The Black Lumen Project
About Black Lumen Project
The Elon University Black Lumen Project: An Equity Initiative works to enhance the Black experience at Elon in pursuit of equity and move the institution further in its commitment to inclusive excellence. It does so by acknowledging and addressing institutional anti-Blackness, which it defines as the systemic marginalization and devaluation of Black people.
The initiative, which began when the Committee on Elon History and Memory joined Universities Studying Slavery (USS) in February 2019, aims to define Black Institution — a culturally-relevant concept of connecting African & African American Studies at Elon (AAASE), Black Student Union, Black Employee Resource Group, Elon Black Alumni Network, Black Life Advisory Council, the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education (CREDE) and other entities to enhance the Black experience at Elon.
The Black Lumen Project maintains a presence on the Committee on Elon History and Memory and Elon’s membership with the national USS consortium, organizes and leads initiatives and events, and prepares an annual report on the Black experience at Elon. Additionally, the BLP works to advance Elon’s diversity, equity and inclusion curricular resources, and works with academic and student life programs and departments to amplify the Black experience across the university.
Latest News
Tours honor freedom and reflection on Black history at Elon University
Members of the Elon University community are invited to commemorate Juneteenth with an in-person or virtual walking tour honoring this significant federal holiday and exploring lesser-known histories of the Black community at Elon.
Elon University to honor Juneteenth with variety of activities
With programs scheduled for June 19 that include a walking tour and a lunch-and-learn, organizers answer questions about the historical roots and impact of a national observance that commemorates the emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans in the United States.
Elon celebrates Juneteenth with tour, discussion
Elon commemorated Juneteenth with a luncheon, Q&A, pop-up exhibit and an in-person or online journey of Black history and achievements at the university.
Freedom Footprints: A Juneteenth journey through Elon’s Black history
Commemorate Juneteenth at Elon through an in-person or online journey of Black history and contemporary achievements at the university.
Center for Design Thinking & campus partners welcome the Elon Community to this Spring’s HealthEU Fair this March 14
In partnership with HealthEU, Inclusive Excellence Education & Development, the Black Lumen Project, and the Division of Student Life, the Center for Design Thinking will host a HealthEU Wellness Fair for Elon students and community members on March 14.
The Black Lumen Project co-sponsors the Educator Summer Collaborative in partnership with the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity & Opportunity
Cherrel Miller Dyce, associate professor of education and executive director of diversity, equity and inclusion at the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education, Ms. Marlene Harrison-Reid, a teacher with Guilford County Schools, and Deanna Townsend-Smith, senior director at the Dudley Flood Center, facilitated this summer experience for participating teachers.
Elon’s Black Lumen Project releases inaugural Black Experience at Elon Report
The report from the university’s Black Lumen Project celebrates the milestones and contributions of Black students, faculty and staff at Elon.
Black Lumen Project, Committee on Elon History and Memory offer ‘celebration and sober reflection’ on Juneteenth
As Elon University prepares for Juneteenth, three faculty members in leadership roles with the Committee on History & Memory and the Black Lumen Project offer this reflection on the holiday, work underway at Elon and work yet to be done to move toward racial equity.
Kimberly Russaw leads Elon community in a reinvestigation of the story of Rahab
Russaw, esteemed theological scholar, lectured to challenge the traditional thinking of a well-known story in the Bible and explored the importance of a woman in the Israelites conquering of Jericho.
Longmire-Avital named inaugural director of Elon’s Black Lumen Project
The psychology faculty member will lead a new equity initiative in support of the Black experience at Elon.