Social Justice Award Winners
2022-2023
- Miami University
- Participants were encouraged to paint pots in the style of traditional face vessels made by enslaved people in the mid-1800s. Attendees were given informational materials about the history of the art form and were given supplies to paint a pot in the style of these vessels. Once completed, the pots were filled with soil and wildflower seeds and the participants were able to bring them home. Participants were also encouraged to paint rocks that we will be using in a garden at the Oxford Community Arts Center. This garden will honor the legacy of Black Americans in our University community. The rocks are meant to symbolize the stones that traditionally served as grave site markers for deceased enslaved individuals. The garden will remember those whose lives were lost in the lynchings that occurred in Oxford in the late 1800s, as well as highlight the contributions of a few significant Black figures in our city’s history. One such figure is Arthur Miller, a man who was involved in desegregating the city in the 1950s and 1960s, was the first Black American to attend Miami University’s education school, and served as the president of Oxford’s NAACP for over 20 years. The garden will begin construction in the fall. This was an incredible experience for our chapter. It was very rewarding for our members to be able to interact with the community and help educate the next generation of citizens about the history of our city. We had a great turnout for the event and generated a lot of interest about our efforts in honoring the history of Black Americans in Oxford.
- University of South Florida
- The USF AKD chapter president, through her own personal experience and involvement with the Hispanic Services Council, observed a lack of commitment toward social programs promoting higher education within younger students (e.g., middle school) in Hispanic communities in the Tampa Bay area. In her interactions with
this community, students would talk about how college was far beyond possible due to their migration status or the lack of knowledge; however, their aspirations of being doctors, lawyers, writers, and engineers remained high. Parents were aware that there their children need to follow certain steps, most likely different than in their country of origin, however, they were confused as to what those steps were. There is a commitment to higher education, both from students and parents, yet there is no guidance as to how to proceed in a country where opportunities are limited to accomplishments, scores, and readiness. With the support of the AKD chapter, the president then coordinated a small pilot tour for middle school students in 2022. During this tour, a set of bilingual Hispanic families were invited to campus after work hours to walk around and meet the various social and academic organizations geared towards assisting Hispanic students. Dinner was served because whole families attended during dinner time on a school night. Based on observed and feedback reported after, the event was such a success and beneficial to parents, we decided to repeat the event with more families and student-serving organizations.
- The USF AKD chapter president, through her own personal experience and involvement with the Hispanic Services Council, observed a lack of commitment toward social programs promoting higher education within younger students (e.g., middle school) in Hispanic communities in the Tampa Bay area. In her interactions with
- William and Mary
- Free and formerly enslaved Black landholders and entrepreneurs built livelihoods, families, and communities on the banks of the York River in the decades before and after the Civil War. This community on the Virginia peninsula became known as the Reservation. In 1918, the U.S. government commandeered the land to build what is now known as the Naval Weapons Station, Yorktown. Over the next few years, these families were displaced – pushed from their land and community.In this project, Sociology faculty and students of the Beta of Virginia chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD) are partnering with descendant families of the Reservation to collaboratively research and tell their story. Our goal is to create an online exhibit, titled “Untold Stories of Quiet Determination.” The support of the AKD Social Justice Award has allowed us to significantly advance these goals.
2021-2022
- Arizona State University
- University of North Alabama
- Wake Forest University
2020-2021
- California State University of Fresno
- Howard University
- Molloy College
- Radford College
- University of Nebraska – Lincoln
- University of Southern California