Archive Posts
-
St. Thomas Launches Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Campus Center
Anti-racism EffortsThe University of St. Thomas launched the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Campus Center on Feb. 2, 2022. The TRHT campus center became effective after the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU) approved the university’s designation as one of many host campuses across the U.S. Kha Yang, associate vice president for inclusive excellence, said…
-
Professors Raise Awareness of Bias Against Asian Americans
Five ObservationsThe year 2021 marked extraordinary milestones for Asians and Asian Americans. There is Vice President Kamala Harris, the first South Asian, first Black person and first woman to ever hold this position. Chloe Zhao, a Chinese national, became the first woman of color to win the Academy Award for best director. Suni Lee, a St.… -
Black History Month Centers Activism Through Art
Anti-racism EffortsIn February, the University of St. Thomas will host poets, comedians, actors and writers exploring Black history through a monthlong series of events that’s as much about the performance as it is about the audience. Student Diversity and Inclusion Services Assistant Director Nayely Becerra Castillo said artists uniquely engage audiences in activism, so this programming… -
Outside Consultant: What Should Business Leaders Consider in Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.?
Diversity, Equity and InclusionThis "Outside Consultant" column by Dr. Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative, ran in the Star Tribune on Jan. 17, 2022. As we mark the federal holiday commemorating Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, many are wondering how best to honor the memory and legacy of this civil rights leader. His family has called for no celebration… -
Acting on Martin Luther King Jr.’s Call
Anti-racism EffortsReverend Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “There are some things in our society, some things in our world, to which we should never be adjusted.” In that 1967 address, King elaborated that those things are poverty, racial inequality, denial of equal rights to people of color, to LGBTQIA+ communities, religious bigotry, Islamophobia and others. … -
Yohuru Williams Named to Governor’s Council on Justice Reinvestment
Anti-racism EffortsDr. Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative (RJI) at the University of St. Thomas, is one of 15 leaders from across Minnesota recently named to the Governor’s Council on Justice Reinvestment. This bipartisan effort, convened by Gov. Tim Walz, is aimed at reducing recidivism (chance for re-offenses) of people on probation and supervised… -
In the News: Dougherty Family College Is Providing Lower Tuition to Minority Students
Anti-racism EffortsBuffy Smith, interim dean of the Dougherty Family College at the University of St. Thomas, was interviewed on WCCO Radio's "The Sheletta Show." Highlighting how the college offers an associate degree designed to propel students towards success and provide a smooth transition to a four-year college, Smith explained how DFC's structure and support helps provide… -
DFC Scholars Learn Why Black Voters Matter
St. Thomas 2025 - Expand Pathways through the Dougherty Family CollegeLaTosha Brown is an advocate for people of color and their right to vote. As a national leader and co-founder of Black Voters Matter, she tours the country asking people to envision an America without racism. “A new America, a more inclusive, a more just, a more equitable America.” During a recent stop in Minneapolis,… -
St. Thomas Establishes Scholarship in Memory of George Floyd and U.S. Rep. John Lewis
Anti-racism EffortsIn an ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, the University of St. Thomas recently established the Good Trouble Legacy Scholarship to support undergraduate students whose identities are underrepresented at the university or whose studies focus on racial and social justice. The Good Trouble Legacy Scholarship, formerly known as the Racial Justice Scholarship, was conceived… -
BIPOC Gathering Circles Promote Healing, Community for Tommies
Anti-racism EffortsOn Wednesday afternoons, the call and response “ashe” meaning “be with us” echoes over Zoom, as participants take turns pouring libations. This African ceremonial tradition is the weekly opening ritual for St. Thomas’ BIPOC Gathering Circle and invites connection both with ancestors and between the students of color who have gathered to share cultural and…