As the world turned its attention to the shooting death of Michael Brown and the ensuing civil protest and unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, all institutions of higher learning should be asking the question as to what is their social and moral responsibility in the shaping of their communities.
Harris-Stowe State University has been in the forefront in its commitment to this region. As it relates to the events unfolding in Ferguson, individually and collectively, the Harris-Stowe campus community – faculty, staff and students – have been actively involved in ground zero activities. As president of Harris-Stowe, I have personally provided leadership and have committed Harris-Stowe’s campus as an intellectual think-tank to critically analyze these pertinent issues and to draft a set of workable solutions that can positively impact our communities.
Harris-Stowe, in partnership with the NAACP Statewide Youth and College Division, hosted a panel discussion with youth leaders that was attended by more than 400 high school and college students. Rev. Jesse Jackson and Judge Greg Mathis shared thoughtful insights that were well received by participants. A few days later, Harris-Stowe hosted an educational summit, “A Community in Turmoil: How did we get here and how do we break the cycle?” The summit brought hundreds of individuals from diverse backgrounds, along with local and national leaders, to discuss and craft workable solutions.
Harris-Stowe also hosted the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education professional workshop for counselors and other key personnel in the Ferguson-Florissant School District to equip them to effectively work with the students impacted by the tragedy. Additionally, Harris-Stowe partnered with Radio One and presented a regional and national educational summit that targeted youths between the ages of 16-25 to address issues that confront this group.
Historically, Harris-Stowe has been the educational leader in community engagement, social justice and equality. Harris-Stowe is also the institutional leader in the region that enrolls many individuals who are the first in their family to attend college. They graduate and go on to become our region’s most productive business and civic leaders, attorneys and educators. In fact, Harris-Stowe is ranked as one of the top degree producers for African-Americans in Missouri and ranked number one for producing African-Americans in mathematics out of 34 Missouri institutions.
As an aside, Harris-Stowe enrolls graduates of Normandy High School, the school that Michael Brown graduated from.
As an urban institution, Harris-Stowe is committed to the needs of the community. This is evident through numerous activities that Harris-Stowe promotes on its campus. The Harris-Stowe tax clinic provides free tax services for low-income residents yielding thousands of dollars in refunds and savings in filing costs. One of the largest public jobs fairs in the St. Louis region through Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay Office is held at Harris-Stowe. Hundreds of immigrants become naturalized citizens at Harris-Stowe through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Various town hall meetings on issues that confront our community are sponsored by Harris-Stowe. Events this semester include Constitution Day on September 17, with the topic “The First Amendment and the Right to Protest”; the 60th anniversary year of the Brown Decision and its implications for St. Louis, to be held October 23; and the Black Leadership Roundtable Symposium, Improving Educational Outcomes: The Road to Economic Empowerment and Better Health to be held November 15.
Harris-Stowe specializes in tackling the various educational, political and economic challenges that face our region and turn them into opportunities for a greater good. St. Louis continuously counts on Harris-Stowe and trust that we have the intellectual capacity to address issues such as the Michael Brown tragedy. We have not and will not let the St. Louis community down.
Dr. Dwaun Warmack is president of Harris-Stowe State University.
