#35 | Equality Under Siege: Lauren Y. Casteel on the Dismantling of Affirmative Action
My special guest is Lauren Y. Casteel, community thought leader and CEO of The Women’s Foundation of Colorado focusing on gender, racial, and economic equity. Join us for an in-depth conversation about the real life impacts of this decision that have the capability to erase decades of progress for people of color across the nation. Ms. Casteel also discusses the particular challenges it poses for women of color especially when combined with other recent Supreme Court rulings.
Lauren has been outspoken in her criticism of the recent Supreme Court Decision of Students for Fair Admissions v. President & Fellows of Harvard College that struck down years of legal and applied precedent allowing colleges to use affirmative action as part of their admissions decisions.
“This decision, the affirmative action decision, in my mind, reaffirmed the fact that we have not reckoned with the harm that has been caused by racist, misogynistic, also indigenous, canceling and harm of cultures. “ —Lauren Y. Casteel
In this episode, Lauren also alks about the critically important work The Women’s Foundation of Colorado does to empower women statewide in multiple areas including providing community resources, taking powerful legistative action, funding loans and grants to local non-profits serving women, organizing investments via giving circles to women-owned businesses, and much more.
Learn More: Women’s Foundation of Colorado Website
In this episode we discuss:
• The breadth of benefits Women’s Foundation of Colorado brings to women of all backgrounds.
• Far-reaching impacts of the SC decision to stop the use of affirmative action for college admission.
• The one-two punch of the Supreme Court decision eliminating college debt forgiveness.
• The numerous systems in place today that serve as affirmative action for people of wealth.
• The lasting impact of Jim Crow laws on the wealth gap between black families and white families.
• Ways that colleges can stay within the context of the new law and not step away from core values.
• The critical need for people of color in teaching, medicine, and science the new law will exacerbate.
• Lauren’s mother as Spelman Professor and multiple board member including the Met, Lincoln Center.
• Lauren’s father’s as Executive Director of the National Urban League and notable civil rights leader.
• Sally Krawcheck as guest speaker at Women’s Foundation of Colorado Annual Fundraiser 9.21.23
Follow Women’s Foundation of Colorado on Social Media:
✨Instagram: @wfcolorado
✨Facebook: facebook.com/wfcolorado
✨Twitter: @WFColorado
