Historians respond to 100+ racist Southern memorials coming down
Since the May 25 murder of George Floyd, hundreds of memorials to racism and white supremacy have been removed across the country. These removals, whether by protesters or by government or educational entities, have been fought for by organizers and activists for...
The Deep Work in Engaging Voters – Interview with Wesley Morris
Wesley Morris, SVA's Director of Frontline Fund Programs and Strategies and Pastor of Greensboro's Faith Community Church, was featured in the Pickin' For Progress video series. "You can't really truly lead when you haven't honestly taken a full account of a real...
COVID Community Response Grants: Over 250 Grantees (and Counting)
Over the past 6 months, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted our real lack of public infrastructure capable of prioritizing human needs over profit. As hundreds of thousands of people face uncertainty, we are relying on the resilience of the human spirit to care for...
“Light in the darkness of racial hatred”: Jacksonville topples Confederate bigotry
On June 9, following years of community activism and pressure, Jacksonville officials finally took down the Confederate monument that had stood in the city’s Hemming Park for 122 years. Additionally, Mayor Lenny Curry pledged to remove the city’s other 10 Confederate...
“A rallying point for Confederate agitators”: Students’ fight to topple racism at the University of Mississippi
On July 14, after standing for 114 years as a rallying point for racist hatred, the Confederate monument in the middle of the University of Mississippi’s campus was taken down and relocated. Students Against Social Injustice (SASI) had been advocating for the statue’s...
“Never stop applying pressure”: Toppling racism in the Atlanta suburbs
On the eve of Juneteenth, the 112-year-old DeKalb County Confederate monument in Decatur, Georgia, was removed following an order from DeKalb County Judge Clarence Seeliger. This marks a major victory for the Beacon Hill Black Alliance for Human Rights, who have...
Defund police—and fund public services
On Juneteenth, public sector workers from UE Local 150 joined rolling protests in Durham, NC, with a “Workers Rally for Black Lives.” The workers, who’ve long advocated for investment in public services, challenged Durham City Council on its priorities; on June...
Two Pandemics: A Spotlight on Sponsored Projects
We are in the midst of two interrelated pandemics—COVID-19 and white supremacy —that are causing devastation in communities across this country and the world. In the South, the impacts of these two pandemics are particularly acute—especially for Black, Latinx, and...
Mapping Racist Memorials Removed in the South Since the Murder of George Floyd
---- Following the May 25 murder of George Floyd, millions across the US and the world have risen up to defend Black lives and dismantle white supremacy. One immediate outcome: the removal of dozens of memorials to white supremacy, particularly in the South. To track...
Letter from Sponsored Project Team
How will we push ourselves to build the movements we need AND increase time for rest, collective care, and prioritizing our health? How can we do this and increase our discipline, respect, and accountability to each other?