Committee for Anti-Racism Promotes Transformation via Speaker Events
The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music launched the "Still Waiting" speaker series in January 2021, an initiative created through the work of the School's Anti-Racism Action Committee (ARAC). The series, named by Arturo O'Farrill to represent the long wait for racial justice that continues to this day, focuses on the impacts of systemic racism, with particular focus on the arts and music.
The inaugural season of the "Still Waiting" speaker series included seven talks, each featuring engaging, first-hand insights from diverse presenters. Notable speakers included renowned professor, author, and orator Dr. Cornel West, dancer Ayodele Casel, singer-songwriter Noelle Scaggs, and trombonist and band director Dr. Isrea Butler, who represented various fields within performance.
Arturo O'Farrill, associate dean for equity, diversity, and inclusion, plans to continue the "Still Waiting" Speaker Series for the new academic year. He aims to bring in speakers who will challenge students and faculty to examine why they teach and how they teach. Chloe Swindler, a doctoral student studying trumpet and one of the co-chairs of the ARAC, shares this sentiment, hoping that more students will join the ARAC and engage in the work being led by the committee.
"Until the institutional world of music education changes, we'll be around," O'Farrill stated. The goal of the "Still Waiting" speaker series is to facilitate dialogue about the racial reckoning that has occurred across the nation.
As of July 31, 2025, there are no direct search results specifically listing future events or speakers for the "Still Waiting" speaker series. However, interested individuals can check the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music’s official website or contact their event office directly for the most current schedule and speaker lineup.
In addition to the "Still Waiting" speaker series, the school hosts other event series such as the SCMS Summer Festival FREE Lecture Series and Jazz & Poetry programs at Schoenberg Hall. Yet, these events are separate from the "Still Waiting" series.
On September 24, 2025, the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music is hosting a Fall Welcome event, offering opportunities to hear from faculty and artists, though it is not specifically identified as part of the "Still Waiting" series.
For those interested in viewing past events from the "Still Waiting" series, visit the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion website. The speaker series has been instrumental in examining and addressing issues of race facing academic music studies, and its continued presence underscores the school's commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment.
The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music's "Still Waiting" speaker series, initiated by the Anti-Racism Action Committee (ARAC), has been instrumental in facilitating dialogue about racial justice and its impacts on arts and music. Arturo O'Farrill, associated dean for equity, diversity, and inclusion, aims to continue the series in the new academic year, encouraging students and faculty to re-examine their teaching methods as part of the education-and-self-development process. Moreover, the "Still Waiting" speaker series serves as a testament to the school's dedication towards fostering a diverse and inclusive environment by promoting discussions on racial reckoning in academic music studies.
