Dear Friends,
It's hard to express how the past several days have felt, both from digesting and experiencing what's happening nationwide to hearing further news of violence and injustice.
We hope you are coming into this new week having been able to spend some time on self-care and talking with loved ones — please take time to do so however you can.
The Raikes' School Board mourns the death of George Floyd, a black man who was murdered by police in Minnesota. This unacceptable violence, along with the recent deaths of Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and unfortunately so many others, are disturbing reminders of the deep systemic issues of racism and police brutality that remain in our country. This has happened against a backdrop of a global pandemic, with societal disparities made glaringly clear in everything from our education system, housing, access to benefits, and basic food security for people in this time of need. We are here to stand with and support the communities personally impacted by this continued violence and inequity.
The Raikes School is working with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion to develop a plan to recruit, support, and retain more students, faculty, and staff of color in our Raikes School community. We are incorporating unconscious bias, diversity, equity, and inclusion education and discussions into freshmen and senior seminars. Additionally, we are hosting a summer camp aimed at bringing computer science education to high school students who have had no previous experience with computing. We will increase recruitment efforts in communities underrepresented in computing, including students of color. We recognize we still have work to do.
There’s no quick fix for what’s happening today, and what’s required is deep systemic change that’s hard for anyone to take on alone. But in taking any action that feels right to you, whether it’s joining a protest, reaching out to friends and family, or educating yourself on the issues, this community is here to support you.
The Raikes School strives to be a community that is actively anti-racist, and we believe that our students and alumni will be part of the positive change we need in this world.
Steve Cooper & The Raikes School Corporate Advisory Board