HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/2/2024 Item 5a, Donnell
Dallas Taylor Donnell <dtdonnel@calpoly.edu>
Sent:Wednesday, October 2,
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:HRC: Agenda Item 5a
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Human Relations Commission
City of San Luis Obispo
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Attention: 2024-25 DEI HIGH IMPACT GRANT
Dear Grant Review Committee,
My name is Dr. Dallas Taylor Donnell, and I am a professor of African American Studies at Cal Poly, San
Luis Obispo. Having recently moved to this city to join Cal Poly’s Ethnic Studies Department, I was
thrilled to discover the impactful work of R.A.C.E. Matters. In particular, I’ve had the privilege of attending
two sessions of their Shop Talk program, specifically the meditation offering for Black, Indigenous, and
People of Color.
It has come to my attention that R.A.C.E. Matters was not selected for high-impact Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion (DEI) funding this year. I respectfully urge the committee to reconsider this decision and
allocate $5,000 to support their Shop Talk wellness programs based at Texture Salon.
As both an African American Studies professor and an African American, I am deeply invested in ensuring
that the Cal Poly environment, both on campus and within the surrounding community, is safe and
inclusive for our Black students, who make up a mere 0.723% of the student body. For these students,
access to supportive, welcoming, and affirming spaces is essential for their emotional well-being and
long-term success. Programs like those offered by R.A.C.E. Matters provide these much-needed spaces.
I was excited to inform my students about this resource, understanding how critical such environments
are for their growth and resilience in a predominantly white institution. Some of them are already aware
of the excellent programming, and the news of reduced funding risks sending a troubling message—that
the unique challenges and needs of students of color are being overlooked or devalued by our
community.
San Luis Obispo is home to these students while they attend Cal Poly. If we are committed to making this
home a welcoming place, we must ensure that programs like those provided by R.A.C.E. Matters, which
affirm their experiences and nurture their sense of belonging, are supported and sustained. Defunding
such initiatives could erode the community they rely on during this pivotal time in their lives.
Thank you for considering this appeal. I hope that your decision will reflect a commitment to equity and
the vitality of the programs offered by R.A.C.E. Matters.
Sincerely,
Dr. Dallas Taylor Donnell
Dallas Taylor Donnell, Ph.D.
(he/him/his)
1
Assistant Professor, African American Studies
Ethnic Studies Department
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
805-756-6268
2