Diversity & Research in Action Consortium (DRAC)

The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.

Welcome

Throughout the United States, the globe, and Northern Virginia there are numerous public and private human service organizations and non-governmental organizations that serve ethnically and racially diverse populations. Many of these organizations work relatively independently and carry out their work without the ability to learn or collaborate with other regional, national, or international organizations doing similar work with different racial and ethnic populations.

Fred Bemak and Frank Blechman recognized this deficiency and met in 2004 to examine the need for and development of an organization to coordinate diversity services in Northern Virginia, nationally, and internationally, and to integrate research, consulting, and action. Bemak and Blechman met with leaders of human service organizations to discuss this endeavor and found full consensus to initiate the Diversity & Research in Action Consortium (DRAC) at George Mason University. The Consortium focuses on issues of cultural diversity and provides research, training, consultation, and program evaluation with a wide range of national and international experts.