Posted on October 14, 2024 by Katelyn Juarez
A discussion panel at a Democratizing Racial Justice event
UTSA is set to celebrate the successful completion of the Democratizing Racial Justice (DRJ) project, supported by a $5 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, awarded in January 2021. This transformative project has enabled UTSA faculty, students, local community organizations, artists, and activists to collaborate in redefining the role of higher education in addressing racial equity.
Democratizing Racial Justice, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the largest supporter of the arts and humanities in the United States, aims to transform higher education by evolving Ethnic Studies and Humanities. The project strives to combat the erasure of people of color and their histories, envisioning a society where all individuals are valued equally. The DRJ team is formed from community activists, activist-scholars, and students working collaboratively on various projects and events that further the goals of social justice.
In honor of this milestone, the DRJ team is inviting the public to attend “Imaging Together: Reflecting on the Democratizing Racial Justice Project,” a two-day event designed to showcase the innovative projects and collaborations between UTSA students, faculty, and community partners that emerged from the DRJ grant.
The celebration will take place on Friday, October 18, from 9 am to 7:30 pm, and Saturday, October 19, from 9 am to 2:30 pm, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided on the first day and breakfast and lunch on the second. The event will be held at the UTSA Downtown Campus in the La Villita Room, located on the first floor of the Durango Building. Free parking will be available in the Durango Lot, and attendance is free and open to the public. Interested participants are encouraged to RSVP through this link.
Dr. Kirsten Gardner, co-principal investigator of the grant, emphasized the project’s mission, “The Democratizing Racial Justice continues to invite our communities to explore meaningful histories, stories, and experiences. As all of our participants gather together, we will share ideas and imagination about the future, the importance of humanities, and the pursuit of social justice.”
Participants can look forward to an engaging program featuring presentations, discussions, and interactive sessions led by DRJ collaborators. The event will not only celebrate the project’s achievements but also foster ongoing conversations about the future of racial justice within the community and beyond.
— Katelyn Juarez
