Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation

Across the country, people are horrified by the recent taking of three more Black lives: Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd. President Zak’s message on May 29, 2020, echoed that outrage, not just about these killings but also about all the other Black lives lost while in police custody.

This page is dedicated to all those who have lost their lives. This page is a call to action.

In order to address, fix, and eliminate the systems that enable acts of racial prejudice, we must all take action. In winter 2019, Agnes Scott College was selected by the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) as one of 24 universities to host Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) campus centers across the United States in a national effort to eradicate racial hierarchies and eliminate social inequities.

As a THRT campus, the college partners with local and community groups as well as the campus community in projects that advance transformational racial change, promote racial healing and erase structural barriers to equity and equal opportunity. The taking of more Black lives and the resulting national outrage have lent a new sense of urgency to this work. Thus, we recommit ourselves to ensuring that our policies and actions align with our values. We recommit to leaving no one behind.

Get connected and lead in the fight against racism!

United We Are Stronger

Ongoing Programs and Action

• Use and amplify our signature programs, like the Heritage Month Celebrations, #Culture365, Courageous Conversations and InFocus, to embed anti-racism training, education, and action into the fabric of our campus culture.
• Request training for your department.
• Sign-up for our monthly (July to November) anti-racism training and roundtables. Space is limited to 20 individuals per session. Registration information coming soon.
• Collaborate with our TRHT planning team and Rx Healing Circles to execute our TRHT action plan to forge communitywide collaboration, opportunities and resources for racial transformation. This includes intentionally engaging community partners and local establishments to better support our students. To get more information on how to get involved, please email diversity@agnesscott.edu.
• Intentionally support all college divisions to develop strategic actions that promote equity.
• Implement recommendations of the Diversity and Inclusion Climate Audit.
• Check out this list to take action for Black lives.
• Petition for a hate crimes bill to be enacted as a Georgia law.
• Take a FREE online anti-racism training available until June 30 (Institute of El Paso).

Previous Events

To bridge the college’s mission of “engaging the social and intellectual challenges of our times” and the work of a TRHT campus, we launched the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Courageous Conversation Series. These discussions engaged campus and community leaders — across racial lines — on race and racism.

• Watch the full recording for the "Anti-Racist Work Begins at Home: A Teach-In for Allies" webinar. 
• Watch the full recording for the "Local Leaders Take Action to Combat Racism" webinar.
• Watch the full recording for the "Tackling Social Injustice: Strategies for Action" webinar.
• Watch the full recording for the "Leadership and Racial Activism: Perspectives from ASC Executives" featuring Agnes Scott leaders:
  • Dr. Yves-Rose Porcena, vice president for equity and inclusion
  • Dr. Karen Goff, vice president for student affairs and dean of students
  • Danita Knight, vice president for communications and marketing
  • Dr. Robiaun Charles, vice president for college advancement