The movement for diversity, equity, and inclusion is at a crossroads. In a host of critical areas — within governments and academia to public schools and corporate America — the effort to change our institutions and broader culture has faced significant pushback.
In the face of this wave of resistance, it’s vital to take stock of where we’ve been, where we are, and — most importantly — where we’re going from here.
On October 3, 2023, the McSilver Institute co-hosted a conversation with three prominent leaders to do just that. Dr. Lisa Coleman, Deborah Archer, and Ifeoma Ike engaged in deep and inspiring dialog about the state of the struggle for institutional and social equity going forward.
Ranging from next steps to deal with recent Supreme Court decisions to investigating the aspects of an “equity mindset,” this wide-ranging discussion identified both the issues confronting the movement for equity, as well as real solutions as we look ahead. NYU McSilver Executive Director Rose Pierre-Louis and Nailah Flake, speaking on behalf of the Greater New York Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, framed the covnersation with opening remarks.
Video Recordings
In Pictures
Browse a slection of photos from this event at the McSilver Institute’s Facebook page.
About the Speakers
Deborah N. Archer, JD is the associate dean for experiential education and clinical programs, the Margaret B. Hoppin professor of clinical law, and faculty director of the Community Equity Lab at New York University School of Law. Deborah is also the president of the American Civil Liberties Union and a leading expert in civil rights, civil liberties, and racial justice. She is an award-winning teacher and legal scholar whose articles have appeared in leading law reviews. She has offered commentary for outlets including MSNBC, NPR, CBS, Monocle, The Atlantic, and The New York Times.
Lisa M. Coleman, PhD is New York University’s inaugural senior vice president for global inclusion and strategic innovation. In this role, she works with senior leaders, internal stakeholders, external partners, and other constituents to advance, promote, and build capacity for strategic global inclusion, diversity, belonging, equity, and access (GIDBEA), and innovation initiatives across NYU’s global campus. Dr. Coleman is also a faculty member at NYU Stern Business School and teaches at NYU Abu Dhabi. Prior to joining the NYU community, Dr. Coleman served as Harvard University’s first special assistant to the president and its first chief diversity officer.
Ifeoma Ike, Esq. is an award-winning advocate, writer, and policy advisor focused on designing solutions to address disparities. A graduate of CUNY Law School, Ike embodies the motto “law in service of human needs,” and has dedicated most of her career to advancing equity in spaces where marginalized lives dare to exist and live fully. In her new book, The Equity Mindset: Designing Human Spaces Through Journeys, Reflections, and Practices, Ike delivers a moving and impactful exploration of why equity is so important, the shortcomings of institutional diversity and inclusion initiatives, and how we creatively and boldly design cultures centering the expertise of those who know first-hand how inequity has shaped work culture. She is the founder and Chief Equity Weaver at Pink Cornrows, as well as a 2022–2023 Fellow-in-Residence at the NYU McSilver Institute.
Community Co-Sponsors and Organizational Partners
Special thanks to all the partnering organizations that made this event possible:
- Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law at the NYU School of Law
- NYU Office of Global Inclusion, Diversity, and Strategic Innovation
- Greater New York Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
- Pink Cornrows
- Black Policy Lab
- New York Urban League
- Fund for the City of New York
- New York Women’s Foundation
The Equity Mindset in Print
Copies of The Equity Mindset: Designing Human Spaces Through Journeys, Reflections and Practices are available to order here.