LaFayette-based nonprofit Unite is expanding its footprint nationally, thanks to a $3.9-million federal grant.
Unite will use the grant to start the Unite HBCU Civil Discourse & Freedom Institute, which is a national initiative designed to strengthen civil discourse, democratic engagement and constructive dialogue across all Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), according to a Facebook post from Unite.
According to the post, the institute will expand civil discourse
infrastructure and civic engagement across all of the HBCUs in the country with a National HBCU Civil Discourse Speakers’ Bureau, delivering large-scale civil discourse training, supporting endowed visiting professors and convening leaders annually for a Civil Discourse Conference in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Travis Smith, executive director of Unite, said Unite is finalizing a partnership at one HBCU to hire two faculty members who will serve as endowed professors and do national work with the institute through research and speaking engagements, learning labs and workshops across the country. As part of the Speakers’ Bureau, students and other individuals from across the HBCUs will be trained, equipping them with the necessary skills to go out and train other students and their community about civic engagement. Smith notes students will be trained on how to get people registered to vote and involved in their local politics. The institute will also start a fellowship program for HBCU students, so they can go back to their campuses and do events centered on civic engagement.
