2020-21 Academic Year

Announcing the 2020-21 Recipients of the Racial Justice Mini-Grants!

Editor's note:

Dear Students,

We are thrilled to announce the grantees selected for the Office of University Life’s first Racial Justice Mini-Grants program. This project is funded through a partnership with the Office of University Life, the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement and the Institute for Religion, Culture and Public Life.

  • Creating an Anti-Bias, Anti-Racist Framework for Language Learning. The Anti-Racist Language Pedagogy Working Group: Andrew Wyatt, Claudia Sbuttoni, Louis Moffa, Sophia Mo, Noah M. Mintz, Kaity Matrassi, Isabella Livorni, Tylar Colleluori, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, in collaboration with Teachers College’s Center for the Professional Education of Teachers.
  • SPEAK UP: Addressing Race and Racism in the Classroom. RISE: Working Group on Race, Income, Solidarity, and Economics: Zachey Kliger, Chris Tingley, Vincent Tang, Sameea Butt, Gabrielle Hayes, Leselle Vincent, School of International and Public Affairs.
  • Black Thesis Writing Group. Ari Jones, Briana Wood, Columbia College.
  • The Racialization of Reproductive Justice: In conversation with Loretta Ross. Saman Kamgar-Parsi, Caitlin Yee, Columbia School of Social Work.
  • BIPOC Alumni in STEM. William Robert Milligan, Alison Ross, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
  • CU Against Racism: A Podcast Series Exploring Anti-Racist Efforts at Columbia. Trisha Mukherjee, Columbia College.
  • Columbia Climate Conversations. Lauren Ritchie, Columbia College.
  • Zora's Daughters Podcast. Alyssa A.L. James, Brendane Tynes, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
  • The Intersections of Blackness: An Anti-Racism Project. Travis Nelson, Lexi Young, Columbia College and the School of International and Public Affairs.
  • Black Islam in Harlem. Sumaiya Zama, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Thank you to everyone who submitted a proposal, and for the high level of engagement around the process. It's also gratifying to know that this work parallels a Fall 2020 faculty-level initiative within the Office of the Provost, Addressing Racism Seed Grants. The Seed Grants program sets similar goals to the Anti-Racism Mini Grants: enabling collaborative dialogue, action and insight for systemic change towards racial equity.

We invite you to join the great programs happening this Spring, made possible by the Racial Justice Mini Grants. In every instance, these are projects by students for students. Each event and conversation is designed to thoughtfully grapple with some of the most urgent conversations required of our community as we seek to fulfill our commitment to anti-racism.

In this inaugural year of the program, we hope to learn a great deal. We invite you to share your feedback as we work to carry the program forward in future years; you can always email us at [email protected].

We are also fortunate to welcome Melissa Mayard as the Associate Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Melissa will shepherd this program through its first year, and manage it going forward.

Learn more about the Racial Justice Mini Grants program here.

In community,

Joseph Defraine Greenwell, Ed.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs
Office of University Life
Gender Pronouns: He/Him/His

Ixchel Rosal
Associate Vice President for Student Life
Office of University Life
Gender Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

February 04, 2021