Archive Posts
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Remembering the March on Washington 60 Years Later
Anti-racism EffortsThe 60th anniversary of the March on Washington is Monday, Aug. 28. While many people hear about that day in the context of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech, Dr. Yohuru Williams, the founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas, says there’s so much more…
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March for Justice: A Decade of Impact
Anti-racism EffortsThe work to repair racial injustice in America continues even beyond the 2021 designation of Juneteenth as a federal holiday, say members of the University of St. Thomas community in Minnesota. “Juneteenth is a moment of celebration and thinking about the ancestors and our resiliency,” said Shanea Turner-Smith, an adjunct faculty member in the School… -
In the News: Implicit Bias Awareness Training Offered by St. Thomas
Anti-racism EffortsThe University of St. Thomas was mentioned in a USA Today article regarding the implicit bias awareness training the university's Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will provide to officers of the Brooklyn Center Police Department as a result of the agreement the suburban city reached with the family of Daunte Wright, the young man… -
St. Thomas Shows Support for Jewish Community
Faith and MissionAs students prepare to return to college campuses across the country, they’ll meet others from many faiths and cultures. The University of St. Thomas strives to be welcoming to people of all faiths. As a result, several university leaders came together to sign a statement of support for Jewish students, colleagues and neighbors. The statement… -
In the News: Juneteenth must be a day of service and remembrance
Racial Justice InitiativeDr. Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas, wrote an op-ed about Juneteenth that was published in USA Today on June 20, the day the holiday was federal observed this year. The full opinion piece can also be read on Yahoo! News without a subscription. Below is… -
Juneteenth and a Moment of Reckoning
Racial Justice InitiativeAs the U.S. prepares to commemorate the federal holiday Juneteenth, which marks the date (June 19, 1865) when enslaved people in Texas learned they were free, the nation is at a moment of reckoning and we must make everyday commitments to justice, says Founding Director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St.… -
Reflections from St. Thomas Community Two Years After George Floyd's Death
Diversity, Equity and InclusionMay 25 marks two years since George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police. It’s the nine minutes and 29 seconds that sparked an international movement for racial justice. Political leaders vowed change, businesses across the globe committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and many others, including some at the University of St. Thomas, began having… -
Dr. Artika Tyner Named 2022 Bush Fellow; Publishes New Book
Professional NotesDr. Artika Tyner, the director of the Center on Race, Leadership and Social Justice and a clinical professor at the School of Law, was recently selected as a 2022 Bush Fellow. In addition, her book Reimagining Police: The History and Future of Law Enforcement will be published by Lerner Publishing Group and Thomson Reuters. Out… -
Making 'Good Trouble': Nkechukw Akpati Awarded New Racial Justice Scholarship
Diversity, Equity and InclusionNkechukw Akpati dreams of making a career out of using his own voice. Drawn to the idea of hosting his own talk show, Akpati loves to entertain. But before getting his name on a marquee, he’s working hard to lift up the voices of others. “When you come from a school where you’re in the… -
Tommie Experts: Associate Chaplain Dr. Sadaf Shier Discusses Ramadan
Faith and MissionDuring the month of Ramadan, which begins this year on the evening of April 2, Muslims begin 30 days of fasting from sunrise to sundown. However, fasting during Ramadan is much more than just not eating and not drinking for 14 to 15 hours each day, said University of St. Thomas Associate Chaplain Sadaf Shier,…