“Although these travelers inhabit different and unequal worlds in many ways, we are bound together by a shared intellectual and political agenda—and by a passion to envision and rebuild our interconnected worlds, even if such a project involves playing with Fire.” 

(Sangtin Writers 2006)

The RaGE Collective is a collaborative research project based at the Department of Race, Gender, and Ethnic Studies at Colorado State University, with keen attention to the intersecting of race, gender, and sexuality, that inform a sense of belonging in varied political, cultural, social, economic, and historical contexts. The Ethnic Studies CollabLab represents a vision of solidarity and accountability among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Queer + (2SLGBTQ+) communities. Inspired by Black and transnational feminists, Black queer theory, and Caribbean feminist, queer, trans, and sexuality scholarship, it aims to foster an environment that is attentive to the issues affecting varied lives and communities that are refracted through shared experiences and differences. Audre Lorde reminds us that “in our work and our living, we must recognize that difference is a reason for celebration and growth, rather than a reason for destruction” (2004) and it is in this spirit that we tap into scholarly, creative, artistic, and community-based research practices to offer innovative approaches and solutions to issues affecting us.

Inspired by similar work being done at other research labs around the world, this lab is committed to:

1.     Providing a collaborative and creative space for scholars, students, artists, and social justice leaders to work on innovative projects with the vital support and infrastructure needed to undertake them. 

2.     Welcoming scholars, artists, and 2SLGBTQ+ social justice leaders from Colorado State University, Fort Collins, and surrounding communities.

3.     Creating a space for community-engaged learning through talks, workshops, symposia, performances, and exhibitions. 

4.     Creating new research and study networks for students and faculty to strategize on new approaches to research and collaborations that will improve the lives of people in their or our community.

5.     Creating public-facing, accessible materials to reflect the on-going research collaborations as they take place at the hub. 

Please feel free to connect with me to learn more about our work and to explore opportunities for collaboration.

RaGE Collective Projects