University of Michigan community members on all three campuses are invited to a series of public forums to share their thoughts and ideas about the Inclusive History Project, a multifaceted, years-long project to study, document and better understand the university’s history with respect to diversity, equity and inclusion.
“The fora are critical to the work of creating a durable framework and design for the important task of examining the university’s history of inclusion,” said Earl Lewis, Thomas C. Holt Distinguished University Professor of History, Afroamerican and African Studies and Public Policy. “We look forward to a vibrant exchange.”
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Lewis, along with Elizabeth Cole, professor of women’s and gender studies, psychology, and Afroamerican and African studies, co-chair the first phase of the project and the project’s Framing and Design Committee.
Since November, the committee has worked to develop a plan that maps the scope and next steps of the project. The forums will offer an opportunity for community members to shape the plan and the work ahead.
The committee believes that deep engagement with internal and extended external communities will be fundamental to a fuller understanding of the university’s past and the contemporary effects of history.
The times and locations of the forums are:
- Dearborn: April 6, 10-11 a.m., Kochoff Hall, James C. Renick University Center.
- Flint: April 10, 9:30-10:30 a.m., Happenings Room, Harding Mott University Center.
- Ann Arbor: April 12, noon-1 p.m., Rogel Ballroom, Michigan Union.
- All-campus virtual forum: April 18, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
During the forums, Cole and Lewis will make brief presentations on the project’s purpose, scope and planning process. Members of the Framing and Design Committee will then facilitate small-group discussions with attendees to gather input.
Those who are unable to attend the forums are encouraged to share their ideas through a feedback form.
“We know that the work of creating a truly inclusive history of our campuses must be a collective project, and this is the first of many opportunities that members of our communities will have to share their ideas and knowledge,” Cole said.
