Maine College of Art will host its second Resilience Week beginning Monday, dedicated to the school’s mission of racial, sexual and gender inclusivity.
“Through Resilience Week’s programming, we provide a network of support for those committed to fostering change here at MECA,” said Margaret Brownlee, the college’s officer of diversity, equity and inclusion. “By organizing these workshops and events, we encourage students, faculty, staff, and community members to engage in conversation about global diversity, racial justice, and inclusion. Our goal is to carve out space where Black, Indigenous, people of color don’t just survive — they thrive.”
Resilience Week begins with a community conversation on “How To Be An Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi on Monday and a virtual screening of the film “Daughters of the Dust” by Julie Dash on Tuesday.
“Promoting a culture of social change, racial justice, and inclusion at MECA is one of the top priorities of our 2020-2027 Strategic Plan,” President Laura Freid said in a statement. “We are committed to a world enriched by the creativity of artists and designers whose diverse perspectives are empowered and celebrated. The breadth of events and programming that our Diversity Committee and Students of Color Coalition have brought to Resilience Week and to MECA is impressive and I encourage our students, faculty, staff, and community members alike to join us in these critical conversations about identity, race, and representation.”
Resilience Week includes nine events, most of which are free and open to the public by Zoom. On Thursday, there will be A People’s Virtual Guided Walking Tour of Portland’s Old Port, with a discussion about Portland’s history with European colonists, the relationship between Indigenous and African slavery, Portland’s historic Black community, and the Underground Railroad and Abolition Movements in Portland.
For a full listing and details, visit meca.edu.
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