“In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” — Malcolm X
Our lab actively encourages research participation with and for...
As scientists, we live in the world of facts. It is a fact that 'silence is violence' (misquoted from MLK quote above). It is a fact that we are stronger when we embrace and celebrate diversity, rather than hiding behind fear or safely seeking refuge in the status quo. With these truths in mind, we are committed to creating a safe environment in our laboratory where we acknowledge disparities and systemic bias, and where everyone’s voice is welcome and heard.
Actions taken by the CML that we encourage others to pursue:
Continued or future planned action for the CML:
- Racial and ethnic minorities
- LGBTQIA+
- Persons with disabilities
- Female representation within STEM
As scientists, we live in the world of facts. It is a fact that 'silence is violence' (misquoted from MLK quote above). It is a fact that we are stronger when we embrace and celebrate diversity, rather than hiding behind fear or safely seeking refuge in the status quo. With these truths in mind, we are committed to creating a safe environment in our laboratory where we acknowledge disparities and systemic bias, and where everyone’s voice is welcome and heard.
Actions taken by the CML that we encourage others to pursue:
- Safe Zone training
- UNC EXSS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Participation
- Raising Anti-Racist Children Training
- ACSM EIM-Underserved Community Health Committee Participation
- SEACSM Leadership and Diversity Training Program
Continued or future planned action for the CML:
- Actively encourage participation by undergraduates from diverse backgrounds in the CML
- Emphasizing the importance of research in sex and minority backgrounds to cardiometabolic disease outcomes
- Educating about the social determinants of health
- Including discussion about diversity in classroom activities
Special statement with regards to current social injustice:
On behalf of the UNC CML, we stand in solidarity with those calling for accountability and justice. We share your sorrow and anguish over the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and David McAtee, and over the tragic reality that these are only the latest instances in our country’s long history of violent racism. While we of course condemn racism and welcome diversity in the academic arena, we also acknowledge i) the systemic racism that academia and research have consciously or subconsciously upheld, ii) the disadvantage that non-white individuals have in terms of gaining entry to and/or succeeding in academia/research, and iii) that racial and social disparities are at the heart of the pandemic of chronic cardiometabolic conditions which we study in our laboratory daily.
