Addressing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Texas Sea Grant

It goes without saying that we at Texas Sea Grant are greatly upset and concerned by the ongoing discrimination and violence that people of color still face in America. The inhumanity and institutional racism within our current system has been painfully brought to light by the recent death of George Floyd – though this is something that Black communities and people of color confront every day. We cannot be silent in the face of injustice. We must support the voices of the marginalized, the disenfranchised, and the unheard.

At Texas Sea Grant, we are committed to serving the Texas coast, and that includes all the Texans that call our coast home. Many of the issues that affect our coast, including hurricanes, pollution and environmental hazards, and access to natural resources, disproportionately impact Black communities. Therefore, it is essential that we actively listen to and implement the input received from our coastal Texans of color. We must ensure that people of color have the space to share their ideas, concerns, and dreams for the future of the Texas coast.

We have proudly aided and provided resources to underserved communities in Texas; however, we recognize that much more is still needed to adequately serve all Texans, and we have fallen short. We are currently working through identifying our past deficits and learning how we can better improve our efforts in research and extension to be more diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

Please join us in taking this opportunity to honestly and holistically assess the implicit biases that hold us back and listening openly to the struggles of the people of color in our communities. With this we ask, “How can we do better?” We invite your feedback on how our program can better address racial injustice and discrimination. 

Wishing safety and growth,

Texas Sea Grant