The College of Arts and Sciences Collaborative on Race

The College of Arts and Sciences Collaborative on Race  was founded 2015, in the wake of the massacre at Mother Emanuel in Charleston in order to begin to address South Carolina’s deep history of racism and inequality. 

Our mission is to foster courageous conversations that are people focused to build a systemic response to injustice. Our vision is to encourage real and lasting change that can come from honest communication and to build bridges between sectors.

We function under three tiers: education, facilitation, and connection. Our premiere program, The Welcome Table, is a time-tested process that bridges divides in communities by encouraging lasting bonds through trust building activities and a common understanding of historic inequities.

The annual Equity Summit  brings together parties from numerous sectors including education, law enforcement, health, nonprofits and community organizers to discuss strategies for increasing equity.

The mission of the  South Carolina Youth Collective (SCYC) is to inspire young people to be active participants in developing an equitable world and encourage them to share their knowledge and strengths with us. The SCYC is partially a year-round book club and partially a summer residential fellows’ program. The Summer Fellows learn about civil rights history and what it means to be an activist, then complete a justice project in their communities.

We also partner with more than two dozen organizations and are active members in collectives such as the North Columbia Youth Empowerment Initiative and the Race, Equity & Inclusion Partnership.