Cynthia Neal Spence, Ph.D., C’78, associate professor of sociology and director of the Spelman’s
Social Justice Fellows Program participated in a convening of 20 international representatives from higher education, government, youth organizations and philanthropic communities at the Rockefeller Foundation Center in Bellagio, Italy, over the summer. The invitation-only meeting was convened to engage global discussions on how to prepare Cohort 2030 – a new term referring to young adults born after 1980 – to become equity, peace and social justice leaders.
Dr. Spence’s presentation, "Activating Historically Black Colleges and Universities as hubs to demand justice and equity,” highlighted Spelman’s social justice living and learning community model. “I was able to share the work of the Social Justice Program as a site for developing the next generation of justice, equity and fairness leaders,” she said. “It was fitting for me to discuss how our program prepares students to merge their intellectual interests with their social justice passions.”