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Chuck Fishman / Getty Images
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This month we celebrate the leadership and legacy of Ambassador Andrew Young who will celebrate his 91st birthday on March 12, 2023. As an ambassador, congressman, mayor, and civil rights leader, Ambassador Young has created a legacy of leading the fight for human and civil rights, providing leadership in pursuit of social justice, and creating opportunity and prosperity among those who are underserved. In honor of Ambassador Young, the Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership (AYCGL) centers leadership development and social justice training in all of its work. This month’s newsletter focuses on the AYCGL’s Leadership Studies Program.
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The Leadership Studies Program at Morehouse College
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Morehouse College has been producing outstanding leaders for more than 150 years. The Leadership Studies Program [LSP] was established 25 years ago, in 1998, and was reconfigured in 2018 as one of four institutes comprising the Andrew Young Center. In the Spring of 2020, the faculty approved a revised curriculum for a 17-credit hour minor in Leadership Studies. The LSP serves as a designated space where younger and older scholars critically examine as well as thoughtfully practice social justice-oriented leadership in an interdisciplinary and collaborative manner.
The threefold purpose of education for President Benjamin E. Mays, writes one of his biographers, “was to train the mind to think clearly, logically and constructively; to train the heart to understand and sympathize with the aspirations, the sufferings and injustices of mankind; and to strengthen the will to act in the interest of the common good.” The Leadership Studies Program extends the legacy of Mays and Thurman as well as Martin Luther King and Andrew J. Young with its conscientious commitment to producing Morehouse Men who are prepared to serve as ethical leaders in the ongoing struggle for freedom and justice. The pedagogical ideal of socio-ethical leadership is preoccupied with questions of how best to nurture a sensitive heart, a disciplined will, and a creative, yet critical, mind.
The AYCGL LSP is beholden to the namesake of the Center, namely, Ambassador Andrew J. Young, who characterizes Morehouse College as a “leadership factory,” one that produced iconic social justice-oriented leaders from Howard Thurman (’23) and Martin Luther King, Jr. (’48), to Julian Bond (‘71) and Raphael Warnock (‘91). Ambassador Young claims that leadership development requires—and the LSP strives to provide—experiential learning, advocacy training, community service, and study abroad.
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What’s New in the Leadership Studies Program
The Leadership Studies Program (LSP) offers an academic minor. This year, five seniors will graduate with a minor in leadership studies: Mr. George Pratt (featured below), Mr. Xavier McKenzie, Mr. Davion Stacker, Mr. Porter Tynes, and Mr. Elijah Davis. Heritage-centric gateway courses into the minor are HSL101(FYE) - “Social Justice Leadership,” and HLS111 - “Introduction to Black Leadership.” Presently, there are 12 minors in Leadership Studies.
Faculty affiliated with the LSP include Professors Vicki Crawford, Sam Livingston, Kristin Moody, Kipton Jensen, and—as a visiting professor in the LSP, Dr. Justin McClinton (’13). Last semester, George Land (‘85), COO of NBA Africa, taught a special topics course on “Leadership in Sports”. For his More Conversations Podcast, see here. We asked several of the LSP affiliated faculty to describe what they aim at in their respective Leadership Studies courses:
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Beyond the classroom, students and faculty affiliated with the LSP are engaged in international education and experiential learning. The LSP hosts a series of faculty roundtables and workshops on social justice-oriented leadership. Recent events include a faculty roundtable featuring faculty from the Biology Department titled “What Leadership Looks Like in STEM” and a workshop on “Self-Care for Sustainable Leadership” (Moody). The LSP serves as the sponsor for the Morehouse Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, which is the national society for leadership. The Higher Education in Prisons [AYC-HEP] Program, which provides college-level courses at several prisons in Georgia, is one of the signature initiatives of the Leadership Studies Program and AYCGL. The AYC-HEP Program includes a Student Ambassador Program as well as a Scholar-in-Residence Program. Mr. Rodney Spivey-Jones was a Scholar-in-Residence in the AYCGL. He recently published a faculty blog about his experience as a Scholar-in-Residence (see here). He also recorded a More Conversations Podcast (here).
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“Beloved community is formed not by the eradication of difference but by its affirmation, by each of us claiming the identities and cultural legacies that shape who we are and how we live in the world.”
- bell hooks
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This Women’s History Month (March 2023), the AYCGL directors wish to honor the life and leadership of bell hooks (1952-2021). As a cultural critic, feminist theorist, professor, and author of more than twenty books, hooks demonstrated the courage and compassion as well as the integrity and wisdom of all good leaders. She asked us to consider “how do we hold people accountable for wrongdoing and yet at the same time remain in touch with their humanity enough to believe in their capacity to be transformed?” Dr. hooks’ publications include Ain’t I a Woman, Bone Black, Art on My Mind, Remembering Rapture, Killing Rage: Ending Racism, Breaking Bread, and All About Love.
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The Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership is proud to highlight the stories and accomplishments of the extraordinary Men of Morehouse who participate in the programming of the Center.
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George Anthony Pratt is a senior history and religion double major and leadership studies minor from Jacksonville, FL. During his matriculation, Mr. Pratt has engaged in various leadership positions including Senator At-Large, SGA Policy and Compliance Officer, and Editor of the Howard Thurman Honors Program Journal. Currently, he serves as the founding executive director of HouseCorps, a student collective in the Andrew Young Center dedicated to amplifying marginalized narratives through oral history and the digital humanities. While this initiative began as Pratt’s Social Justice and Leadership Innovation Award project, it has morphed into a student fellowship that is presently spearheading the curation of the campus mural and a multimedia project highlighting queer students.
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“HBCUs Should Lead the effort to Democratize Higher Learning, Extending their Research into Every Prison in the Country”
- Rodney Spivey Jones, November 2022 AYCGL Scholar-in-Residence
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Rodney Spivey-Jones recently published a faculty blog entry titled “HBCUs Should Lead the Effort to Democratize Higher Learning, Extending Their Research into Every Prison in the Country ''(see here). In November 2022, Rodney Spivey-Jones served as the AYCGL scholar-in-residence bringing his expertise and first-hand knowledge of higher education in prisons. Spivey-Jones graduated from Bard College through the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI). His story is featured in Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s award-winning documentary, College Behind Bars.
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Morehouse College Across the Globe
Spring Break
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This month during spring break, Morehouse students will study abroad with Morehouse faculty-led programs to three destinations: Ghana, West Africa; Barbados, Lesser Antilles of the West Indies; and India. The Morehouse International Spring Tour, led by Mr. Douglas Cooper (Director of Career Services), will travel to Ghana. The Sustainability Service-Learning Project Alternative Spring Break, led by Dr. Mona Ray (Associate Professor of Economics), will travel to India, and the South Carolina-Barbados Connection: Understanding the Gullah Geechee Roots of Social Justice and Resistance, led by Drs. Corrie Claiborne (Associate Professor English) and Sinead Younge (Professor of Psychology, Director of the Institute for Social Justice Inquiry and Praxis), will travel to Barbados.
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SMASH and Oprah Winfrey Scholars visit Microsoft Headquarters
On Thursday, February 9, 2023, SMASH and Oprah Winfrey scholars spent the afternoon at Microsoft Headquarters in downtown Atlanta. The scholars were hosted by Director of University Relations and Morehouse alumnus, Kory Hawkins. After touring the facility and maker space labs, students benefited from a panel discussion and reception featuring Microsoft leaders representing a variety of divisions of the company. The session included a special emphasis on careers in engineering and recent advances in technology. Microsoft has supported a number of initiatives of the Andrew Young Center, including the Gloria da Cunha Study Abroad Scholarship and the Prison Education Initiative.
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Morehouse Mental Health Pathways Program
Eight inaugural scholars were selected to participate in the Morehouse College Mental Health Pathways Initiative. The scholars will participate in mental health related internships, an Atlanta University Center mental health campaign and summer retreat. This program is supported by a $100,000 award from the Cigna Foundation.
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February 7, 2023: Mr. Michael Henry, an AYC Study Abroad Ambassador and Higher Education in Prisons Student Ambassador, was selected to provide a response to President Biden’s State of the Union Address (see video here).
February 21, 2023: Listen Out Loud - Speaker Series: Mr. Rodney Spivey-Jones. Panelists included Mr. Calvin Bell III, AYC-HEP Student Ambassador, and Dr. Kipton Jensen.
February 27, 2023: Advocacy Day: Men of Morehouse recently visited the State Capitol to advocate for higher education in prisons and also for the “Ban the Box” campaign. Students and faculty from Morehouse met with Georgia House Representatives.
February 28, 2023: Leadership Workshop: “Self-Care Strategies for Sustainable Leadership: Research-backed Lessons for Leaders” with Dr. Kristin Moody.
February 27 - March 3, 2023: The Andrew Young’s Center’s Office of International Education held a week-long Passport Event, fully funding the passports of 24 students.
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Oprah Winfrey and SMASH Scholars Programs Book Club
The Oprah Winfrey and SMASH Scholars Programs launched their collaborative study experience featuring Ta-Nehisi Coates' book, The Water Dancer. On March 1st, the first session of the book study, led by Professor David Wall Rice, featured a critical review of the book and an opportunity for scholars to understand and discuss the symbolism and key themes of the book. Scholars engaged in a robust discussion of the book that was informed by their experiences and Morehouse coursework.
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Upcoming Events and Opportunities
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March 27, 2023: The LSP will host a faculty roundtable on “The Role of HBCUs: Reconsidering Vincent Harding’s 1970 Ebony Essay, “Toward the Black University” (with Drs. Hewitt, Livingston, and Douglas). 12:30 PM in Massey 442.
Spring Break 2023: Understanding the Gullah Geechee Roots of Social Justice and Resistance. The Institute for Social Justice Inquiry and Praxis, in collaboration with Drs. Samuel Livingston (Africana Studies) and Corrie Claiborne (English), will lead a study abroad experience that explores the connection between South Carolina and Barbados. This unique opportunity will bring together students and faculty from Morehouse College and the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, to explore the connections between Gullah Geechee and Barbadian cultural traditions and contemporary social justice issues such as climate justice and reparations.
March 23-25, 2023: The AYCGL will host a conference at Morehouse College, Beyond the Bars: South. This conference will focus on the relationship between universities or colleges and neighborhoods. Gentrification, income inequality, and mass incarceration have transformed southern cities that are home to leading institutions of higher education. This conference will foster conversations, build relationships, and generate practical solutions for building strong and more resilient communities. To register, click here.
May 15 – 29, 2023: South Africa Social Justice Experience: The Institute for Social Justice Inquiry and Praxis will lead its second study abroad experience to South Africa. This unique experience focuses on culture, politics, and the contemporary social conditions of South Africa with a special emphasis on the social activism of South African youth. Students will have an opportunity to visit Johannesburg, Soweto, Durban, and Cape Town, South Africa.
June 20 - 24, 2023: Morehouse College will be the first historically Black college/university to host the Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA) Biennial Conference. This year’s theme is “Where do we go from here: Dreaming new community futures.” The SCRA Biennial Conference draws together SCRA and other community members from around the world to engage in stimulating conversations about recent developments in community research and action. The conference will provide attendees with a special opportunity to exchange ideas and resources, forge new collaborations, connect with old friends, and deepen knowledge and skills.
Lowery Institute’s Mimi’s Pantry at Morehouse College. The AYCGL is home to Mimi's Pantry (the Lowery Institute’s Morehouse Satellite Pantry) located on the 4th floor of the Massey Leadership Building. The pantry addresses food insecurity for AUC students by providing meals and snacks to community members. The pantry is open from 12:00-2pm and 4:00-5pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of each week. Registration for meals is no longer required and walk-ins are welcome!
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A Note of Gratitude to Our Sponsors
The work of the Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors, including Coca Cola, Bank of America, Ms. Oprah Winfrey and the Oprah Winfrey Foundation, the SMASH Foundation, Delta Airlines, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, the Julian Grace Foundation, Cigna Foundation, and the RAND Corporation. We wish to thank these donors for their sustained support of the AYCGL.
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