An upcoming two-part virtual dialog series will aim to “Keep It 100,” 
encouraging students, alumni, faculty, and staff—both at Cabrini and neighboring institutions—to come together for an open and honest discussion surrounding racial healing. The series began on Wednesday, February 23, and reconvenes on March 30, enabling diverse communities at predominantly white institutions to speak and be heard.
Register for the discussion here
“To ‘keep it 100’ is to keep it real with radical honesty,” said Sherrise Rowe, Director, Alumni Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, who produced and organized the Keep It 100 discussions. “If we’re not upfront and truthful, we’re never going to get to the point of addressing the racial trauma that African Americans experience on a daily basis.”
Keep It 100 discussions will feature members of Cabrini’s Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (ODEIB) and School of Education, as well as thought leaders from Villanova University. Cabrini Assistant Professor of Teacher Education, Zakia Y. Gates, PhD, will moderate the discussion, which also features Angela N. Campbell, PhD, Vice President of Mission, DEI, and Student Engagement; Lailah Dunbar, Director, ODEIB; Ronald W. Whitaker II, EdD, Assistant Dean, Cabrini School of Education; and three Villanova faculty and staff members: Marquis Coates, Kevin Covington, and Wesley Proctor, EdD. Both discussions are sponsored by a civic imagination grant from Campus Compact of New York and Pennsylvania.
The goals of the discussions are for students and alumni to garner a sense of community and belonging through shared experience, and for faculty and staff—particularly those at predominantly white institutions—to gain a greater understanding of critical topics related to multicultural education. Together, all parties will be better positioned to take actionable steps toward racial healing.
“Feeling inclusive in a public space is one thing, but feeling brave enough to speak your truth in that space is another,” said Gates, the event moderator. “This event, Keep It 100, is for exactly that. This is where ideas can be exchanged for the betterment of humanity. I hope that the community gains a better perspective of racial healing while using the information and resources from the event as a gateway to spread messages that not only help to identify and resolve social injustices but also bring us together more as human beings.”
Cabrini students and alumni of color are encouraged to share the good and bad experiences they have had on campus and beyond.
“We are charting a pathway to restoring wholeness, welcoming people home to their community and alma mater so they can address the experiences they have had, and ultimately get to a new place at Cabrini,” Rowe said.
Still, the issues and experiences at the center of the Keep It 100 discussions affect African Americans in a wide range of educational environments, so the program includes voices beyond Cabrini.
“It’s always good to hear from educators and thought leaders who are experienced in healing and have a faith-based background similar to ours, and who can help lead these conversations,” Rowe said. “Including educators outside of Cabrini only creates a better sense of community.”