This document summarizes a presentation for the Bonner Racial Justice Initiative Congress 2022. It introduces Ariane Hoy and Rachayita Shah from the Bonner Foundation and outlines the agenda which includes an overview of the Foundation's Racial Justice Initiative and goals to advance racial justice on campuses. It discusses effective practices for working with diverse communities through community partnership examples from Mars Hill University and Sewanee: University of the South. The presentation concludes with information on assessing diversity, equity and inclusion policies using the Meyer DEI Spectrum Tool and next steps for developing proposals to the Bonner Foundation.

1. Ari
a
ne Hoy & R
a
ch
a
yit
a
Sh
a
h
BonnerRacialJusticeInitiative
Bonner Congress 2022

2. Introductions
Name, Role, School
What brings you here?

3. Agenda
• Background: Bonner Foundation’s Racial Justice Initiative
What motivates you to advance racial justice?
• Effective Practices in Working with Diverse Communities & Project Examples
What social and racial justice issue might you address?
• Assessing Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Polices & Practices
A tool to take pulse of your institution’s programs & practices to help you
advance your social justice issue . . .

4. Background :
The Bonner Foundation’s
Racial Justice Initiative

5. BonnerCommonCommitments

6. WatershedEvents
• Protests drew attention to racial
disparities
• Coalition-building and “allyship” e
ff
orts
continued to work on:
• Racial equity
• Economic justice
• Voting rights

7. UndergraduateStudents’IncreasedParticipation...
• A survey of 750 currently
enrolled undergraduate students
• 58% reported that they have
actively supported one or more
social justice e
ff
orts in the past
year.
• 30% reported that though they
did not actively support social
justice e
ff
orts, they considered
doing so.

8. 48% = Their involvement in social justice
e
ff
orts has impacted their career choices
51% = Their involvement has impacted
their coursework choices

10. Small Group
What motivates you to advance racial justice
on your campus or in your community?
Knowledge of the issue
Someone you know is a
ff
ected by the issue
You identify with the issue at a personal level
Other

11. ParticipatingInstitutions
Schools Issue Areas
Averett University Campus: Commitment to DEI
Bates College Campus: Commitment to DEI
Capital University College Access
Christopher Newport University College Access
College of Charleston Community: Commitment to DEI
Macalester College Campus: Commitment to DEI
Mars Hill University Campus: Community Equity
Rutgers University-Camden Place & History: Trauma Recovery
Stetson University Place & History: Education
Stockton University Voter Participation
University of Nevada- Reno College Access
Sewanee: University of the South Recounting Place & History
Ursinus College Youth Education Access
Widener University COVID Health Equity

12. E
ff
ective Practices

13. RJCFProposalCriteria
• A team must be led by (two)
students
• A sta
ff
or a faculty member will
serve as a mentor
• A community partner organization
to be involved throughout the
process
• Projects must focus on:
• Structural change
• Reciprocity
• Sustainability
THE CORELLA & BERTRAM F. BONNER FOUNDATION

14. WorkingWithCommunities:
EffectivePractices
• Accurate recounting of history
• Clear, ambitious achievable goals
• A safe space to acknowledge emotions & experiences
• Commitment to ongoing dialogue
• Commitment to some form of action
• Engage diverse stakeholders
• Openness to learning

15. MarsHillUniversity-ProjectExample
Project Purpose
• The Coalition is creating strategies for educational events involving
teachers, high school students, the University, and local businesses, all
designed to address systemic injustice.
Community Partners
• Madison County Racial Justice Coalition; MHU Black Student Association
(BSA); Downhome North Carolina; MHU Latin Student Association (LSA);
MHU Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; MHU Center for Community
Engagement; ROAR (Rural Organizing and Resilience)

16. MarsHillUniversity-ProjectExample

17. Sewanee:UniversityoftheSouth-ProjectExample
Project Purpose
• To develop cultural artifacts and a heritage trail through Sewanee’s historic
Black neighborhood.
• Through both physical and digital means, the team will create strategies to
uplift and celebrate the hidden history of African Americans, with a large
community event, links to
f
irst year courses, student orientation, and
research.
Community Partner
• The Roberson Project on Slavery, Race, and Reconciliation

18. Sewanee:UniversityoftheSouth-ProjectExample

19. CampusandStudentPro
f
iles

20. What social and racial justice
issue might you address?

21. Assessing Diversity, Equity, &
Inclusion (DEI)
Policies & Practices

22. MeyerDEISpectrumTool
12 OrganizationalComponents

24. Try this tool to take pulse of your
institution’s programs & practices to help
you advance your social justice issue . . .

26. NextSteps...
• Talk with Bonner staff
Bonner Scholar Program = Community Fund
Bonner Leader Program = Bonner Foundation Grant
• Develop Your Proposal
Cover Letter
Team Information
Narrative & Budget
• Submit Your Proposal
Friday, November 4, 2022