The Social Justice Quarterly, Inaugural Issue

What to expect from the inaugural issue of TSJQ:

Message from the Assistant Director

Letter from the Editor

Ms Chloe’s Corner

Scholar Spotlight: Lead Scholar, Melanie Reyes

Through My Eyes: A Reflection on My Time as a Social Justice

SJS Program Recap

Social Justice Education at IUI

The mission of Social Justice Education (SJEd) programming is to create open, respectful, and safe learning environments for the IUPUI community to explore and understand concepts of social justice in an effort to create a more equitable campus, city, and world

At the heart of the SJEd work is studentled programming intended to enhance scholar’s ability to convene peer to peer programming, develop and practice critical thinking skills, and ultimately become responsible civically engaged and globally aware leaders.

The Social Justice Scholars Program is open to all IUPUI students To learn more about the program visit bitly/BeAJusticeScholar or to apply please contact Precious Majors @ pmajors@iuedu

A Message from the Assistant Director of Social Justice Education

As the Assistant Director of Social Justice Education, I am excited to introduce myself to some and connect further with others in the campus community I am committed to working with students, faculty, staff, supports, and alumni to promote social justice and equity on campus, in the greater community, and beyond We have much exciting news to share and hope you enjoy engaging and learning the latest from Social Justice Scholars, the Social Justice Education Program at IUI, alumni, and friends!

I believe that social justice education is essential for creating a more just and equitable world. Through awareness, knowledge, competency development, and action we can learn about different perspectives and experiences, challenge our own biases, and develop necessary skills to work to become the change we want to see I am looking forward to getting to know the campus community and working in collaboration to create a more just and equitable IUPUI

Specifically, alongside my colleague, Rev Shonda Nicole Gladden and the rest of the SJED Team, we plan to:

Develop and implement social justice programs and initiatives for students, faculty, staff and broader community

Work with faculty and staff to create an inclusive curriculum for the SJED Program and SJS Cohorts

Foster opportunities to create globally and civically engaged student leaders involved in social justice

Collaborate and partner with community and organizations to promote social justice

We are confident that working together, the campus and greater community can create a more just and equitable IUPUI

I am excited to see the launch of TSJQ This publication will provide a platform for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters to share their work on social justice issues, as well as learn about the latest news and events related to the Social Justice Scholars initiatives

Welcome to the inaugural issue of The Social Justice Quarterly, we invite you to learn and engage in the transformative work of social justice!

Be Phenomenal, Precious J Majors

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

BIRTHING TSJQ: THE POWER, OPPRESSION, & PRIVILEGE ISSUE

During a strategy session last summer, my colleague, Precious Majors, asked me, “What do you think of us creating a magazine for the program?” At first, the thought seemed daunting amidst the full slate of programming and educational activities we share throughout the campus and I was unsure if it was a realistic ask Over the past few months, I was reminded of my time as the Managing Editor of The Spokesman Newspaper at my beloved alma mater, Morgan State University; and the thought of birthing a publication seemed less unrealistic. And so began the process of birthing TSJQ

The Social Justice Quarterly, or TSJQ, is a quarterly publication of the Social Justice Education Team at Indiana University-Indianapolis The contents are curated as a representative sampling of the pulse of what students, staff, faculty, and community members are thinking about in the realm of social justice in general and social justice education in particular.

This inaugural issue is intended to introduce readers to the happenings of the Social Justice Education unit programs, as well as offer a lens into IUI campus commitments to social justice and belonging We called this The Power, Oppression, & Privilege issue because the scholars began pitching article ideas that aligned with that theme This semester, the scholars have delved into these “big three” areas of social justice work through the lenses of disability and access justice, decentering whiteness, and exploring the intersections of these issues in current policy choices

Over time, the hope is that this publication will feature articles from leading voices from the halls of IUI and the greater Indianapolis community, while capturing the essence of what it means to do justice in a national climate that is overtly against the proliferation of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives

Welcome to TSJQ We hope you enjoy it!

Ms. Chloe’s Corner

Chloe Edwards,

Social Justice Ed. Graduate Assistant

By educating others on social justice, we are continuing to lay the blueprint from the foundation our ancestors laid many years ago. From the power behind our vote to the breakdown of institutionalized privilege, the IUPUI campus is being exposed to topics outside of the classroom. Through the Social Justice Scholars programming, IUPUI Students are given the opportunity to join the conversation and encourage others to embrace their peers’ experiences.

As the 2023-2024 Graduate Assistant of the IUPUI Social Justice Scholars and a second-year law student at Robert H. McKinney School of Law, I am assisting scholars with navigating these spaces and curating the conversations! By utilizing the skills that I am developing as a current law student, I am also providing the students with a safe space to freely express themselves through a social justice lens!

Harriette Bailey Conn, Esq exemplifies the importance of educating others on Social Justice

Education Ms Conn was the first AfricanAmerican Woman to graduate from Robert H McKinney School of Law in 1955 She demonstrated that education and legal spaces should be expanded to Black women Her work teaches the importance of Black women being invited to the table! Her resilience shined through her work as she pursued a long-lasting career in public service. From advocating in spaces not designed for Black women to paving the way for Black women to succeed, Conn set the tone for educating others on social justice in and outside of the classroom.

Social Justice expands across the margins and impacts everyone The scholars selected this year exemplify greatness and excellence. I am beyond ecstatic to be a part of the team. I will continue to explore different avenues to assist the IUPUI Social Justice Scholars with the success of their collegiate careers, programming, and future endeavors!

With the help of the IUPUI Social Justice Scholars, we can use social justice education to change the world – one scholar at a time.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandela

CONNECT WITH MS CHLOE VIA LINKEDIN:

SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHT

Hi! My name is Melanie Reyes, and I am the Lead Scholar for this year ' s Social Justice Education Program. My role within this program is to provide support for the scholars for any obstacles that theymayencounterintheirprogramming.Ialsoserveasapeermentorthatthescholarscancount onwhentheyareinneedofadifferentperspectiveontheirtopics,trytohelpresolveconflictsthey mayencounterintheirgroups,orjustbeingafriendforthemtoventto.

SinceIusedtobeaSocialJusticeScholar,Ithinkit'simportanttobethatpersonthatIonceneeded when working within this program. It’s important for me to build trust with the scholars and have thembecomfortableenoughwithmethattheycanconfideinmetocommunicateanyinformation theymayneed.

THROUGH MY EYES

Reflection of my time as a Social Justice Scholar

by Anna Morgan

As I embark on my second year within the Social Justice Education Program, I reflect on the topics of Power, Oppression and Privilege while being a privileged white woman attending IUPUI. White supremacy is foundational to predominately white higher education institutions, making it pivotal to recognize, reflect, and unpack how I benefit consciously and unconsciously as a white woman on campus

White people on campus place the burden of DEI and antiracist educational work onto IUPUI’s black and brown communities In my eyes, it is the oppressor asking the oppressed to educate them on how we are oppressing them

Being a social justice scholar, I have learned the important difference of being “not racist” versus antiracist. This combats our contribution towards oppression of black and brown faculty and students, through doing the internal work on our own instead of relying on them to educate us.

WHITE PEOPLE ON CAMPUS

PLACE THE BURDEN OF DEI AND ANTIRACIST EDUCATIONAL WORK ONTO IUPUI’S BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES

Antiracism is actively and consciously combatting the multifaceted systems of oppression. In contrast, the notion of not being racist implies a white person is not a part of the oppressors' group, ignoring and minimizing the unearned privileges one has access to.

Continued on next page

Anna and the collective, Midnight Riot, on the east side of Indianapolis engaging in sustainability work at Dubarry Park

Through My Eyes (cont’d)

I believe as beneficiaries of white supremacy within a predominately white school, we must be ready to give up our privileges and stand on the forefront with the power we hold to contribute to the eradication of racial oppression and liberation of all people This looks like taking transformative risks and action, such as when the Black Student Union along with other black and brown students fought to create the Multicultural Center back in 2006 There has been a lack of urgency in calling ourselves in to commit to antiracist internal work and understanding our contributions in upholding the foundation of white supremacy at IUPUI

With white supremacy at the foundation of predominately white higher education institutions it can be challenging to find black centered spaces As bell hooks writes about in Teaching to Transgress, transgression is about pushing against the boundaries, to challenge racism, sexism, classism, and all forms of oppression in the world We need to find ways to create transgressive spaces that decenter whiteness while centering blackness at IUPUI It is extremely important to center blackness in these spaces because it promotes liberatory standards that combat white supremist policies, processes, and procedures IUPUI continues to uphold

For example, the appropriations towards the Multicultural Center and diverse student and Greek life organizations By centering blackness, there is an acknowledgement of how predominately white institutions are rooted in antiblackness while creating safe spaces and dialogue on the intersection of other social identities students and faculty hold Those spaces and dialogue will initiate collective healing and a shared abundance of resources on campus

Without being in the SJED space and learning different tools necessary to coconspire, I believe I would not be able to build an impactful coalition with others to work towards collective liberation Through this coalition-building with my fellow Social Justice Scholars, I've carved out a role to initiate action and dismantle white supremacy. I believe that this work should continue until there is transformative change on a systemic level

Overall, being a Social Justice Scholar, I have learned our IUPUI community needs to go further than DEI and engage in true antiracist work Every time I feel I have begun to grasp, or understand aspects of social justice work, I get proved wrong, realizing I still have so much to learn and act on I think that has been the beauty of learning in this space Every day I learn something new engaging in antiracist, coconspiring work Seeing the growth in myself has made all the difference.

Anna Morgan

“

...transgression is about pushing against the boundaries, to challenge racism, sexism, classism, and all forms of oppression in the world. I believe this work should continue until there is transformative change on a systemic level.”

THE CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS FOOD TEAM, ESTABLISHING CONNECTIONS WITH KHEPRW INSTITUTE, A LOCAL NONPROFIT, SUPPORTING ONE OF THEIR PROGRAMS, 'GROWING GOOD IN THE HOOD'

ON THE SHELF

BOOK REVIEW DO THE WORK! AN ANTIRACIST ACTIVITY BOOK

In every issue of TSJQ, students review at least one new book they’re reading. We believe that an important part of social justice development is reading from a diverse collection of books!

Whether it’s following along the authors' dialogues, taking a coloring break, or learning about the history of systemic racism through short, educational activities, W. Kamau Bell and Kate Schatz deliver a powerful and interactive workbook that allows you to both Do the Work! while having fun.

This workbook is visually appealing, eyeopening, and intellectually empowering. It allows for thought-provoking reflection on your own experiences to explore different ways to approach racial injustice.

5 out of 5 stars

Min Durham

Strikingly honest conversations that I’ve been looking forward to having!

The stickers are THE BEST part!

“Do the Work” is wonderfully engaging, inspirational, thoughtprovoking, and educational... It felt like the perfect adult coloring book to express yourself through social justice work."

Saloni Dixon

Every page catches your eye in a unique, original way

Do the Work! An Antiracist Activity Book

4.5 out of 5 stars

With an enthusiastic and receptive audience, our gathering was a resounding success, serving as a testament to the power of meaningful dialogue and the importance of recognizing the oftenoverlooked beauty within art and history.

Education & Dialogue

This event not only celebrated the rich cultural contributions of Black artists but also provided a platform for education and discussion.

Social Justice Scholars

Program Recap

The Black Arts Movement

At Real Talk's First event of the semester, we delved into the profound and impactful Black Arts Movement, focusing intently on the realms of painting, poetry, and music. Through an engaging PowerPoint presentation and thought-provoking questions, we successfully fostered an enlightening atmosphere.

Real Talk

Recent Event

On Friday September 15, 2023, Pass the Mic hosted a panel to discuss the recent Supreme Court decision to end Affirmative Action

Pass the Mic centered discussion questions around the decision’s relevance to the diverse population on IUPUI’s campus. Participants shared their opinions on the topic while also talking about personal experiences within the educational system.

Social Justice Scholars Program Recap

Pass The Mic is a program within SJES that engages the IUPUI community in impactful conversations surrounding social justice topics.

Pass the Mic

These events give the audience the opportunity to use their voice, spread their knowledge, and participate in social justice.

The Podcast Returns!

Hash It Out is excited to return on September 25th with some new voices and faces! Be a part of the social justice conversations with your hosts, Havva, Awwal, and Tapiwa!

New Format!

We are happy to announce that we are expanding to video in the next few episodes The first episode will be an introduction to the hosts and why we became social justice scholars A few topics to look forward to this semester are The Patriarchy, The Separation of Church and State, and Affirmative Action.