UC Merced’s Critical Race and Ethnic Studies (CRES) is among 95 programs recognized and supported by the Mellon Foundation in an initiative called Affirming Multivocal Humanities.
CRES will use a $100,000 grant from the foundation to kick-start several student-led activities designed to raise awareness about race, ethnicity and social justice both in the campus community and in the surrounding Merced area.
Activities supported by the grant include forming action groups to promote positive change in the area’s diverse communities, working with local social justice organizations, leading a critical race and ethnic studies club, and starting a student newsletter.
“It's a really wonderful opportunity for us, especially at a place like UC Merced, where the majority of our students are students of color and first-generation students,” Professor Sapana Doshi said. “We will have support for various kinds of outreach activities and be able to pay stipends for students who work with area communities and organizations.”
All students are encouraged to take part; they don’t have to be CRES majors. To express interest, contact CRES.
The Mellon Foundation announced March 27 it was awarding more than $18 million to programs across 66 institutions in the United States. Mellon, the nation’s largest funder of the arts, culture and humanities, is using the Affirming Multivocal Humanities initiative to address the continuing need for nuanced scholarship on the human experience through race, ethnic, gender, and sexuality studies.
Public Information Officer
