On behalf of the university, I want to welcome you all to the 11th annual SAYS Equity Summit.

I’m sorry that we couldn’t meet in person today, but I’m so happy the summit continues to move forward. For more than a decade, this event has gathered some of the sharpest minds in the name of addressing social justice. You’ve gathered in the name of community, in the name of social mobility and in the name of creating solutions.

It’s clear that we need the Equity Summit more than ever. We’re living in times where tragic attacks are occurring all too often against communities of color. I know many of you experience incidents like this the way I do — it feels personal. And it is deeply painful.

We are also living in some of the most polarized times in American history. It seems that we’re endlessly being pitted against one another.

We need to end this age of divisiveness. We need to focus on what unites us and how we can respect our differences. We need to focus on equity and social justice for all.

That’s why I’m so appreciative of this year’s summit theme: “Future’s Forward.”

It inspires us to push through and create a new beginning after the challenges of the past two years. It inspires us to think ahead, to consider what equity and social justice looks and feels like in the future. It inspires us to consider what equity looks like for UC Davis as it relates to the future.

Today’s Social Justice Award winners will help create a better tomorrow. They are scholars and agents of change in education, ethnic studies, public service and much more. They are diverse in background and deeply committed to a more equitable future.

I congratulate them all.

There’s no question that educational equity is a core priority for UC Davis. We’re situated in the most diverse state in the nation, where wealthy and impoverished communities are often side-by-side. We’re situated in an area with a deep agricultural heritage, yet just a few miles from California’s center of political power.

The role of a university isn’t simply to study the problems of society.  We want to discover solutions, imagine new possibilities, and help shape the next generation of leaders and game changers.

So, we must work to bring people together, to bring opportunity and justice for all. Whether it’s a student from Oak Park, or the daughter of farm workers from the Central Valley, they all deserve the best education possible.

Diversity and inclusion inspire creativity and shape innovations. We need that energy and intellect to help solve society’s woes and build a more enlightened world.

Gatherings like this are crucial. They bring people together in a pursuit of something greater than ourselves. They inspire service for the social transformation that our world needs. This is where the real work begins.

Ultimately, bringing many different people and perspectives together is how we will create change. I look forward to participating as the quest for racial justice and educational equity continues to expand at UC Davis and beyond.

I encourage you to make the most of today’s summit.I have no doubt you will leave feeling inspired and empowered, and ready to make your voice heard.