TransformOTive Justice (TJ)

TJ Logo

TransformOTive Justice (TJ) is a student-led organization designed to critically analyze the manifestations of systemic racism in our personal and professional lives. We aim to challenge the nation’s historical non-racist passivity with anti-racist activism. Anti-racism is the active process of identifying and eliminating the institutional structures, policies and attitudes that allow racism to persist. We must counter systemic racism with an understanding of its history and profound impact, continuous self-reflection and diligent activism.

Faculty Advisor: Cara Lekovitch (cal191@pitt.edu)
Student Leadership: Taina Bey (tyb54@pitt.edu), Keerston Underkoffler (kpu4@pitt.edu), Yasmin Gonzalez (ymg5@pitt.edu), Gianna Giovinco (gmg50@pitt.edu)
Founders: Spencer Sutter (sss95@pitt.edu) and Ashley Thompson (act63@pitt.edu)

Our Mission

TransformOTive Justice educates and empowers members of the Pitt Occupational Therapy community to become actively anti-racist in every facet of our lives.

Our Vision

TransformOTive Justice envisions an equitable world where racism is dismantled at the personal, institutional and structural levels.

Strategic Plan

TransformOTive Justice is utilizing a multi-faceted approach to achieve our mission and vision, including:

Using documentaries, podcasts, movies and other forms of media to enhance the knowledge of our members about the history and current manifestations of racism.
Developing strategies, skills and supports within a risk-friendly environment to become anti-racist activists and create meaningful, sustainable change in our local and global communities.
Collaborating with faculty and staff to facilitate monthly journal club discussions comprised of students, faculty and staff with the intent to engage in more intimate conversations to promote learning and growth in our community.

Suggested Resources

We encourage those interested in transforming health care practice to peruse the resources below on anti-racism and incorporate these perspectives, attitudes and actions into their personal and professional lives.

Books and Articles

What’s the problem with being 'not racist? It is a claim that signifies neutrality: 'I am not a racist, but neither am I aggressively against racism.' But there is no neutrality in the racism struggle. The opposite of 'racist' isn’t 'not racist.' It is anti-racist.

—Ibram X. Kendi, How to Be an Antiracist

Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates
Black OTs Matter: Changing Your OT Practice to Combat Racism, Address Racial Trauma, and Promote Healing
How to Be an Antiracist, Ibram X Kendi
So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo
White Fragility, Robin DiAngelo
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race, Beverly Daniel Tatum