While Covid-19 and the subsequent economic fallout has taken center stage as some of the nation’s most urgent challenges, the legacy and impact of systemic racism and the effects of climate change continue to threaten the communities many colleges and universities call home. This moment requires us to consider the interconnected relationship between each of the challenges and imagine cross-cutting solutions by collaborating with various higher ed stakeholders and reaching beyond our work silos to improve institutional and community outcomes.

The unique purpose of this Community Conversation is to convene a diverse group of higher ed leaders to explore how to leverage institutional assets and resources, in order to promote community resilience in a post-pandemic context. By drawing from examples of institutional collaboration this session will invite participants to consider how best to work together to address these intersectional issues that are at play in creating a more racially equitable and sustainable communities.

We will hear examples from higher ed leaders on existing collaborative initiatives to invest in community resilience for the first 30 minutes but will spend the remainder of our time together in small group discussions where participants can learn, ask questions and action plan together on next steps.

Administrators such as those representing the Sustainability, Community Engagement, and Diversity & Inclusion Offices, as well as Chief Financial Officers and Chief Investment Officers; Trustees; Faculty; and Students are encouraged to participate in this conversation.