Equity & Diversity

National Center Aims to Train Civil Rights Activists

By Karla Scoon Reid — September 21, 2004 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Training and educating the next generation of civil rights advocates is the goal of the newly formed National Equity Center.

The center was founded this month in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.

John H. Jackson, the chairman of the National Equity Center, said too few young people are learning about the nation’s civil rights history. In addition, leaders of the social-justice movement are aging, he said, so the center hopes to fill what could become a void in leadership.

“This country is still separate and unequal,” said Mr. Jackson, who is also the national director of education for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. “We need a new generation of social advocates.”

The center will prepare both teachers and students in high school, college, and law and graduate school by educating them about past civil rights and social-justice struggles. But center organizers also want to encourage participants to tackle the nation’s current civil rights challenges.

The National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, a Silver Spring, Md.-based organization representing black colleges and universities, is joining the effort.

Student Internships

Regional offices of the National Equity Center will be established on the campuses of three historically black colleges and universities, three Hispanic-serving institutions, and one historic site from civil rights struggles. Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans will house one of the offices.

The center plans to hold monthlong summer training sessions starting next year, Mr. Jackson said. An internship program will be established to give high school and college students work at nonprofit social-justice organizations. The center also will provide support for people interested in researching civil rights and social-justice issues in education, housing, economic empowerment, voting, and criminal justice.

Sodexho USA of Gaithersburg, Md., awarded a $25,000 planning grant to the center.

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the July 28, 2004 edition of Education Week as National Center Aims to Train Civil Rights Activists

Events

Artificial Intelligence K-12 Essentials Forum How AI Use Is Expanding in K-12 Schools
Join this free virtual event to explore how AI technology is—and is not—improving K-12 teaching and learning.
Federal Webinar The Trump Budget and Schools: Subscriber Exclusive Quick Hit
EdWeek subscribers, join this 30-minute webinar to find out what the latest federal policy changes mean for K-12 education.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Curriculum Webinar
End Student Boredom: K-12 Publisher's Guide to 70% Engagement Boost
Calling all K-12 Publishers! Student engagement flatlining? Learn how to boost it by up to 70%.
Content provided by KITABOO

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Equity & Diversity Opinion How Education Leaders Should Respond to the Anti-DEI Crowd
Decades of essential equity-based work is under threat in our schools today, warns Joshua P. Starr.
Joshua P. Starr
4 min read
202503 Opinion Starr DEI 2155439727
iStock/Getty Images
Equity & Diversity A Wave of New Legislation Aims to Ban DEI in Public Schools
State legislators have introduced measures that would prohibit schools from maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusion offices.
7 min read
Vector illustration concept of people being denied entrance, stopped at the door.
DigitalVision Vectors
Equity & Diversity Opinion ‘Diversity’ Isn’t a Dirty Word: Why Politicians Are Scapegoating DEI
The language may be new, but we’ve seen these same tactics used to attack racial equality for decades.
Janel George
5 min read
Flag of the USA, painted on grunge distressed planks of wood, signifying dismantling or building back up
Yamac Beyter/iStock
Equity & Diversity Q&A How One School Leader Uses Music and More to Celebrate Black History
As Black History Month ends, a school leader in Norwalk, Conn., reflects on her varied approach to celebrating the month—and the significance of studying and learning from Black history.
4 min read
A poster hangs on the walls of Brien McMahon High School during Black History Month in Norwalk, Conn.
A poster hangs on the walls of Brien McMahon High School during Black History Month in Norwalk, Conn.
Courtesy of LaShante James