
The President’s Task Force on Racial Justice
Looking honestly at ourselves and making sure the practices of our campus community align with the biblical call to justice for all of God’s children.
As we continue to grieve the killing of George Floyd and the systemic racism that plagues our nation and our world, we also acknowledge our need to take tangible steps to bring about needed change. The institutional statements, peaceful protests, prayer vigils, and honest conversations of the last few weeks have been an important means of raising awareness, advancing understanding, and deepening our resolve for racial justice. But we cannot stop here. We must not be content with words and intentions alone. We as a college now need to do the hard work of looking honestly at ourselves and making sure the practices of our campus community align with the biblical call to justice for all of God’s children. (June 2020)
The Charge
Although we as a College take understandable pride in our racial diversity, we know from conversations with our students and alumni of color that we have work to do. Our policies and practices do not fully embody God’s call to extend love and justice to all of our brothers and sisters. The mandate of the Presidential Task Force on Racial Justice is to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the structures, policies, and cultural climate of ENC and recommend concrete ways in which we can improve. I invite the Task Force to look at such areas as curriculum, academic policies, student life, athletics, chapel, employment, alumni relations, recruitment and retention, and governance structures. No area of the College is off-limits to their inquiry.
Presidential Task Force on Racial Justice Chair
Robert Benjamin
Associate Vice President for Multicultural Affairs and Dean of Students
Presidential Task Force on Racial Justice Core Team
The Entire Student Body
Priscilla Brinson-Thompson ‘21
Current Student
Trina Bryant
Director of the Center for Student Enrichment
Julia Cuthbert ‘22
Current Student
Wayne Elliot, Jr.
Executive Director – Market Director Consumer Banking
Member of the ENC Board of Trustees
Natara Gray
Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Diversity Outreach
Money Hamilton ‘21
Current Student
Kristen Johnson ‘05
Assistant Counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
Member of the ENC Board of Trustees
Jeff Kirksey
Vice President for Student Development and Campus Services
Sacha Santimano
Instructor and Assistant AD for Student-Athlete Academic Services
Women’s Basketball Coach
I’Esha Thomas ’00
School Counselor
Member of the ENC Alumni Association
Brad Thorne ‘82
Director of Brickley Center
Sam Vassel
District Superintendent of the Metro New York
Member of the ENC Board of Trustees
Matt Waterman ‘93
Professor of Biology and Associate Dean for Academic Policy
Tara Brooke Watkins ‘02
Assistant Professor of Theater for Social Justice
Kyung Yu
Pastor of Reading Korean Church of the Nazarene
Member of the ENC Board of Trustees
Our Approach
Four Phases of Our Work Together
1. Planning
The Task Force will determine the strategy to complete the charge of the President.
2. Information Gathering
Based on the established strategy, the Task Force will be gathering information from various sources identified.
3. Assessment
The Task Force will analyze the data gathered.
4. The Way Forward
The Task Force will develop recommendations to submit to the President.
Teams and Focuses
Data Collection Team
Focus: collect quantitative data from the appropriate places on campus
Qualitative Data Collection Team
Focus: host story circles – gather information on student, alumni, staff and faculty experiences
Outreach Team
Focus: reach out to constituents and provide means for feedback
Community Standards Team
Focus: survey the current standards current departments, offices, divisions hold themselves to relative to diversity and inclusion
Transparency Team
Focus: responsible for keeping ENC’s constituency updated on the work of the President’s Task Force on Racial Justice
The Task Force is always seeking feedback from the entire community
Updates
Updates as of December 10, 2020
The President’s Task Force on Racial Justice (PTFRJ) has met five times. The various teams have been meeting in addition. The following has occurred:
The Data Team has mapped out it’s plan and has been working with Institutional Research.
The Qualitative Data Team is collecting through story circles and individual interviews. Story circles are where participants share their experiences at ENC in a facilitated group setting. Tara Brooke Watkins and her team have been conducting sessions every Wednesday and Sunday evenings for the past few weeks. Participants have included current students, alumni and previous employees of color. Future participants will include current staff and faculty.
The Community Standards Team is reviewing the campus’ standards of Inclusion and Equity – stated, implied and practiced by departments. The team is preparing survey materials to ascertain where our community lies in this area.
The Community Outreach Team is also preparing survey materials for distribution for those that are friends of ENC. Their goal is to ascertain the some of the stories, the legacy – especially that of community of color that has contributed to the current community climate.
The Transparency Team is responsible for this web page. Our goal is to keep the ENC updated as to the work of the PTFRJ.