Charlitta Hatch and Pablo Chialvo
Our standout students in the Anti-Racism Graduate Certificate program are taking on leadership roles at their schools, businesses, and orgainizations to create a more equitable world. Hear their stories in their own words.
I am Charlitta Hatch, and I am Technology Consulting executive and the founder of the Me3 Project. An organization I started in 2017 aimed at changing the narrative of Black boys in America. It should come as no surprise that in 2020 I felt like I wasn't doing enough. I know that the summer of 2020 was rough for all of us as the pandemic forced us to sit in the realities of “This is America” after the murder of George Floyd. As a leader in predominantly white spaces and of my own organization, I was challenged with how to lead authentically in a period where I was grieving so much myself. I quickly turned to the Anti-Racism certificate program at UNCC where I was equipped with how to confidently have difficult conversations rooted in theory and facts sprinkled with my lived experiences. I will forever be grateful to the professors who helped me hone my voice and transitioned me from passionate leader to a thought leader. I was hesitant about entering the program since I am not an educator, but a corporate executive who is a working mom of 2 children. I believe that all leaders regardless of industry can benefit from the Anti-Racism program. This program is key to helping all of us understand who we are, what we need to learn and unlearn, and how to apply those learnings to being a confident, culturally responsive leader.
My name is Dr. Pablo Chialvo, and I am a lecturer in the biology department at Appalachian State University. During my time in the ARCert program, I had the opportunity to not only learn about antiracism from historical, cultural, and educational perspectives, but was also able to apply this knowledge to my teaching. Every aspect of my courses, from the syllabi to the exams, have in some way been influenced by what I learned in this program. Moreover, it has provided me with the appropriate background to tackle issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) outside of the class, both at the departmental and university level. I would highly recommend the ARCert program to any teaching professional who wants to become more familiar with antiracist pedagogy and who wants to make a real difference in their school or community.