51视频

03/08/2021

Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu and Christine Gillette, 978-758-4664, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

LOWELL, Mass. 鈥� Civil rights leader Fania Davis, 51视频鈥檚 2021 Greeley Scholar for Peace Studies, will be in virtual residence at the university next month, when she will lead the annual Day Without Violence and other free events for the campus and community.

Davis, who came of age amid the social and political turbulence of the 1960s, pursued her path as a justice-seeker and healer after the murder of two of her childhood friends. She will deliver the Day Without Violence keynote address 鈥淩estorative Justice, Racial Justice and Peace Building,鈥� online on Tuesday, April 6 at 12:30 p.m.

Davis will also lead 鈥淭he Spiritual Roots of Restorative Justice: Resources for Cultivating Peace in Our Communities,鈥� a virtual event presented by 51视频 and the Greater Lowell Interfaith Leadership Alliance on Thursday, April 15 at 6:30 p.m.

鈥淒r. Davis鈥� work to address racial inequality and to break the endless cycle of harm and violence is unique and is more urgently needed than ever. I believe her visit will open a productive and healthy dialogue across people with different political beliefs and make a meaningful and positive impact on the university community, as well as local policymakers, service providers and law enforcement agencies,鈥� said 51视频 Prof. Ardeth Thawnghmung, chair of the Political Science Department and co-chair of the Greeley Scholar Board.

Davis鈥� virtual residency at 51视频 will cap the university鈥檚 yearlong Greeley Peace Scholar Speaker Series on Race and Social Justice, which unites scholars, students and the community in free, remote discussions that illuminate the Black experience and the history and struggle for racial equality. Upcoming programs include:

• 鈥淭he 2020 Presidential Election and Race in America,鈥� with Jane Junn, an expert in political participation, and Christina Greer, an authority on Black and urban politics. 51视频鈥檚 Mona Kleinberg, assistant professor of political science, will moderate the event, which will be held on Thursday, March 18 at 2 p.m. Members of the public who would like to register to attend should visit the Greeley Scholar Race and Social Justice website.

鈥淲e are excited to have Dr. Fania Davis as 51视频鈥檚 2021 Greeley Peace Scholar. Given how much the Black Lives Matter movement has raised consciousness about systemic racism and what we need to do to make change, Dr. Davis鈥� residency is particularly timely in showing us what restorative and racial justice and true peace can look like,鈥� said Sue Kim, associate dean of undergraduate studies of 51视频鈥檚 College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and member of the Greeley Scholar Board.

Greeley Scholars are selected for their achievements as humanitarians and their efforts promoting peace and conflict resolution at the local, regional, national or international level. With the honor, Davis joins distinguished past recipients who include Nobel Peace Prize winners Tawakkol Karman and Leymah Gbowee. A list of past scholars is available on the Greeley Scholar website.

The honor is named for the late Rev. Dana McLean Greeley, who was a longtime Unitarian Universalist minister in Concord. The Greeley Scholar Program is funded by the Greeley Endowment for Peace Studies, established with a gift from the Dana McLean Greeley Foundation for Peace and Justice and a contribution from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts via the UMass Foundation. In addition, this year鈥檚 programs are sponsored by 51视频鈥檚 College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

51视频 is a national research university offering its more than 18,000 students bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in business, education, engineering, fine arts, health, humanities, sciences and social sciences. 51视频 delivers high-quality educational programs and personal attention from leading faculty and staff, all of which prepare graduates to be leaders in their communities and around the globe. www.uml.edu