Funded by more than $450,000 in recent grants, Roosevelt University will launch and expand three programs that promote equity and inclusion. The generous grants will advance access to education and fair teaching practices on campus and throughout Chicago.
"Roosevelt is grateful for the generosity of these foundations, which all share the University’s values of equity and inclusion,” said Ali Malekzadeh, president of Roosevelt University. “These gifts will make an immediate impact in the lives of our students, as well as the broader community."
With a three-year, $100,000 gift from the Efroymson Family Fund, Roosevelt’s Black Male Leadership Academy will expand its curriculum for African American high school students. In collaboration with the College of Education, the program will prepare aspiring public school teachers to fill a national teacher shortage.
Black Male Leadership Academy participants come from some of Chicago’s most under-resourced communities. During the weeklong Summer Institute, 20–30 students live on Roosevelt’s campus, take courses and explore the city’s cultural institutions. Students continue to meet once a month as they prepare for college.
The Efroymson Family Fund, a donor-advised fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, continues a long legacy of charitable commitment by the Efroymson family in central Indiana. To date, the fund has awarded more than $100 million in grants in central Indiana and beyond.
With a $50,500 grant from the Chicago Community Trust, Roosevelt will develop plans for the Equity Teaching Academy for spring 2021. The program will guide faculty through revising syllabi, curricula and teaching practices to be more inclusive and equitable. The grant will also fund small stipends for faculty and students who participate.
As the region’s community foundation, the Chicago Community Trust unites donors, nonprofits and residents to effect lasting change that moves the entire region forward. Their approach centers on tackling the region’s immediate needs and addressing the root causes of deep-seated issues.
This summer, the University also received a $302,000 grant from the Dempsey J. Travis Foundation for student scholarships. Travis Scholars are chosen for their strong academic achievement, financial need and interest in giving back to their communities. In 2019, the Dempsey Travis Scholarship supported 22 students, 73% of whom are students of color. The scholarship helps remove financial barriers that may prevent students from completing their college education.
Dempsey Travis (BA ’49) was an author, real estate entrepreneur, jazz musician and civil rights pioneer. He attended Roosevelt with Harold Washington, whom he supported in his successful bid for Chicago mayor. Travis received an honorary doctorate from Roosevelt in 2008.