Our Principles of Community emphasize that every individual is vital to the success of our mission. Achieving this mission requires a deep understanding and appreciation of the diverse backgrounds, histories, and cultures within our community.
In 2020, we collectively realized how much was missing from our education about the full experiences of the people in our country and state. We began the vital work of broadening what we learn, seeking out narratives, histories, and perspectives that have often been overlooked, left out, or underrepresented. We committed ourselves to understanding how past and present policies have shaped unequal experiences, and listened with intention to the voices of those who have not always been heard.
This journey has pushed us to critically examine the norms and assumptions we may take for granted, and to recognize our shared responsibility to challenge systems and practices that are not open or equitable to all. If we are to create a genuinely inclusive community, one that honors access, mutual respect, and belonging for everyone, we need to remain committed to expanding our awareness, questioning established structures, and ensuring that every individual feels valued and seen.
The learning on this page supports our mission and was provided by colleagues within UC ANR and across the UC System.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Voices
- Read the article "A History of Anti-Asian Hate in the United States", (2021) Laleh Ispahani and Kavita Nandini Ramdas.
- Read the article "Bok Choy Isn’t ‘Exotic.’" (2019) Cathy Erway
- Read the article "Hate Crimes Against Asian Americans Are on the Rise. Many Say More Policing Isn’t the Answer", (2021) Cady Lang
- Read the article "Opinion: To Be an Asian Woman in America", (2021) Jennifer Ho
- Read the article "What’s Wrong With Asking ‘Where Are You From?’" (2020) Rakshitha Arni Ravishankar
- Read the article “Anti-Asian Violence: Revisiting the 1983 murder of Davis High student Thong Hy Huynh”, (2021) Stephanie Lin
- Read the article "I Want Justice for Anti-Asian Violence, But Not At the Expense of Black People", (2024) Melissa Pandika
Black and African American Voices
- Read the article "The Case for Reparations" (2014), Ta-Nehisi Coates
- Read the article "Who Gets to Be Afraid in America?", (2020) Ibram X. Kendi
- Read the article "Why You Need to Stop Saying ‘All Lives Matter’", (2019) Rachel Elizabeth Cargle
- Read the article "Why Telling Our Own Stories is So Powerful for Black Americans", (2019) Andrea Collier
- Read the article "Ask a Fat Girl: Fatphobia and Racism", (2020) Charlotte Zoller
- Read the article "Hey, Your Black Friend Here—Stop Using Me", (2020) Leenika Belfield-Martin
- Read the article “In their place: the heavy burden of being Black in a white space”, (2022) Elijah Anderson
Indigenous Voices
- Read the article "Decolonizing Thanksgiving: A Toolkit for Combating Racism in Schools", (2018) Lindsey Passenger Wieck
- Read the article "From Acknowledgment to Action", (2020) Alaska Humanities Forum
- Read the article "How Indigenous Burning Practices Could Prevent Massive Wildfires", (2020) Christie Taylor and Ira Flatow
- Read the article "Land-Grab Universities: Expropriated Indigenous land is the Foundation of the Land-Grant University System", (2020) Robert Lee and Tristan Ahtone
- Read the article "Native Americans Take a Different View of Thanksgiving", (2021) Jennifer Sowerwine and Sabrina Drill
- Read the article "The Suppressed Speech of Wamsutta (Frank B.) James, Wampanoag", (1970) Wamsutta James
- Read the article "The Thanksgiving Tale We Tell is a Harmful Lie. As a Native American, I’ve Found a Better Way to Celebrate the Holiday", (2019) Sean Sherman
- Read the article "What Yalitza Aparicio’s Role Means for Indigenous Representation", (2019) Marissa Martinez
- Read the article "12 Native-Owned Food Businesses to Support on Indigenous People’s Day", (2020) Maria Givens and Alison Creasy
Intersectional Voices
- Read the article "Black Trans Men Face a Constant Threat of Police Violence", (2020) Ash Stevens
- Read the article "The Anatomy of Transmisogynoir", (2020) Ashlee Marie Preston
- Read the article "Black and Asian Solidarity in American History: The Power of Unity Exemplified by 5 Major Events", (2021) Anika Raju, Asian Americans Advancing Justice
- Read the "The Combahee River Collective Statement" (1983) Combahee River Collective
- Read the article "Groundbreaking Study Reveals Transgender Asian Pacific Islanders Face Significant Discrimination", (2020) James Factora
- Read the article "History of Family Separation in the United States", The Gathering For Justice
- Read the article "I Want Justice for Anti-Asian Violence, But Not At the Expense of Black People", (2024) Melissa Pandika
Latino/a/x and Hispanic Voices
- Read the article "My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant", (2011) Jose Antonio Varga
- Read the article "What Yalitza Aparicio’s Role Means for Indigenous Representation", (2019) Marissa Martinez
- Read the article “Latino Voices: Realizing America’s Pluralistic Future”, (2025) Amaya Garcia, Lilian Coral, Oscar Pocasangre, Leslie Villegas, and Vanessa Rangel
- Read the article "The Importance of the Latino Community in the United States", (2025) Gina Lazaro
LGBTQIA+ Voices
- Read the article "Black Trans Men Face a Constant Threat of Police Violence", (2020) Ash Stevens
- Read the article "The Anatomy of Transmisogynoir", (2020) Ashlee Marie Preston
- Read the article "Groundbreaking Study Reveals Transgender Asian Pacific Islanders Face Significant Discrimination", (2020) James Factora
WORKPLACE SUPPORT
Allyship
- Read the article "Allyship (& Accomplice): The What, Why, and How", (2019) Michelle Kim.
- Read the article "How Higher Ed Can Fight Racism: ‘Speak Up When It’s Hard’", (2019) Francie Diep
- Read the article "My White Friend Asked Me On Facebook to Explain White Privilege. I Decided to Be Honest", (2017) Lori Lakin Hutcherson
- Read the article "How Mindfulness Can Defeat Racial Bias" (2015) Rhonda Magee
- Read the article "Five Ways to Have Better Conversations Across Difference", (2019) Adrian Michael Green
- Read the article "Diversifying Your Bookshelf is an Important Step Towards Decolonizing Your Mind" (2020) Mithila Vidyanyath
- Read the article "Glorifying White Authors Like DiAngelo Erases Decades of Black Writing on Whiteness" (2020) Anastasia Karklina
- Read the article "Moving Beyond Performative Allyship" Maryam Ayaji
- Read the article "Inclusion in the Workplace and 6 Reasons Why It Matters" - Tony Butler-Sims (2024)
Navigating Workplace Differences
- Read the article "Hiring a Chief Diversity Officer Won’t Fix Your Racist Company Culture", (2020) Nadia Owusu
- Read the article "How to Fight Racism Through Inner Work", (2019) Jill Suttie
- Read the article "Make Your Workplace More Inclusive—for Everyone", (2025) Harvard Business Review
- Read the article "How to Build - and Improve - Company Culture", (2024) Melissa Russell
- Read the article "The Interplay of Cultural Humility and Cultural Competence: A Key to Enhanced Workplace Wellness", (2024) Glen Guyton