Colleagues,

Recently, our nation has witnessed the pain and outrage over the tragic deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd. The Maricopa Community Colleges Faculty Association stands in solidarity with the Black/African-American community against systemic racism and inequality. Part of our role as educators is to prepare students to participate in civil discourse and democracy. As such, we firmly support every citizen’s First Amendment right to free speech and their human right to live without fear of racial persecution.

As the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) stated, we also acknowledge that institutions of higher education are not exempt from institutional racism and have been a part of the problem. However, our colleges can make significant contributions to real, effective solutions.

We ask ourselves, our faculty and staff colleagues, and our community members to self-reflect and consider how our collective skills, knowledge, and leadership can help this nation move forward with more equitable and unprejudiced systems. The Maricopa Community Colleges should be places that encourage students, employees, and community members to express, with confidence, all that makes them unique in order to grow and thrive.

In Solidarity,

Patrice Nango
President,
Maricopa Community Colleges Faculty Association