Racial equity challenge opportunity, sponsored by the MGC

The Committee for Outreach, Diversity, Inclusion, and Education is sponsoring a series of “21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenges” so that we can become more aware of how racism appears in our community, labs, and society. The goal of this program is to foster racial equity by helping each of us more clearly see systemic racism and to develop the tools to make racial equity a habit. Participating in the challenge is an acknowledgement that racial equity is a personal and achievable goal.

The Challenge is structured as 21 days of reflection through a variety of media. Each day, participants will go to the resource list and choose something to read, watch, or listen to. On days when you are short on time, choose a three minute video or a two page narrative. On days when you have more time, choose a short film, documentary, or longer text. You control the daily time commitment and even the short pieces are impactful. The CODIE facilitators will host weekly one-hour virtual discussions during which we can reflect as a group, process what we’ve learned, and share how this might change how we act in our professional spheres.

Sign up for a future 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge

2021 CODIE Featured Book

Dr. Beronda Montgomery elegantly uses her scientific insight to educate her readers on plant biology and the crucial lessons that individuals and society can learn from plants. An example is found in Chapter 5: "A Diverse Community," where Dr. Montgomery describes the Native American practice of planting maize, beans, and squash together. This Three Sisters technique "shows us that reciprocity in a diverse environment leads to productive growth." The connections between Growth, Reciprocity and Success can be found in other Dr. Mongomery's writings and talks on mentoring, teaching, and leadership. A sample of other recommended readings: Montgomery, BL (2018). From Deficits to Possibilities: Mentoring Lessons from Plants. Public Philosophy Journal. Montgomery, BL (2019). To Support or To Deny: Mentoring or Gatekeeping? ASBMB Today. Montgomery, BL (2020). Academic Leadership: Gatekeeping or Groundskeeping? Journal of Value-Based Leadership. Montgomery, BL (2021). My most memorable mentors? Plants. Nature. Lessons from Plants Author: Beronda L. Montgomery Originally published: April 6, 2021 Page count: 192 Publisher: Harvard University Press

CODIE Community Reading List

The CODIE put together a recommended reading list for maize cooperators interested in self-reflection and education in white privilege, systemic racism, antiracism, inclusivity, and other topics related to race. The committee recommends starting with the book White Fragility as an introduction. This book will provide context for Stamped and How to be an Antiracist. The fourth book Me and White Supremacy is designed as a 28-day journey to help turn understanding and awareness of these important issues into actions that lead to change.

	White Fragility Author: Robin DiAngelo Originally published: June 26, 2018 Page count: 192 Publisher: Beacon Press Subject: White defensiveness Genre: Self-help book			Stamped from the Beginning Author: Ibram X. Kendi Originally published: April 12, 2016 Page count: 592 Publisher: PublicAffairs Subject: Exploration of racism & antiracism in the U.S. Genre: Biography A young adult version of the book: Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You
	How to be an Antiracist Author: Ibram X. Kendi Originally published: August 13, 2019 Page count: 320 Publisher: Penguin Random House Subject: Concepts of racism and actions for systemic changes Genre: Autobiography			Me and White Supremacy Author: Layla F. Saad Originally published: January 28, 2020 Page count: 256 Publisher: Sourcebooks Subject: 28-day guide to better understand the impacts of white privilege and white supremacy Genre: Self-help book

Open Access Articles

2021

Ten simple rules for supporting historically underrepresented students in science
Arif, S., et al. PLoS Computational Biology. 16 September 2021. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009313

Anti-racist interventions to transform ecology, evolution and conservation biology departments
Cronin, M.R. et al. Nature Ecology & Evolution. 09 August 2021. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01522-z

Equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts in professional societies: intention vs. reaction
Madzima, T.F. and MacIntosh, G.C. The Plant Cell. 15 July 2021. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koab186

Broadening the impact of plant science through innovative, integrative, and inclusive outreach
Friesner, J., et al. Plant Direct. 14 April 2021. https://doi.org/10.1002/pld3.316

Concrete steps to diversify the scientific workforce
Tilghman, S., et al. Science. 09 Apr 2021. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abf9679

My most memorable mentors? Plants
Montgomery, B.L. Nature. 13 Apr 2021. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-00961-9

Promoting inclusive metrics of success and impact to dismantle a discriminatory reward system in science
Davies, SW., et al. PLoS Biology. 15 June 2021. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001282

2020

Race, Metaphor, and Myth in Academic Medicine.
Barceló, N.E., Shadravan, S. Acad Psychiatry. 21 October 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-020-01331-9

Ten simple rules for building an antiracist lab.
Chaudhary VB, Berhe AA. PLoS Comput Biol. 01 Oct 2020. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008210

2019

Strategies to improve equity in faculty hiring.
Bhalla N. Mol Biol Cell. 15 Oct 2019. https://doi.org/10.1091/mbc.

A Theory of Racialized Organizations.
Ray, V. American Sociological Review. 25 Jan 2019. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122418822335

2017

Differences in STEM doctoral publication by ethnicity, gender and academic field at a large public research university.
Mendoza-Denton, R., et al. PLoS One. 5 Apr 2017. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0174296

2015

Retention of Underrepresented Minority Faculty: Strategic Initiatives for Institutional Value Proposition Based on Perspectives from a Range of Academic Institutions.
Whittaker JA, Montgomery BL, Martinez Acosta VG. J Undergrad Neurosci Educ. 07 Jul 2015. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4521729/