Lessons Learned & Challenges

AR/AOPis an iterative process that is informed by many stakeholders and takes significant organizing and self reflection. During implementation of the initiatives, grantees learned a range of lessons that will inform their futureAR/AOPpractice.

Initiative Changes

Participants experienced changes in their project for a number of reasons, such as time constraints, date changes, shifts in speaker availability, changes in finances.

Involved Organizing

Grantees quickly realized organizing these projects takes significant time and effort.

Role Reflection

Engaging Participants

Through their experiences, participants identified their own personal strengths and roles for which they were best suited in their initiatives, including: organizing, creating space for minoritized groups, and leading the initiative

Grantees learned to be strategic when engaging participants, including: flyering, using an online platform, and partnering with otherASU groups that have similar goals to increase initiative reach

InfusingAR/AOPinto their initiative often encouraged a high degree of self-reflection.

One awardee discussed how their initiative led to a deeper understanding of institutional barriers for more groups acrossASU. “[Prior to the initiative] I didn't have an opportunity to step out outside of my process to realize that there were also [career track] faculty and adjunct faculty who are experiencing a lot of institutional challenges and biases that are just as relevant, just as important, and that we actually share some of these similar challenges, and we can come together to support each other.And so I think that's part of what it means to be anti-racist, inclusive, and diverse.” – Lily

Hsueh Ph.D., Faculty

in SPA

It was important to uplift voices of groups that are presently and historically targeted for oppression.

Five of the nine initiatives incorporated guest speakers— 14 guest speakers total— who were able to bring a diverse lens to thinking through, engaging with, and talking about topics such as research, professional development, and advocacy.

Initiatives focused on creating community.

One way or another, all nine initiatives incorporated strategies to expand participants’ networks and build community. Speaking to the importance of this for the Watts Latinx community, Dr. Lechuga-Peña said “It was for former students, current students, and incoming students to create connections among them. [Dr. David Becerra and I] felt it was important for both of us to be there as their faculty advisors and Latinx faculty. We felt representation [was] critical and important. So being at the event gave us an opportunity to engage with the students, meet and connect students who had just graduated the previous year, and were about to graduate, with the incoming students.”

Several participants expressed a need for funding flexibility.

Ultimately, some projects did shift and change overtime. Because of this, having more time to use the mini-grant funding or to request additional funding for unexpected expenses (e.g., fuel costs) was a common concern among participants.

There are a number of resources at ASU that provide financial support for projects and initiatives.