The Race & Reconciliation Initiative has several events planned for the spring semester, including a series of virtual town hall meetings and a new RRI Week during the month of February. Mark your calendars for each event below and look for registration information on the RRI webpage.
About RRI
Commissioned by the Board of Trustees and the Office of the Chancellor last August, RRI is studying the university’s connections to racism, slavery and the Confederacy. Learn about their research in monthly virtual town hall meetings and participate in social activities for the TCU community. Be sure to check the RRI page and follow them on social media for updates as the calendar continues to grow!
RRI Spring 2021 Events
Jan. 29, noon
“Assessing Allyship and Whiteness”
Virtual Town Hall Meeting
Panelists: Provost Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg, Ph.D.; Gabe Huddleston, Ph.D., assistant professor of curriculum studies; Sarah Robbins, Ph.D., Lorraine Sherley Professor of Literature; and Nino Testa, Ph.D., associate director of women and gender studies
Moderator: Jessica Hazard, associate athletics director for student-athlete development
Feb. 5, noon
“Running the Race”
In-person, physically-distanced meet-ups the first Friday of every month, these sessions create a safe space and place to talk about race.
Outdoor tables by the BLUU archway
RRI Week, Feb. 22-26
Feb. 22 (6:30 p.m.)
Food for Thought
RRI partners with TCU Housing & Dining for a delicious opportunity for conversation and food
Restaurant Takeover - Madea's
Cost: Students - Dining swipe; Faculty/Staff - $10
Market Square, BLUU
Feb. 23, 3-4:30 p.m.
"Black in the Academy: Are Institutions Ready for Us?"
Virtual Student Panel
Panelists: Byron Bailey '12; Shanice Cox, student at TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine; doctoral student Mel Doddy; master's student Kellton Hollins '20
Free, but registration is required.
Feb. 24, 3:30 p.m.
“Real Relationships: How to Build Community”
Virtual Town Hall Meeting
Panelists: Whitnee Boyd Ed.D. '17, coordinator of special projects Office of the Chancellor; Timeka Gordon, director of Inclusiveness and Intercultural Services and Community Scholars program; Clifford Harrell II, Ph.D., assistant athletics director of academic services; and Zoranna Jones '98 (MS '07), (Ph.D. UTA), assistant dean of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies
Moderator: Trung Nguyen Ed.D. '19, interim assistant vice chancellor of Student Affairs
Free, but registration is required.
Feb. 25, 5 p.m.
“Acknowledging Our Past, Defining Our Future”
Virtual Keynote Presentation for RRI Week
LaDainian Tomlinson '00
March 5, 3-5 p.m.
RRI Block Party
Food, music, trivia, giveaways and more!
Campus Commons
March 25, 3:30 p.m.
“The Future of Our Past”
Virtual Town Hall Meeting
Panelists: Alex Hidalgo, Ph.D., associate professor of history, director of undergraduate studies; Alan Gallay, Ph.D., Lyndon B. Johnson Chair in American History; Brenda Sanders-Wise, executive director, Tarrant County Black Historical & Genealogical Society; Rebecca Sharpless, Ph.D., professor of history
Moderator: Scott Kurashige, Ph.D., professor and chair, Comparative Race and Ethnic Studies
Free, but registration is required.
April 1, 4 p.m.
"A Dialogue on TCU's Efforts to Reconcile with Native Americans"
Sponsored by the Race & Reconciliation Initiative
Join us for a virtual panel discussion about how TCU can reconcile and develop healthy relationships with Native Americans.
Panelists: Terri Parton, president, Wichita and Affiliated Tribes; Nita Battise, Tribal Council chairperson, Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Waylon Honga, former Hualapai Tribal Council member
Moderator: Scott Langston, Ph.D., instructor of religion and Native American nations and communities liaison
Free, but registration is required.
April 9, noon
“Running the Race”
In-person, physically-distanced meet-ups the first Friday of every month, these sessions create a safe space and place to talk about race.
Outdoor tables by the BLUU archway
April 15, 3:30 p.m.
“RRI: First-Year Findings, Explained”
Panelists: Invited Guests, Task Force Co-Chairs
Moderator: Marcellis Perkins, graduate research assistant, Race & Reconciliation Initiative
Free, but registration is required.
Reconciliation Day
Wednesday, April 21, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
More information to come for this inclusive event for the TCU community to come together to move forward together.