Austin Community College District (ACC) has launched a new television show on ACCTV to highlight the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work happening at the college. 

Hosted by ACC Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Larry Davis, Voices Under Equity features interviews with ACC faculty and staff and testimonials from students.

“In my first year of work here at ACC, I feel that even though we’re not perfect, we are, quite frankly, ahead of many institutions in higher education in terms of the way we’re approaching equity, diversity, and inclusion,” says Davis. “One of the things I’ve been wanting to do from the start is to recognize faculty already doing DEI work who have some initiatives going on, who are working with the administration, who are willing and courageous and innovative enough to take small yet continuously increasing steps and adding and building first the equity and inclusion how they build.” 

The concept for the show evolved from an idea Davis had to develop short videos that showcase the people and work happening at ACC that promote the college’s DEI initiatives. After consulting with the Office of College Relations & Marketing and the ACCTV team, it grew into a full series.

The Voices Under Equity series premiered on ACCTV in November 2021 and featured Dr. Samuel Echevarria-Cruz, ACC’s newly named Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Instruction. 

Four episodes are planned for the show’s first season with the second episode featuring ACC English Professor Prudence Arceneaux, who teaches various writing and literature classes at the college. She’s been at ACC for 23 years and discusses the importance of calling students by their preferred name, asking questions and listening more in the classroom, and using additional resources like ACC’s Peace and Conflict Center to generate new ideas and development opportunities. Watch the episode below.