The Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Pledge to Social Justice and Antiracism
The Department of Environmental and Occupational Health seeks scientific insights that improve human health through clean air, clean water, safe food, safe workplaces, and sustainable communities for all. Our Department calls out structural racism as a chronic public health malady. Environmental racism and injustice persist with marginalized communities experiencing disproportionate exposure to hazardous waste, air pollutants, and toxic chemicals. We will work to empower all people to live free from environmental stressors that adversely affect human health. We acknowledge that the University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health, and Department of Environmental and Occupational Health have a troubled racist past. Our departmental demographics (faculty, students and staff) lacks diversity. We hereby pledge to be Antiracist in our educational programs, research, and practice.
In keeping with these promises and aims we add these obligations:
- To increase diversity in our faculty, student body, and staff.
- To constantly consider the environmental and occupational health of vulnerable and marginalized people.
- To understand and acknowledge privilege.
- To support allyships with vulnerable and marginalized people.
- To employ humility and compassion in conducting research.
- To support civility in discourse.
- To educate ourselves and promote self-reflection.
- To engage in discussion surrounding disparities.
- To practice sitting in discomfort.
- To investigate and deconstruct inequity and injustice in our social institutions.