all new construction and major renovations of institutional buildings, with 26 registered and certified buildings (the most for any Canadian university) — and with over 400 buildings, UBC also manages an ongoing Building Tune-Up Program as well as a longstanding building retrofit program, ongoing since 1998.
- UBC offers an impressive range of highly focused sustainability initiatives across campus that aim to foster a culture of sustainability among staff, students and the community — from Sustainability Tours to the Green Labs Program that promotes sustainable behaviours to the 24-hectare on-campus certified organic farm with over 200 varieties of crops.
UBC puts sustainability at the heart of teaching, learning and research and is integrated through our operations and infrastructure. We are committed to leadership in Climate Action, and our sustainability efforts are proudly delivered by students, faculty and staff — learn more about how you can get involved.
In addition to being recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers this year, UBC was also recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers, one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, and one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers.
To see all of Canada’s Greenest Employers in 2021, visit https://www.canadastop100.com/environmental/
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