911±¬ÁÏ

Mason's annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Evening of Reflection event on Thursday included a discussion between President Gregory Washington and a student panel about the opportunities they have to make changes to improve social justice and equity. Spirit of King award winners were also announced.

Step into a local Total Wine or Whole Foods store and you may be surprised to find 911±¬ÁÏ among the wine bottles on the shelves. Sporting a colonial hat with a modern pair of shades, he’s the face of 911±¬ÁÏ’s private wine label.

MLK Evening of Reflection

Of the more than 4,000 lynchings of Black Americans that took place in the United States between 1865 and 1950, at least 43 cases occurred in Maryland. 911±¬ÁÏ’s John Mitchell Jr. Program (JMJP), housed within the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, has been helping research several of these cases since 2019 to support the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In October, they received news that they will be taking their research to the next level, thanks to a $300,000 Department of Justice grant they helped secure for the commission.

The Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has awarded a $2 million grant to 911±¬ÁÏ to further the advancement of forensic science.

For Nicole Lynn Lewis, Master’s in Public Policy ’06, completing her undergraduate degree as a single mom not only opened doors of opportunity, but symbolized how far she had come despite the challenges involved.

Our ability to manage this crisis is in no small part a credit to the efforts of students, faculty and staff, who have done an extraordinary job of following new safety guidelines. We will continue to update the university community should things change.

Understanding what anti-racism, diversity and inclusion mean for 911±¬ÁÏ was just one of the goals of Monday’s Freedom and Learning forum hosted by President Gregory Washington. Ensuring a common definition of the terms helps create meaningful dialogue, and helps the Mason community understand the work of the Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Task Force.

We have just come through an historic election, which has taught us a great deal about ourselves and our society that we will spend time processing.

Prior to a high stakes election, 911±¬ÁÏ’s campus is normally buzzing with activities, dialogue and events. That’s more of a challenge this year due to COVID-19, but Justin Gest is determined to keep the momentum alive.

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We are halfway through the fall semester, and by all accounts, we have passed one of the biggest hurdles facing universities: 911±¬ÁÏ has successfully reopened our campuses, kept our community safe, and delivered on our educational mission despite the pandemic. This has been challenging work for everyone in our community, and I want to applaud the efforts to make Mason a model for success.