As an educational institution we must recognize and dismantle the structural barriers that exist that perpetuates racism and gender injustice in education, employment, health care, the criminal justice system, and all other American institutions, including our beloved theater.

As artists our hearts are often open to the world in beautiful and life changing ways; but, as an industry we have not always done right, and here at LPC Theater Arts we acknowledge that we need to do better to combat systemic barriers through the work and courses we offer. We hope that you will join us in being supportive of each other, and yourselves, as we all work to become better humans and so, ultimately, better artists.

 It is easy—and understandable—to feel angry, sad, and helpless. But it is our greatest hope that we can channel those feelings to affect meaningful change in ourselves and our communities. Below are some immediate resources that may be helpful.

Anti-Racism:

• This comprehensive list of anti-racism books from Jane Mount. (https://bit.ly/2AwYzVA)

• Anti-Asian Violence Resources to help educate others and to take action (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co)

• This guide from Sarah Sophie Flicker on anti-racism educational resources for white people and parents. (https://bit.ly/2U1jR4E)

• Resources to confront harassment on the street, online, and in the workplace (https://www.ihollaback.org/resources)

• This article on suggestions for advocating for racial justice (https://bit.ly/36S3qgg)
• This guide on to how to protest safely (https://bit.ly/2MqHYW9)

• Bystander Intervention Training to stop anti-Asian/American and xenophobic harassment; Register for this webinar in advance: https://www.advancingjustice-aajc.org/events?fbclid=IwAR0y6gHO0FqGSXc9k5FpVQ926JSH_tv-v7I0IXHiYY13HBeOFJuByRJKSKU  

 

LGBTQ+ and Allyship
• This guide for How to be an Ally. (https://bit.ly/2Bnx7u9)

• This resourse for supporting LGBTQ+ playwrighting Artists. (https://bit.ly/2Yh8kAY)
• This website for the National LGBTQ Task Force. (https://www.thetaskforce.org/)
• This network for alliance building for trans and queer youth uniting for racial and gender justice. (https://gsanetwork.org/)
  
  

Neurodiversity and Differently Abled

• This resource for students, employers, and universities for changing the narrative about autism and neurodiversity through awareness, education, and engagement. (https://www.neurodiversityhub.org/resources)
• This article for how to develop and improve your disability awareness (https://disabilityawareness4you.wordpress.com/how-you-can-help/) 

 

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 Here are some of the ways we pledge to improve as artists, professors, and staff:

Seek to employ LGBTQ+, People of the Global Majority (PGM), women, or persons with a disability in all facets of LPC Theater Arts courses and productions;

Include works by artists in underrepresented communities in every performance season and/or classroom (curriculum) readings and assignments to uplift their labor and artistry;

Continue to participate in and examine our processes for Identity Conscious casting in our full season of plays, including “classics” that may have casting biases within their theatrical historical castings;

Actively seeking to broaden our audience demographic through outreach and a strategic plan with district PR, which includes increased allocation of marketing resources at a department level; 

Seek and participate in diversity training and staff development within the area of student equity offered through the college's staff development program;

Allocated department funds for staff development and conference attendance that includes programming on equity and diversity;

Continue to work to create a safe space for students and staff to truthfully share their insights and opinions.

We hope that our students will join us in developing themselves as well and help us work towards a better department, and ultimately, better American (and global) theater.

Please continue to be safe and supportive of one another. As in our classes, please join us in listening, learning, and growing.

 

The Faculty and Staff of LPC Theater Arts

 

Las Positas College's Mission, Vision, and Values Statement can be found here: http://www.laspositascollege.edu/about/mission.php