Fall 2022 Cohort

SSSJ Reflection Fall '22

Several participants from the Fall 2022 semester describe their experience with the Staff as Students in Social Justice program.

About the Program

The 'Staff as Students of Social Justice' (SSSJ) Program  is an important expression of the campus’s commitment to staff’s intellectual and professional development, especially around issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice. This program is a keystone effort of the university’s work towards Becoming an Anti-Racist Campus. Piloted in Fall 2020, the SSSJ Program is a unique opportunity to learn first-hand from leading scholars and American Cultures instructors about the intersections of race, ethnicity, and gender; dig into subjects of personal interests; and build connections with faculty, students, and campus colleagues. Previously, SSSJ allowed an opportunity for cohorts of up to 25 campus staff (from the Division of Undergraduate Education and beyond) to audit an American Cultures course and participate in discussions about timely and important topics. Now continuing its fifth year, this program offers a weekly seminar over Zoom, titled “Material Anti-Racisms,” led by the SSSJ Program Director of Pedagogy, David Maldonado. This seminar provides a deep study of abolitionism and higher education, incorporating content from the previous SSSJ lecture series “Aspirations of Material Anti-Racism: What’s Next.” Please take a moment to learn more about the previous fall 2022 online course offerings, and view the video above, "Our Experiences" to see past staff testimonials about their participation with SSSJ. Please email americancultures@berkeley.edu if you have any questions.