In Solidarity

Today we are taking a pause from posting about our interns’ experiences and lessons learned in rotations in order to acknowledge that those messages seem small in comparison to the much deeper conversations we must have in our communities around the relentless anti-Black racism and violence perpetrated across our country.

This is a time for listening and learning, but it is not a time to be passive or silent.

Today we affirm that the Cal Poly Dietetic Internship stands in solidarity with our Black colleagues and peers, Black community and family members, and Black aspiring future dietitians. We affirm that Black Lives Matter.

We implore all members of our internship community – including interns, alums, preceptors, educators, and community partners – to take specific and intentional action towards being actively anti-racist.

We shared a few ideas for action in this post on Instagram. We also point readers towards this list of strategies and resources for serving as accomplices in the fight for racial justice shared by Cal Poly’s Cross Cultural Centers. We encourage you to consider joining the Dietitians for Change Facebook group and getting involved with the Diversify Dietetics community.

Finally, we ask all members of our community to help to create solutions for the lack of diversity in dietetics by completing this survey for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. You do NOT need to be a member of the Academy to participate. Help shape the efforts of the leaders in our profession to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in our field.

Do not be silent. Do not be passive. Commit to living your values through not just words but through actions. Wherever you are in your journey, take the next step now, and then keep on marching forward in solidarity.