MAPP Actions for Anti-Racism

Aug 3, 2020 / Updated Aug 4, 2023

Image
Multiracial fists in the air

Dear MAPP Students, Faculty, Staff and Alumni,

This Anti-Racism Action Plan for the School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation reflect an effort to gather information from BIPOC colleagues and students at MAPP, UMD and at other universities across the country. It also incorporates concerns from the newly-formed Design Justice-UMD student group.

School leadership understands that to make the meaningful progress we have to transform what we do across all aspects of MAPP. To this end, the proposed action steps are organized in separate tabs by categories of our workcurriculum and public programming, faculty, staff, students, etc. 

This action plan is a living document. We will be regularly updating this document, clarifying roles and responsibilities, putting tighter timeframes and benchmarks on the action steps, and tracking progress (at least) monthly. As part of our commitment) as you will see in "community-building"), we will regularly report out on progress through public gatherings, public-facing materials and on our website.

Your participation is critical. We will have multiple ways for you to provide feedback and engage throughout the semester and welcome additional suggestions on how this should happen.

For resources and reading on anti-racism and anti-racism in the built environment, visit our MAPP Racial Justice Resources.

In care and solidarity,
Dean Dawn Jourdan and Assistant Professor Ariel Bierbaum (former D&I Officer)