South SFV Today

The Institute for Advancing Just Societies at Stanford University held an event on October 15, 2024, to introduce its first cohort of fellows and outline its vision and upcoming programs. The event took place at the Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center, with Stanford President Jonathan Levin acknowledging the efforts that brought the institute to fruition since its conception in 2020.

Levin expressed enthusiasm for the institute's interdisciplinary approach and its ambition to create impactful partnerships beyond academia. "The approach this institute has taken is particularly exciting because it envisions an opportunity to have faculty from many different disciplines be part of the efforts here," Levin said.

Debra Satz, Dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences, highlighted the importance of addressing global challenges such as climate change, war, migration, poverty, and inequality through a focus on race and difference. "Living together as equals is an aspiration that still needs to be made real," Satz stated.

The institute aims to connect research on race and ethnicity with communities and elevate researchers' work across Stanford. Tomás R. Jiménez, co-director of the institute, emphasized the importance of focusing on solutions alongside diagnosing inequities in social sciences. "What we want to amplify is not only the diagnostics but also the solutions," Jiménez noted.

Brian S. Lowery, co-director alongside Jiménez, spoke about building infrastructure to support research aligned with the institute's mission. During discussions at the event, Michelle Wilde Anderson explored ways to address issues like Jackson's water system crisis with Charles V. Taylor Jr., executive director of the Mississippi State Conference NAACP.

Dr. Alyce Adams collaborated with Juanita Waugh from Black Ladies Advocating for Cancer Care to reduce cancer burdens for Black women by involving patients in research decisions. Adams described their research process as "iterative" and "bidirectional."

Jory Steele announced a collaboration with Moira Shourie from Zócalo Public Square for a nationwide conversation exploring America's future concerning race and ethnicity through art and public programs. "We wondered how can we harness the power of art to bring about new ways of thinking about an essential question: What will become of us?" Shourie said.

Stanford remains committed to diversity despite cultural headwinds against such initiatives. Jiménez remarked that while other universities may retreat from diversity efforts, Stanford continues its commitment unabatedly.

The Institute for Advancing Just Societies was established in December 2022 with a mission to develop practical solutions addressing racial and ethnic injustice globally by leveraging Stanford's academic resources and external partnerships.