Archive Posts
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Augie Stewart '26: Committed to the Common Good
Humans of St. ThomasAugie Stewart '26 moved more than a thousand miles to attend the University of St. Thomas because of its commitment to help students serve the common good. Originally from suburban Phoenix, Stewart first heard about St. Thomas from his godfather, who is an alum. The university was also attractive to him because of the work…
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DFC Faculty Profile: A Mission Toward Social Justice
People & CulturePortraits displayed on the walls of Dr. Tanden Brekke’s office show his family and civil rights activists, including Dolores Huerta, Ella Baker, Gandhi, Fannie Lou Hamer, Howard Thurman, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. “They’re all people who did really, really powerful things, believed in themselves, believed in the people around them, understood the… -
In the News: Yohuru Williams Publishes Two Op-Eds on Renee Nicole Good Aftermath
Racial Justice InitiativeYohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative and professor of history at the University of St. Thomas, published a commentary that ran on MLK Day in The Minnesota Star Tribune comparing the life and legacy of Dr. King and the “Be Good” slogan that emerged in the aftermath of an ICE agent fatally shooting Renee Nicole Good. Williams also coauthored… -
St. Thomas Students Reflect on Civil Rights History
In the NewsUniversity of St. Thomas students who spent J-Term on the We March for Justice Civil Rights Study Trip were interviewed by WJTV and WLBT news media in Canton, Mississippi, during a history tour led by civil rights activist and Canton native Flonzie Brown Wright. During a visit to the Canton Freedom House, students reflected on… -
In the News: Yohuru Williams Op-Ed on Equity and Accountability
In the NewsYohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative and professor of history at the University of St. Thomas, authored an op-ed published in the Minnesota Star Tribune examining how the Minnesota Council of Churches has grappled with racial equity and accountability over time. In the piece, Williams reflects on historical patterns of institutional retreat when efforts… -
Leadership and Grit: A Tale of Two Defensive Backs
AthleticsWhen Branden Smith thinks back to the lessons he learned playing football at the University of St. Thomas, the fifth-year cornerback recalls a series of injuries that caused him to miss playing time. “Injuries hurt — not just physically but mentally,” he said. “But they teach you to be better than you were before. You… -
In the News: Yohuru Williams Pens Two Op-Eds on Black Women in the Workforce
In the NewsYohuru Williams, distinguished university chair and founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas, coauthored a USA Today opinion piece on why Black women are facing disproportionate job cuts. And another one for the Minnesota Star Tribune. In both, Williams highlights the long history of undervaluation that shapes the experiences of… -
In the News: Yohuru Williams on the History of Police Reform in Minneapolis
In the NewsFounding Director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas, Dr. Yohuru Williams, sat down with MPR News host Nina Moini to discuss the long and complex history of police reform in Minneapolis, a topic often framed around the events of 2020, but with roots stretching back more than a century. From the… -
Art as History: ‘This Is Water’ Brings Racial Justice Conversations to Life
Racial Justice InitiativeHistory is not confined to textbooks. It lives in stories and the ways people remember, reckon, and reimagine their shared past. That’s a message that is important to Dr. Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative (RJI) at the University of St. Thomas. As a historian and educator, he often turns to various… -
In the News: Yohuru Williams Op-Ed on Pretext Stops in the Minnesota Star Tribune
Racial Justice InitiativeDr. Yohuru Williams, Distinguished University Chair and Professor of History and Founding Director of the Racial Justice Initiative, wrote an op-ed for the Minnesota Star Tribune on how Hennepin County’s new policy on pretext traffic stops can reduce racial profiling and signal a safer course for all drivers. From the story: Reports from both the…