Division of Ignatian Belonging

Aspiring Anti-Racist Allies Affinity Group

Aspiring Anti-Racist Allies (AARA) is an affinity space primarily for self-identified white staff, faculty, and alumni at Xavier University who want to become anti-racist, anti-supremacist allies and examine their ideas about race and racism. We challenge ourselves and other white people to take responsibility for racist oppression, and we welcome opportunities to communicate, collaborate, and build relationships with people of color to challenge racism together.

Our goal is to develop awareness, knowledge, and skills that will enable us to work in solidarity with others toward racial justice on campus and in our broader community. Our work supports Xavier's commitment to helping everyone on campus cultivate lives of reflection, compassion, and informed action by addressing the intellectual, moral, and spiritual dimensions of racism and white supremacy.

We meet bi-weekly to reeducate ourselves, work through current events, and find opportunities for solidarity with and support our community members of color.

Co-Facilitators

  • Laney Bender-Slack, PhD, Professor, Reading/TESOL and Program Director of Middle Childhood Education
  • Angela Gray-Girton, Director, Eigel Center for Community-Engaged Learning
  • Wendy Maxian, PhD, Associate Professor, Communication
  • Andrea Wawrzusin Ed.D.- University Registrar, Registrar's Office

For More Information Contact:
Wendy Maxian at maxianw@xavier.edu or 513-745-3126