Archive Posts
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In the News: Yohuru Williams on Final Conviction Tied to George Floyd’s Murder
In the NewsThree years after the murder of George Floyd, former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao has been convicted for his role in the deadly incident. Thao was found guilty by a Hennepin County judge on charges of aided and abetted manslaughter in the second degree. The case is expected to be the final one involving officers…
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Driving Change: St. Thomas Hosts National SEED Project Workshop
Diversity, Equity and InclusionIf you walk across campus this week, you might run into a very focused group of educators. On the evening of Aug. 1, these teachers, parents and community leaders found themselves immersed in several pieces of artwork. Each piece featured subjects from different cultures, and each had a lesson to tell. Viewers were asked to… -
Gaining Philanthropy Experience Through the Damus Board
Business & LawFour local nonprofits working toward racial justice were awarded a total of $50,000 this spring by the Damus Board, a group of eight St. Thomas Opus College of Business students empowered to grant funds to organizations of their choice. Students, staff, alumni and community members gathered on April 21 to celebrate those winning nonprofits and… -
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 Alumnus Maps Future with Help of a 'Village'
Arts & HumanitiesThere’s a phrase that says “It takes a village” – that an entire community of people helps a child achieve. For Shukrani Nangwala '21, he credits his mother, St. Thomas professors and staff, a family friend and even the university’s Urban Art Mapping Project for opening his eyes to limitless possibilities for his educational and… -
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. … -
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… -
Join the Pilgrimage for Racial Reconciliation
Faith and MissionSaturday, Nov. 6, marks the Feast of St. Martín de Porres, the patron saint of social justice and racial harmony. In honor of St. Martín's Day, the Twin Cities community can partake in a prayer walk. The Pilgrimiage for Racial Reconciliation will begin at Church of the Ascension and end at the Basilica of Saint… -
Reporting the Black Experience: Georgia Fort '10
People & CultureAs a Black woman in the TV news industry, Georgia Fort ’10 has experienced discrimination firsthand. She has felt alienated for her hair, speech, mannerisms and more. For example, Fort described the hours she had to spend straightening — and ultimately damaging — her natural hair. “When you get a contract in TV news, you…