I'm an appointed member of a campus diversity council consisting of faculty, staff, and students at a public University near Ferguson, Missouri (which is kind of outing my place of employment if you know the area - yeah, UMSL). Our Diversity Council is having a hastily called meeting tomorrow to discuss what our institution can do with regards to the ongoing situation in our neighboring community of Ferguson. Many of our employees and students live in Ferguson; many of us frequent the businesses and know the area well; the surrounding communities are very similar, i.e., we are "an urban institution" and proud of it.
I am an old (56 years old), white, male who fled Los Angeles 23 years ago, and who feels out of my league here and am looking for suggestions and advice to bring to this meeting. Our group is as diverse as the campus with various ethnicities, multiple genders, LBGTetc., veterans (me), young, old, in-between, etc.
I'm not politically naive and have been involved in anti-war protests in the past (helped shut down and occupy UCLA's Murphy Hall in 1991 protests against Gulf War I). BUT. Hanging out here for the better part of a decade tells me that I am likely to fall in to mansplaining and whitesplaining things against my will or better judgement.
So, I'm looking to the diverse KOS hive mind for suggestions and thoughts. What would you do as a member of a group that has the ear of the Chancellor and the role of developing local policies and actions?
I'm not desperate for advice. But I think I can only benefit from it.