UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As part of the planning for the upcoming commemorative piece to highlight Penn State’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, the University is asking the community to share what being “All In” means to you.
We’re asking students, faculty and staff from across the University to share your thoughts on Diversity and Inclusion as part of the creative elements to support a permanent outdoor piece to represent our commitment to being inclusive and equitable for generations to come. Your contribution or excerpts from it will be part of the storytelling behind this piece and the University’s ongoing initiative to be “All In.”
Your quotes may be included in the commemorative piece or shared with the community on social media and through other channels. To share your thoughts, go to allin.psu.edu by March 13.
The commemorative piece will embody the world we live in today and the equity, diversity and inclusiveness that Penn State supports. Penn State has a strong history of diversity, inclusion, breaking barriers, pushing boundaries and standing together. This piece and the community’s messages will be inspiration for every member of our community to play an active role in creating a climate of acceptance and inclusion. It is a call for students, faculty and staff to be “All In” and to support the continual evolution at Penn State.
In 30 to 50 words, tell us what inspires you to be “All In.” This answer will be different for each individual. You may consider: What does our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion today do for us in the future? What inspires you to take an active role promoting respect and embracing diversity? How do you celebrate and embrace equity and inclusion at Penn State? What will these efforts mean for generations to come?
As one student said: “‘We Are’ should mean we are one family no matter what your background is. … We are all a Penn State family, and that’s how I always look at it.” Others may find inspiration in quotes from well-known individuals in our nation’s history.
Marcus Whitehurst, vice provost for Educational Equity, noted the piece will “pay tribute to our history but also reflect our hopes and plans for the future at Penn State.”
The call for commemoration comes as the University continues its ongoing initiative “All In at Penn State: A Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion.” Kicked off in October 2016, “All In” embraces diversity and encourages meaningful discussions. It supports the University’s commitment to fostering welcoming and inclusive communities that are respectful of everyone regardless of background, race, gender, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, economic status, abilities, veteran’s status or any of the ways we differ. The initiative challenges community members to ask what they can do to embrace diversity and have a positive impact at Penn State and beyond.
To share your thoughts, go to allin.psu.edu by March 13.