Latinx & Friends Affinity Group
On September 21, we held our first meeting and event. During the meeting, we formed the first steering committee.
Steering Committee
| Role | Function | Name and Email |
|---|---|---|
| Chair | Facilitates meetings, writes agendas and leads the group in strategic planning and discussions. | Ricardo Vela rvela@ucanr.edu |
| Vice Chair | Supports the Chair's functions and assumes additional duties in the absence of the Chair. | Miguel Sanchez migsanchez@ucanr.edu |
| Membership Lead | Leads membership and outreach functions. | Ingrid Alarcon ijalarcon@ucanr.edu |
| Communication Lead | Communicates with leadership, sends email communications on behalf of the group, and may write or contribute to articles, blogs, newsletters and social media. | Doralicia Garay dgaray@ucanr.edu Diana Cervantes diacervantes@ucanr.edu |
| Secretary | Takes meeting notes, serves as timekeeper, and maintains records of decisions and action items. | Angela Johnson anejohnson@ucanr.edu |
| Treasurer | Researches funding opportunities and oversees financial administration and spending plans. | Lisa Rawleigh lrawleigh@ucanr.edu |
| Event Planning Lead | Leads efforts to plan events within UC ANR, solicits outside speakers and identifies professional development opportunities for group members. | Arianna Nava acnava@ucanr.edu |
Group Structure
Term
Steering committee members serve a one-year term, with up to three terms in a specific role.
Role Designation
Roles may be filled through self-nomination or peer nomination. Active members will have one vote for each role.
Meetings
The UC ANR Latinx & Friends Affinity Group meets once per month during work hours for 60 minutes. Additional meetings may occur within subcommittees and among group officers.
Membership
- Membership is open to current staff and academics who submit a statement of intent.
- The statement should include a general expression of why the individual is interested in joining the group.
- Guidelines and community agreements for participation will be developed.
First Event
After the meeting, we held our first event, streaming the short film First Time Home. The creators and one of the producers of the short film joined us for a Q&A.
Join the Group
If you would like to register and be part of the Latinx & Friends Affinity Group, please complete the registration form.
Register for the Latinx & Friends Affinity Group
Mission Statement
The mission of the Latinx & Friends Affinity Group is to create a safe space for Latinx professionals who work at UC ANR. This space allows members to showcase their diversity, challenge implicit biases, address stereotypes and celebrate juntos — together — the unique places, memories, legacies and heritage connected to their countries of origin.
The group provides a space to educate peers about who we are, what makes us unique, and how we can strengthen old friendships while forging new ones.
Purpose
- Foster communication and create space for connection among UC ANR staff and academics.
- Provide educational and professional development opportunities for Latinx professionals, friends and allies in pursuit of growth and advancement within UC ANR.
- Support and promote organizational diversity, equity and inclusion goals.
- Lead or be consulted for Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month acknowledgments and events within UC ANR.
- Contribute to blogs and publications highlighting UC ANR work with Latinx communities.
- Partner with the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council and other affinity groups to support organizational goals.
Principles of Community
Our goals are aligned with the UC ANR Principles of Community. The following principles should guide the behavior and interactions of all members of the UC ANR community:
- Ensure open communication.
- Work together to achieve common goals and mutual understanding.
- Value the contribution and worth of all members.
- Appreciate and celebrate differences and diversity.
- Foster a sense of belonging and emotional safety.
- Practice mutual respect.
- Demonstrate ethics and integrity.
- Invest in all members.
- Recognize that all members are important.