Hope Amidst Hurt: Anti-Racism and the Future of WHOI

On Friday the WCC and the CDI co-hosted a WHOI CommuniTea to give our WHOI community time to reflect and process together in the wake of George Floyd’s murder at the hands of police officers. Over 250 people joined to listen and learn from thoughtful presentations framing the difficult conversations that we must have to move forward as a community confronting racism and creating real change at WHOI and in the region. The event brought many together from throughout the Institution including Senior Administration members and members of the Board of Trustees, as well as the newest Summer Student Fellows who arrived virtually to WHOI just four days before. Through breakout discussions, everyone was encouraged and empowered to take part in this conversation, as we confronted the fact that too often our academic culture neither encourages nor empowers everyone. Confronting anti-black bias and other barriers to diversity in academia is not a side project. It is really about deciding who we choose to be. Resources for continuing this vital effort are available here.