Anti-Racism Leadership Program

ARLP_COVER_PHOTO

The Office of Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion, working in collaboration with the Tulane University Leadership Institute (TULI), offers the Anti-Racism Leadership Program (ARLP), which provides leaders from across the university the opportunity to develop the skills and understanding necessary to contribute to institutional anti-racism initiatives at all levels of the University. Offered to Tulane University employees at all levels, the ARLP is a strategic and professional growth opportunity for high performing Tulane University employees that are interested in learning about the foundations of anti-racism work, engaging in discussion around anti-racism topics and initiatives, and sharpening their leadership skills to practice effective anti-racism leadership.

About the Anti-Racism Leaders Program (ARLP)

What is Anti-Racism?

The term “antiracist” refers to people who are actively seeking not only to raise their consciousness about race and racism, but also to take action when they see racial power inequities in everyday life.


Being an antiracist is much different from just being “nonracist,” as Black antiracist Marlon James (2016) made clear. Being a nonracist means you can have beliefs against racism, but when it comes to events like the murders of Black men by police, “you can watch things at home unfolding on TV, but not do a thing about it.” According to James (2016), being an antiracist means that you are developing a different moral code, one that pairs a commitment to not being racist (whether verbalized or not) with action to protest and end the racist things you see in the world.


[Dr. Anneliese Singh] would add that saying you aren’t a racist isn’t enough to start healing from racism. You need the intentional mindset of “Yep, this racism thing is everyone’s problem—including mine, and I’m going to do something about it. 

Reading Source: The Racial Healing Handbook

Program Goals

The Anti-Racism Leaders Program seeks to:

  1. To bring together a network of dedicated, high-potential Tulane employees;   

  2. To learn about systemic racism, racial trauma, anti-Black racism, colorism, interlocking oppressions, and other topics foundational to an understanding of anti-racism leadership; 

  3. To explore the history of racism and other intersectional systems of oppression at Tulane and in New Orleans; 

  4. To think critically about how racial inequities manifest in the workplace and strategies to create more equitable, diverse, and inclusive work environments;  

  5. To think critically about systemic racism in organizational units to support racial equity; 

  6. To cultivate leadership skills and understanding necessary to promote an encompassing environment of equity and belonging;  

  7. Identify ways to continue the work of anti-racism and foster involvement and inclusion in the broader university community and New Orleans.

    Speaker on stage at workshop

Additional Information

ARLP Curriculum

The Anti-Racism Leadership Program (ARLP) runs through the academic year, offering a series of monthly sessions that progressively guide participants through a profound journey of racial understanding, healing, and collective action. Our curriculum is thoughtfully designed to cultivate an inclusive and transformative learning experience.

Beginning with a focus on understanding racial identity and the historical context of racism, our program offers a diverse range of learning methods. Each month, we follow a structured 4-week cycle that includes a 4-hour in- person workshop, a 2-hour virtual live leadership panel, a 2-hour virtual live practicum session, and group meetings within racial affinity groups, thoughtfully assigned by our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion team at the program's outset. Through this dynamic blend of synchronous and asynchronous learning, ARLP empowers participants to engage deeply with critical issues and embark on a collective journey of racial healing and leadership.


Each year, the ARLP curriculum is updated to reflect new findings and emerging research in today’s EDI and leadership fields.

ARLP Criteria

To be considered for the 2024-2025 ARLP Cohort, applicants must meet the following criteria: 

  • Full Program Participation: 
    • Commits to being available and actively participating in all aspects of the 9-month program, which requires participants to attend at least 17 of the 22 live synchronous group sessions.
  • Supervisor Support: 
    • Secures support from your direct supervisor/manager, ensuring active involvement in your skill development throughout the program. 
  • Commitment to Tulane and the Community: 
    • Demonstrates a strong alignment with Tulane University’s core values and a strong commitment to Tulane and the broader New Orleans community.  
    • Demonstrates a commitment to create a Tulane culture that proactively addresses systemic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal racism and fosters the commitment to promote racial equity.
  • Organizational Impact and Influence for Positive Change:
    • Dedicated to enhancing organizational culture and actively contributing to driving racial equity initiatives forward.
    • Possesses the ability and social influence to bring about positive change within the organization.
    • Demonstrates a desire to develop the awareness, knowledge, and skills to support BIPOC and other underrepresented and underserved community members who experience bias (race, gender, sexuality, disability, international, religious minorities, veterance) while building communities committed to addressing and reducing inequities in their units and sustaining an inclusive Tulane.
  • Readiness for Lifelong Learning: 
    • Demonstrates a proactive readiness to invest in lifelong learning and personal growth, contributing to the improvement of self, the organization, and the community.

All qualified applicants to this program will receive consideration for participation without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law or Tulane policy. 

 

 

 

 

Future Cohorts

Applications for the 2024-2025 Anti-Racism Leadership Program are open and will close April 19, 2024. To apply, please visit our ARLP Application page.

 

 

 

If you have any questions, please contact the EDI Team at: EDIOffice@tulane.edu.