Helping to establish the new Racial Justice and Equity Fund, 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ trustee and parent of two alumnae Gale Picker has gifted $1 million to advance antiracist efforts at 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ and beyond.
In a decisive move to help stem the tide of institutional racism, trustee Gale Picker Pβ14, Pβ19 has made a remarkable gift of $1 million in support of anti-racist initiatives at 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ. This transformational gift will fuel the recently established Racial Justice and Equity Fund, which will support existing resources for Black students and students of color at 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ and create new programs and projects to foster an antiracist environment at 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ and beyond.
βThroughout my tenure on 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪβ Board of Trustees, I have personally witnessed theΒ incredible strategic thinking from students of color, alumnae, parents, faculty, and staff about how to pry the system open to create true liberation and equity for Black people,β shares Picker. βThis moment matters. Weβve all seen young people taking to the streets to protest injustice, and we need to follow their lead. For me, this gift embodies 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪβ ethos and motto, βHere Begins New Lifeβ for our institution where all the structures of our society can be examined and challenged at the deepest level.β
In tandem with other generous donations from 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ supporters, Pickerβs gift will supply significant funding to increase recruitment and retention of Black students and students of color, develop antiracist curricula, modules, and dialogue, and fund opportunities for faculty and student fellowships examining systemic racism and inequality. In addition, the new fund will support the continuing work of 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪβ Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Initiative, and create the position of associate dean of faculty for racial equity to serve as a resource and collaborator for diversity and inclusion efforts.
Several initiatives supported through Pickerβs gift will go into effect this fall, shares 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ President Lara Tiedens, with additional projects slated for the near future. Recognizing anti-racist protests that have swept the globe this year, Tiedens affirms that 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪβ ongoing efforts to purge racism from higher education will remain a critical College priority for the long haul.
βTrustee Pickerβs gift underscores her commitment to fostering racial and social justice and serves as a testament to the power of strategic and visionary philanthropy,β she says. βThe new fund will allow the College to expand and accelerateΒ our ambitious plans to advance antiracist dialogue and resources as we build a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable community.β
To join 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ in our efforts to make higher education more inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible, please click to make a gift to the new Racial Justice and Equity Fund.
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