RX Racial Healing Circles (RxRHC)
Mission
To eradicate deeply rooted beliefs in racial hierarchies, disrupt persistent structures and impacts of racism, and strengthen Duke’s position as a catalyst for change in collaboration with diverse partners in Durham.
Services
Rx Racial Healing™ is a strategy and a process for expanding our common humanity. Rx Racial Healing™ Circles (RxRHC), adapted from the practices of indigenous communities, are one of the core activities of the Duke TRHT Center and the national TRHT movement. They provide a forum for participants to share their stories, and facilitate relationship building, racial healing and narrative change. By encouraging story-telling and deep listening in the non-hierarchical context of the circle, RxRHC provide opportunities for participants to tell the truth, learn and heal from the past, embrace each other’s common humanity, cultivate empathy and foster empowerment. Rx RHC are always by invitation (no one is forced to share and participate).
Diversity Action Alliance Steering Committee
MISSION
Duke University has made a commitment to address racism, inequity, and injustice within its community. In that charge, the Duke Communicators Network formed a steering committee to develop recommendations to address inequity.
SERVICES
The Duke Communicators Mentorship Program is an outgrowth of the steering committee’s recommendations to support professional development by strengthening professional development and networking opportunities for communicators throughout the Duke community. Members of our staff are part of the program as mentees in an effort to learn new skills, network, and become effective communicators on campus.
*Courtney Orning is chair of this committee.
Racial Equity Advisory Council (REAC)
MISSION
The Racial Equity Advisory Council (REAC) serves as an advisory body to the Executive Leadership of the University (President, Provost, Chancellor of the Health System and the Executive Vice President) and is guided by four subcommittees of experts for the purpose of operationalizing and coordinating the key concepts articulated by the President in his Juneteenth message on Anti-Racism.
Duke University has identified ambitious institutional goals related to Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion that are present in departments and units throughout the community. The Advisory Council and corresponding subcommittees will provide an oversight structure for these ongoing efforts at the institutional level.
SERVICES
The Climate and Assessment subcommittee will be charged with highlighting trends and analyzing outcomes that emerge in institutional datasets, including the first Duke Climate Survey on Diversity Equity and Inclusion. The Climate and Assessment Committee will use data to identify gaps in policy and practices and inform education and training opportunities that the institution can take to support equity at Duke. This subcommittee will also identify appropriate mechanisms for measuring progress at the unit and institutional level.
*Jessica Sperling is a member of this committee.