Call of the Sea stands in solidarity with Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and the LBGTQ+ communities. The recent article in the Los Angeles Times that outlined harassment and hate crimes at California State University Maritime Academy has illuminated societal and industry shortcomings in addressing and overcoming systemic racism, discrimination, and harassment. Call of the Sea is actively working to create a more inclusive future.
We believe that we must act now to promote inclusion rather than being complicit by inaction. Call of the Sea is striving to achieve our educational mission while creating an inclusive environment free from discrimination and harassment, one in which all members of our community feel welcomed and able to thrive. We recognize that this mission requires a long-term sustained commitment, and that we ourselves must change for it to be successful.
Call of the Sea has an ongoing partnership with Cal Maritime and many Cal Maritime students are interns and participants of our programs.
Call of the Sea looks forward to both small and large steps towards this brighter future, including the following:
- Ensuring consistent and transparent hiring practices that mitigate unconscious bias and discrimination
- Providing onboarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training, as well as ongoing DEI training for all Board members, staff, interns, and volunteers
- Holding dedicated spaces for conversations and continued listening
- Identifying ways to change harmful mindsets, behaviors, and systems
- Providing social and emotional support for staff, interns, and volunteers’ wellbeing
- Building trust relationships
- Increasing transparency and communication
- Creating decision-making processes that include all voices
- Collectively planning our path forward
These important steps support Call of the Sea’s Core Values: We are inclusive and we create an equitable, welcoming and empowering learning and working environment for all people.
Mark Welther, CEO, Call of the Sea
