Home Invites Members Groups Events Careers Videos News Photos Blogs Polls Forums Chat
Home > News > Post Content

Virginia State University Announces Nation's 1st HBCU Center For Policing Leadership and Social Justice (6855 hits)


Virginia State University unveils history-making Center to address relationship between law enforcement and communities of color.

Virginia State University has established the nation’s first HBCU Center for Policing Leadership and Social Justice. The newly established initiative, known as The Center, will further allow VSU and the surrounding communities to address the critical divide between law enforcement and communities of color.

The mission of The Center is to provide an intellectual, creative, and action-oriented space to engage in collaborative research, training, policy and program development to address the social, political, economic, and cultural issues that have historically impacted communities of color and police/community relations. The Center will also house subject matter experts and specialized trainers and educators on topics of national discourse and policy on policing, criminal justice reform, and race relations in America.

In 2020, Virginia State University took a groundbreaking approach as an HBCU by establishing the Policing Leadership Taskforce which was organized by Dr. Zoe Spencer, VSU Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice. The Task Force is comprised of Regional Police Chiefs and Sheriffs, Community leaders and activists, and VSU Faculty, Staff, and Students. The newly established “The Center” will take the vision of the Task Force to new heights.

“For decades, we have seen our country crying out for change, but especially after the death of George Floyd in 2020. We knew it was our duty to try to ensure that something like that never happens again. The work to do that started with VSU Professor, Dr. Zoe Spencer, creating our history making Policing Task Force,” said President Makola M. Abdullah. “It continues now with our new Center for Policing Leadership and Social Justice. To our knowledge, this center is the first of its kind at an HBCU or perhaps nationwide, but thanks to our team of trailblazers here, hopefully it will not be the last.”

The Task Force has responded to the call to serve and has made a commitment to the challenging work and relationship building necessary both to and for both communities. The Center will now serve as the site to continue to build upon that work and commitment, regionally, state-wide, and nationally.
“All we have to do is to look at the case of former Virginia State University student, Caron Nazario, to see that action remains necessary. We are merely answering that call," says Dr. Spencer. "While we are certainly not the first to create a dedicated space to do social justice work, I am most excited about our concerted effort to come together to have those very uncomfortable conversations and to engage in the very challenging work that is required to substantively address the historic divide that antagonizes interactions between law enforcement and communities of color in particular. That is the innovation."

"I am proud to be committed to such a groundbreaking, much needed program,” said Jeffrey Faries, Chief of the Colonial Heights Police Department. “We as public safety leaders, across the country, must acknowledge that our profession has work to do in order to be a part of the solution. Listening, learning and truly understanding as one is paramount to the healing that must take place in order to improve our society. I look forward to continuing our efforts together."

As the new academic year begins, The Center's collaborative will begin planning for its reconvening conference in October, where they will continue to invite a broader network of committed Police Chiefs, Community leaders, activists, and returning students who will join the collaboration as vital research and engagement interns.

"With this groundbreaking Center for Policing Leadership and Social Justice, VSU is truly standing on our mantra that Greater Happens Here. I am truly honored to be building with such a phenomenal group of leaders," says Spencer. "Through our interlocking collaborations, we hope that not only will 'greater happen here,' but I think we are all hoping that greater will happen in our communities, our State, and across our country.”
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Wednesday, August 18th 2021 at 2:21PM
You can also click here to view all posts by this author...

Report obscenity | post comment
Share |
Please Login To Post Comments...
Email:
Password:

 
More From This Author
Black Americans At Higher Risk For Kidney Failure
BEL-AIR Free Virtual Advanced Screening and Exclusive Q&A: RSVP Now! Space Is Limited!
Honda Delivers 2021 Civic Type R Limited Edition to Sweepstakes Winner; Fan-driven Project Supports TMCF
Build Your Skills and Win Cash at the 2021 Unum Innovation Challenge: HBCU Edition
Black Women Talk Tech's 5th Annual Roadmap To Billions Was An Event Unlike Any Other!
Virginia State University Honors Black Women In Campus Buildings Renaming
Alabama State University Releases Reopening Guide for Fall 2021: “Still Mask Mandatory”
NASA Awards Alabama State University Million Dollar Grant to Advance Engineering/STEM
Forward This Article Entry!
News Home

(Advertise Here)
Who's Online
>> more | invite 
Latest Photos
>> more | add
Most Popular Bloggers
cheer leader has logged 50967 blog subscribers!
tanisha grant has logged 26954 blog subscribers!
>> more | add 
Latest Member Activity
rochelle terrell just edited her profile. 09:07PM
rochelle terrell just became a new member. 08:57PM
sumon mondal just became a new member. 09:27PM
patrice morgan just became a new member. 09:52AM
rolawnza galloway just became a new member. 11:21AM
kyle logan just joined a new club (entrepreneurs of hbcu's). 12:24PM
kyle logan just became a new member. 12:17PM
lisa batiste just became a new member. 03:10PM
ulrika marm just became a new member. 12:29PM
dareyl brown just became a new member. 08:12AM
jason jones just became a new member. 06:47PM
david bennett just edited his profile. 04:54PM
>> more | invite friends