Page 15 - Florida Sentinel 10-26-20

Feature
Project RISES Research Grant To Address Racism In School Suspensions
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
The University of South Florida has allocated $500,000 for a research proj- ects. Project RISES (Racism In School Exclusionary Suspensions) is designed to address systemic racism in school sus- pensions.
Brenda L. Walker, Ph.D., J. D.,
Interim Associate Dean, USF College of Arts and Sciences, says Project RISES was established after the murder of George Floyd and others.
“Project RISES honors the voices of African American students, families and community memebers to address school suspension and exclusionary practices,” she said.
There will be surveys conducted with African American students, parents, community members, principals and teachers. The information gathered will be shared with others. As incentives,
BRENDA L. WALKER, Ph.D., J. D. Interim Associate Dean,
USF College of Arts and Sciences
each participant will receive a $25 gift card.
DR. SAMUEL L. WRIGHT, SR. ...Community Liaison, Consultant
Project RISES is partnered with Allen Temple A. M. E. Church, the CDC of Tampa, and Hillsborough County Branch
NAACP to ensure that participants have access to the technology needed for the virtual study, which begins this month (October).
Dr. Samuel L. Wright, Sr., said, “I am honored to capitalize on my com- munity relationship to serve Project RISES as Community Liaison and Con- sultant.”
Others who will contribute to the out- come of the project include: Dr. Dana Thompson Dorsey, Dr. Saundra Johnson Austin, Rev. Dr. Glenn Dames, Dr. Gwen Webb and Mar- quis Holley.
African American middle and high school males and females, who received more than one out-of-school suspension between the dates of August, 2018 and September, 2020 are being recruited to participate in this project. Additional in- formation on how to get involved will be forthcoming.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2020 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 3-B