Community Advisory Group

Progress

Project 17 co-leads have established a solid working partnership with each other and executive co-sponsors. They are routinely in communication and have provided weekly updates as required since October 8, 2020. 

To date, they have developed guiding principles for their work as well as identified five core impact areas that the CAG can consider informing. Leads met with their executive sponsors and developed a list of potential CAG members based on review of the UK list of those who expressed interested and recommendations for potential community leaders that represent diverse views, sectors and populations of interest.

The first CAG meeting was held on Dec 9, 2020. The meeting consisted of an introduction of the UK DEI Initiative and how Project 17 will help guide institutional DEI efforts. The biggest takeaway from the meeting is that there is a rich opportunity for UK to show up where needed in the community.

General Vision for this Project

Establish engagement with communities external to UK to support the success of the UKDEI Strategy. Demonstrate commitment to make Lexington and eastern Kentucky a more equitable community for all its people, with an emphasis on access to resources, services, and opportunities for BILPOC (Black, Indigenous, Latinx, People of Color), Appalachian and Persons with Disability populations both within and external to UK.

Guiding Principles:

1. Ensure the Community Advisory Group is community-led to ensure longevity and sustained partnership.
2. Ensure that the community sets the agenda.
3. Ensure representation of all populations from diverse backgrounds and sectors.
4. Ensure that UK hears and acknowledges community expertise and input. (90% listening, 10% talking)
5. Ensure that UK responds and participates in respectful ways that amplify and support the community.
6. Ensure that UK shows up where needed in the community.
7. Create a university without walls culture where we bring the resources and expertise to the people.

Initial Activities:

1. Define our community and priority areas.
2. Answer the questions: What should UK be doing? How should UK be doing it? Where should UK be doing it?
3. Establish role of the community advisory group within the DEI strategy and provide community informed recommendations.

Committee Members

• David Cozart (Program Director, Lexington Leadership Foundation and the Fatherhood Initiative)
• Helen Danser (Chair of the KY Native American Heritage Commission)
• Anissa Franklin (Chief Administrative Officer, Urban League)  
• Larry Forester  (SVP Forcht Bank)
• Ruth González Jiménez (Latinx Student Community Specialist, Office of Institutional Diversity)   
• Chaquenta Neal (Assistant Director of Admissions for Diversity Recruitment, UK Admissions)   
• Te’Asiah Partridge (Marketing Administrative Coordinator, Coldstream Research Campus UK)  
• Isabel Taylor (City of Lexington Multicultural Affairs Global Engagement Center)
• Melinda Turner (Senior Manager of Youth Wellness, The Dairy Alliance)
• George Ward (Executive Director, Coldstream Research Campus)
• Dr. Palisa Williams Rushin (Vice President, Student Development and Enrollment Management BCTC)
• Marc Witt (Instructor and Director of Media and Strategic Relations Office of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, UK College of Communication and Information)