We at the Morgridge Center for Public Service are committed to justice, equity, and anti-racism. Since the founding of this country on stolen Indigenous land, racism has been embedded within our laws, policies, and practices within the United States as well as within our broader culture and personal interactions. This remains apparent today through the racial disparities in the many systems in which we interact on a daily basis: education, housing, health care, and criminal justice, among others. Systemic racism is especially prevalent here in Wisconsin, where our state faces some of the largest racial disparities in the country. Public health officials have recently declared racism a public health crisis to shed light on the urgent need for systemic change. The Morgridge Center stands against racism, oppression, white supremacy, and injustice in all its forms. We are diligently working to ensure that our actions align with our assertions.
Connection to Mission
A critical part of this work is confronting the forms of oppression that have historically existed within public service and higher education. We recognize that no part of our culture has been immune to racism – in fact, saviorism has been a particularly damaging form. As we carry out the mission of the Morgridge Center — to prepare students for lifelong civic engagement, to connect campus and community to build a thriving democratic society and to use civic engagement as a means to achieve equity and justice — we must work to dismantle racist structures and beliefs within public service and higher education. This includes acknowledging and taking responsibility for our own shortcomings.
We recognized that our work must continue to evolve to be responsive to the priorities in the communities we partner with. We are committed to being accountable for our actions and to growing and sustaining collaborative relationships that will foster a positive transformation.