(CHICAGO) – To increase access, retention and graduation rates for students of color at flagship universities in the Great Lakes region, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, with support from the Joyce Foundation, has launched the REASON Project. REASON stands for Recruitment, Equity-in-practice, Accountability, Social-inclusion, Opportunity culture, and Networks, which are all areas of higher education that the project will focus on improving for students of color.
Strategies to increase access and opportunity for students are color are often too generalized and exclude key voices from the conversation, making them ineffective. The REASON Project will bring new stakeholders and voices into the decision process, allowing the coalition to identify new areas for sustainable change and address the root causes and structural barriers to accessing higher education.
The REASON Project will convene a multi-sector group of civil rights, education and advocacy organizations that will engage higher education leaders, policy experts, civil rights allies, student-organizers and more throughout 2021 and 2022 to create new, comprehensive strategies for increasing racial equity at flagship universities in Illinois and Ohio. The project will also raise awareness about promising educational equity state public policy ideas for communities of color.
The Illinois REASON coalition formally launched on June 23, and current has 15 members. The overall goals are:
- Collaborate with university stakeholders to reach a shared understanding of how to build on current commitments to racial equity;
- Raise public awareness of the critical resources available to students and families of color;
- Provide recommendations based on student and alumni feedback on how to enhance diversity and recruitment strategies; and
- Build shared commitments to racial equity between coalition partners and university stakeholders.
“This project is committed to addressing the long-standing structural barriers to accessing higher education for many Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities,” said Ivanley Noisette, legal fellow at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “Our multi-sector coalitions are inclusive and take a holistic, not piecemeal approach, to addressing barriers to higher education. The Illinois coalition is eager to advance greater racial equity and opportunity for communities of color.”
According to a recent report from the Illinois Board of Higher Education, 47% of white adults in the state have post-secondary degrees, but only 29% of Blacks and 20% of Latinx adults have those degrees. Further, Black enrollment in college dropped 34% between 2013 and 2019. Illinois’ public colleges are less likely to retain Black students, retaining only 66% of Black first-year students compared to 85% of white students.
The likely effects of the Education and Workforce Equity Act (HB 2170) in Illinois combined with the REASON Project’s support for local and state organizations, will make higher education accessible for students of color who have previously been excluded, and create greater opportunity. The legislation will make sweeping changes to the state’s prekindergarten to college education system to improve racial equity, including enhanced college and career pathways that aim to provide equitable access to postsecondary opportunities for students of color.
The following are quotes from other organizations in the Illinois coalition:
State Sen. Kimberly Lightford, Illinois Senate Majority Leader: “Our educational institutions need to understand that our Black and Brown students need access to the same opportunities as their white peers. House Bill 2170 worked to ensure that all our students receive the same quality of education, regardless of race, religion, or sex. It also created pathways for projects like the Illinois REASON Coalition to be created, and I am truly thankful for their advocacy and support for the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus’ efforts to end the continuous cycle of oppression and disinvestment in Black and Brown children’s education.”
State Rep. Carol Ammons, chairperson of the Illinois House Democratic Conference: “Following the passage of HB 2170, I knew that any future education legislation would be informed by the Educational Workforce and Equity Act because education is foundational to reaching equality and equity for all. I am thrilled to know that the Illinois REASON Coalition is dedicated to continuing the fight for equity in the classrooms across Illinois.”
Sandra Leconte, education chair, NAACP Illinois State Conference: “The NAACP Illinois State Education Committee fully supports the much-needed racial equity reform in institutions of higher education. Our students of color deserve the right to all resources afforded to other ethnic groups. Education is powerful. To that end, we want our children to emerge powerful global actors on the world’s stage in all areas of teaching and learning.”
Marie Bigham, founder and executive director, Admissions Counselors Cultivating Equity and Peace Today (ACCEPT): “ACCEPT is honored to be a part of REASON, a groundbreaking coalition that will help create a more equitable and just path to college for students throughout Illinois. In working with students, policy makers, and other organizations, we will help the higher education system in the state become more reflective of Illinois’ diverse population.”
Ana Gil Garcia, education committee co-chair, LULAC Illinois: “LULAC recognizes racial disparities, engages the community in advocacy and policy efforts, and empowers stakeholders to challenge equity practices in higher education with sustainable pivot speed. We continue our front-facing commitment to be with decision-makers to secure diverse pathways to higher education for our Latino population to ensure their professional and technical preparation for economic stability. Our vision is for Latinos to create sustainable wealth in their communities and quality of life with strong family values as our population continues to outgrow other demographics.”
Troy Alim, director of engagement for Young Invincibles – Midwest: “Today’s students are more diverse than ever and have redefined what the ‘traditional student’ looks like. Students of color need support that is wide ranging, coordinated, and sensitive to the multiplicity of challenges they face. A quality higher education is still the best way to secure a financially stable future, therefore it is essential that our higher education system is accessible, affordable, and equitable for all students.”
Sameer Gadkaree, senior program officer at the Joyce Foundation: “For two decades, the ranks of students at flagship public universities have become less representative of the nation racially and economically. In particular, these universities have fallen further behind in offering equitable access to Black students. As the country’s leading voice on race and college admissions, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is uniquely positioned to support Illinois advocates, policymakers, and higher education leaders in charting a better course forward.”
Stephanie Schmitz Bechteler, vice president and executive director of the Research and Policy Center, Chicago Urban League: “We are excited to join in coalition with organizations and stakeholders across the state of Illinois in the effort to increase racial diversity, equity and inclusion at our state flagship institutions. This is important for the students, and important for Illinois.”
Cristian Biviano, chair, University of Illinois Latina/Latino Alumni Association (LLAA): “The University of Illinois Latina/Latino Alumni Association is proud to be part of the REASON Project to fight for racial equity at University of Illinois, especially for our Black and Brown students. This partnership directly aligns with our mission to establish, maintain and promote a network for the empowerment and advancement of Latinx alumni, students, faculty and staff at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and within the community at large.”
Find out more about the REASON Project.
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About the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law – The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address racial discrimination. The principal mission of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is to secure, through the rule of law, equal justice for all, particularly in the areas of voting rights, criminal justice, fair housing and community development, economic justice, educational opportunities, and hate crimes. For more information, please visit https://lawyerscommittee.org.
