Anti-Racism Initiative (ARI)
In the summer of 2020, the UCLA Library embarked on an Anti-Racism Initiative (ARI) intended to improve the internal climate and create a just and welcoming environment for all library workers.
The ARI Framework is an iterative document that consists of projects, tasks, and recommendations. The content in the current iteration of the Framework was created by gathering feedback from library staff about desired outcomes and goals.
The overarching goal of the UCLA
Library is to permanently embed the concepts that create and sustain a
just, equitable and diverse workplace into its organizational culture.
To that end, the Framework is meant to be consistently monitored and
updated as projects are completed and new projects are proposed.
The ARI Steering Team is responsible for maintaining a web presence on the library's internal website, as well as maintaining the Anti-Racism Initiative Framework. The Steering Team will evaluate the progress of the Framework, and indicate completion of existing items, as well introduce new items to the Framework as necessary.
The Steering Team has the authority to convene ARI Project Teams to take on existing and emerging tasks of the Framework. Project Teams will report to the Steering Team and may be disbanded at the conclusion of assigned project/task.
Project Teams are groups of staff convened by the Steering Team to address a particular project. Project Teams contain at least one Steering Team member that reports back project progress to the Steering Team. The current project team members were brought on with a call for volunteers for the initial projects: