School of Social Work: Race, Racism, and Racial Equity Symposium

The Race, Racism, and Racial Equity (R3) Symposium, hosted by the University Office for Diversity and Inclusion, Jordan Institute for Families, and Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the UNC School of Social Work, is a series of virtual events that bring together scholars and researchers from across campus to share their work with Carolina and the broader community.

As we close out the second year of the global COVID-19 pandemic, our sixth R3 symposium event will focus on Scholarship Addressing the Dual Pandemic of Racism and COVID-19.

The United States has been in a crisis – a pandemic caused by racism – since our very beginnings. COVID-19 has highlighted these racial inequities. While the pandemic is an international experience that touches everyone, the impact of COVID-19—physically, emotionally, and economically—is not equal. Scholars from UNC’s Schools of Education, Public Health, and Social Work will present research on the coping strategies of Black women essential workers and their experiences with racism during the COVID-19 pandemic, advancing equity through public health critical race practice, and Black parent perspectives of school experiences during COVID.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on the racial and ethnic inequities that have long existed in the United States. Scholars across UNC's campus have produced important scholarship addressing this topic, including actions we might take to end these disparities," said R3 co-convener, Allison De Marco, Equity, Lead, Jordan Institute for Families, School of Social Work and Advanced Research Scientist, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute. "I'm thrilled that we will be able to feature both graduate students and faculty scholars from the Schools of Education, Public Health, and Social Work whose research will provide greater insight into these disparities."

Leah Cox, Vice Provost for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer, added, “COVID-19 has impacted us all in a variety of ways – financially, emotionally, in terms of our health and wellness, and our social lives. But the effect on Black women has been especially profound. We look forward to this meaningful discourse at this sole R3 session of the Spring 2022 semester.”

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