The MultiCultural Center hosted a forum on May 29 to reflect on the implementation of their Holistic Safety Plan over the past year, as well as discuss upcoming plans.
The Holistic Safety Plan focuses on how to make campus a more inclusive space for marginalized groups. Shengyu Zhang / Daily Nexus
The Holistic Safety Plan (HSP) was implemented at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year in response to a temporary shutdown of the MultiCultural Center (MCC) in Feb. 2024. The plan follows three frameworks in its operations and programming, including trauma informed care practice and principles, disability justice and restorative justice principles.
The HSP is intended to rebuild a stronger sense of community and focuses on how to make campus a more inclusive space for marginalized groups, while “[allowing] there to be safety around differences,” according to MCC Interim Director Afiya Browne.
“Disability Justice, Trauma-Informed Care, and Restorative Justice provide us with real tools around how we engage with community support and empower community,” Browne said.
Projects included creating an organized MCC resource pamphlet and raising awareness on the MCC Instagram around issues of accessibility, respect and equity.
Fourth-year English major and MCC Program Assistant Den Earl Dulos reflected on projects that took place over the academic year and the importance of collaboration.
“It’s about [doing] self-care practices during your own time, but also you could collaborate with someone and do it together, [creating] a stronger sense of community,” Dulos said.
Dulos worked with the Program Team on two projects, “Reclaim This Journal” and the “Cardboard Vase Nature Walk.” Both projects, rooted in trauma-informed care and restorative justice, aimed to promote emotional healing and wellbeing, while emphasizing both self-care and connection to community, Dulos said.
While most projects have already been implemented, some, like the Master Inventory Sheet, are still being anticipated. The HSP hopes to unveil all projects not already put into action by fall.
Though the MCC is working towards its goal, Browne says the work is not over yet.
“We need more capacity for inclusion. We need more capacity for difference, these frameworks provide that,” Browne said.
In the coming year, Browne, who began her work with the MCC in 2010 as a student staff member and returned in 2019 as a career staff member, hopes to see the HSP be used to help students be more involved in decision-making in the wake of budget shifts. She also hopes it will help students have wider access to resources around campus.
“I really want to see the Holistic Safety Plan be used as a toolkit that’s used to help our students be co-creators with us and the programming services [provided],” Browne said.
