CIRED statement of solidarity in the fight against racism

The recent wave of police brutality against Black Americans has brought our nation and our world to a critical juncture. We have witnessed widespread frustration and anger over the treatment and sufferings of our Black fellow citizens as well as other people of color. The United States was founded on the principle that all people are created equal. But we know that from the early days of settlement, Black people have been subjected to systemic racism; police and vigilante violence; and deep and growing inequities that have prevented fair and equal access to the social, economic, and legal structures of society.

The global calls for equity are transcending races, borders, and hearts.

At the Center for International Research, Education, and Development, we have long worked to create, convey, and apply knowledge to solving complex, global challenges in developing countries. It is incumbent upon us to take an introspective look at our own country now and identify how we as individuals and a global organization can contribute to a more equitable and inclusive society.

To hold ourselves accountable, we have begun a series of conversations about race that encourages open, honest dialogue among CIRED colleagues. While these conversations are often difficult, we recognize that these crucial times call for uncomfortable, empathetic conversations, and we are committed to identifying ways we can help eliminate social and institutional barriers that disproportionately impact people of color. Following these initial conversations, we have affirmed the following:

• We join Virginia Tech in proclaiming that racism has no place in our institution.
• We stand with all people who reject racism and all forms of discrimination. We condemn senseless acts of violence against people of color as well as systemic racism in America’s economic and social systems.
• We will reevaluate our recruitment and hiring processes to ensure that they are more objective and reduce bias and discrimination. As we endeavor to implement projects that strengthen human capacity, we will identify and incorporate measures for empowering people of color with the development skills necessary for entrepreneurship or employment. We recognize that leveling the playing field for disadvantaged and minority groups is essential for their success.
• We will promote learning on diversity and racism by encouraging CIRED colleagues to participate in events that allow for racial equity education such as training sessions, book discussions, and open exchanges. We have to promote and engage in more conversations about race, how racism manifests and what it looks like, if we are ever to address and mitigate it. We call upon local, national, and global organizations to join us in creating platforms to examine, expose, and address policies, institutions, and people that inhibit Blacks and other disadvantaged groups from reaching their full potential.
• We will seek, identify, and pursue opportunities to strengthen ties with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) for business and education partnerships.
• We will prepare and execute a formal plan that reflects the commitment of our team to sustainable actions that stamp out the systemic policies, practices and beliefs that have alienated Black people and other people of color for centuries.
• We call on leaders in the United States and around the world to eradicate messages and measures that facilitate racist practices, policies, and cultures. We invite them to embrace peace and equity and root out the perpetuators of systemic racism.

Achieving these goals will not be easy, but we stand in solidarity with the individuals, communities, and countries that are at a final tipping point where action individually and collectively can no longer be ignored, put off for another day, or for another generation. We won’t finish the work in one day, but we are committed to asking ourselves hard questions and doing what we can as a global organization to make the wrongs right and to make the world a better, more inclusive place.