Racial Justice Initiative

Dr. Yohuru Williams sitting in a theater

Racial Justice Initiative

In keeping with our Catholic mission to uphold the dignity of every human person and to advance the common good, St. Thomas launched the Racial Justice Initiative in June 2020 to help drive meaningful reform and change.

The initiative is led by Founding Director Dr. Yohuru Williams, distinguished university chair and professor of history, and focuses on supporting racial justice education, facilitating research, exploring community partnerships, and encouraging dialogue and critical conversations.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

"Paradox" Preview with Dr. Williams

Wednesday, September 17, 2025
11:30-1:00 p.m.
O'Shaughnessy Educational Center Auditorium, ��ǹٷ��ҳ. Thomas, St. Paul Campus

Dr. Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative (RJI) at UST, will lead a preview and discussion of Paradox, a documentary produced in partnership with Twin Cities Public Television and scheduled to air on October 22. Based on several years of archival research and oral interviews, the film explores policing in Minneapolis as it evolved in the decades prior to George Floyd's death in May 2020. Dr. Williams will introduce the film and its relationship to the RJI's mission and ongoing work, reflecting on the state of civil rights in our local community and national context six decades after the passage of the Voting Rights Act.

Reconciling Racial Property Covenants

Thursday, Oct. 2
4–6 p.m.
Iversen Center for Faith, ��ǹٷ��ҳ. Thomas, St. Paul Campus

Dr. Williams, along with the Mapping Prejudice Project and real estate experts, explore the history and ongoing impact of restrictive racial covenants in the Twin Cities — and discussing paths toward repair.

The event is FREE, but space is limited.

2 hours real estate CE credit pending.

"Paradox" Premiere

Thursday, October 16
Time and place TBD

Registration link coming soon!

The much-anticipated premiere of the Paradox documentary produced by Twin Cities Public Television exploring the history of policing in Minneapolis based on years of research from Dr. Williams.

MasterClass: Deep Waters, Good Soil

Tuesday, October 7
Noon-1pm
Virtual Education Session

"Deep Waters, Good Soil: Lessons in Repair, Resilience, and Staying the Course”
with Dr. Yohuru Williams

In a time of mounting resistance to truth-telling, repair work, and equity, how do we remain rooted—and fluid? Join historian Dr. Yohuru Williams for a dynamic Fall Master Class exploring sustainability in the long struggle for justice. Using the rich metaphors of water and soil repair and drawing from the Civil Rights Movement and Black historical traditions, Dr. Williams will unpack five foundational principles of “soil repair” as a framework for long-term engagement and restoration.

This one-hour session invites participants to reflect on the historical conditions that both nourished and threatened movements for justice—and how we can carry that wisdom forward. The conversation sets the stage for deeper community reflection in October during the Twin Cities premiere of This Is Water by Rain Perry, a powerful new solo show examining race, memory, and moral responsibility in America.

AfterClass: "This is Water" Performance

Wednesday, October 22
6pm
Capri Theatre

Registration link coming soon!

AfterClass continues the theme of water and renewal from our October 7th MasterClasswater. Conversation and refreshments with Dr. Yohuru Williams and playwright Rain Perry to follow.

"This Is Water" is a solo show by award-winning musician and playwright Rain Perry that uses her own family’s story as an entry point into a deeper exploration of America’s complex history with racism and racial inequality. Premiering to acclaim at the 2025 Hollywood Fringe Festival, the play blends personal narrative, archival photographs, carefully researched historical documents, and original music to create a work that is at once humorous, heartfelt, and candid. In tracing her own journey toward greater awareness and responsibility, Perry offers a timely reflection on how personal history and national history intertwine—and how understanding both can shape a more just future.

Recent News

Dr. Williams will be appearing in a docuseries on the History Channel titled , which premieres on May 26.
Dr. Williams is featured in the ." This captivating series takes listeners on an intimate journey into Minnesota’s past through the experiences of Harry and Clementine Robinson.
Dr. Williams' co-authored book,"" is now available and ranked #1 on Amazon for teens and young adults.

The civil unrest in Spring 2020 in the United States has laid bare the stark reality of systemic racism. Across the country, people are signaling a new urgency to confronting the racial inequality that exists in our communities.

The Racial Justice Initiative will work collaboratively with individuals and organizations already engaged in the essential work of helping to reimagine a future for the Twin Cities free from racial disparities. The work of the initiative will be shared widely and aspires to be a model for how other communities begin these efforts.

screenshot from the video showing yohuru williams speaking

About the Racial Justice Initiative

Hear Dr. Williams share his vision for the St. Thomas Racial Justice Initiative and the process of historical recovery.

Dr. Yohuru Williams speaking on a panel at Guthrie Theater

Racial Justice MasterClass

For corporations that want to continue the historical recovery journey, the Racial Justice MasterClass is a unique program to help organizations advance their work in diversity, equity and inclusion and move toward racial justice. The MasterClass will include three educational and inspiring events that will propel you to think differently and make a greater impact in our community.

Mission Statement

Designed to inspire change through the lens of historical recovery, the Racial Justice Initiative works collaboratively with individuals and organizations to create knowledge of the racial history of the United States. The initiative champions partnership as fundamental to sustaining the pursuit of lasting change. It seeks to empower young voices and be a leader of Black history in the Twin Cities and beyond.

10-Year Vision

Our 10-year vision is centered on four interrelated goals:

To create new pathways for student engagement (through scholarships, internships, and sponsored programming) on issues of racial justice and equity.
To develop, promote and support scholarships related to racial injustice that impacts and supports the work of community organizations involved in the same work.
To establish St. Thomas as one of the premiere spaces for conversations around racial justice both locally and nationally.
To inspire systemic change consistent with the mission of the university and its catholic identity through scholarship and corporate and community engagement that focuses on eradicating racial injustice.

Historical Recovery as a Pathway to Justice

For racial justice to truly take hold, we must first understand the historical roots of the injustices that have contributed to the present moment. Historical recovery works to illuminate the underpinnings of racism and offer insight into new interventions aimed at dismantling harmful systems. The Racial Justice Initiative is centered on the process of historical recovery as a foundational step to making change and eradicating barriers.

Funding Priorities

A variety of funding opportunities are available for individuals and organizations who want to advance the mission of the Racial Justice Initiative. Funding can help support an endowed chair for racial justice at St. Thomas, student research and community engagement opportunities, faculty research, as well as the "Overpoliced and Under-Protected" research and documentary project.

Funding Priorities

"With the moment in front of us now, there is a tremendous opportunity to see the Twin Cities as a laboratory for change. Here in Minnesota, if we can think creatively, engage broadly, and partner with humility concerning the work we must all do together, we can make a big impact.”

Dr. Yohuru Williams

The Work of the Racial Justice Initiative

Through the lens of historical recovery, Dr. Williams provides consulting, workshops, executive leadership education and coaching, and long-term partnerships to corporations locally and around the country.

We are proud to partner with community organizations to make meaningful change. Our work includes educational presentations, keynote appearances, and offerings to local community groups related to the mission of RJI. We remain committed to establishing and maintaining relationships with those doing work in the community.

"Overpoliced and Underprotected" research project and "Policing MSP" documentary

This expansive research and documentary project creates student experiential opportunities, supports scholarship of local and national history, generates new findings to educate the community, and generates collaboration with external partners to make an impact.

Through history lessons, engaging conversations, panel discussions, and partnerships with the arts, our MasterClass series aims to educate corporate and non-profit groups as well as individuals on the history of systemic racism in the United States and discuss ways to take action to help dismantle systemic racism.

Dr. Williams regularly appears and presents across all media platforms as an expert on history and racial justice.

Testimonials

"Thank you, Dr. Yohuru Williams, for your amazing gift of teaching historical and contemporary black history to our Delta Dental of MN team members! Your presentations are bar none and we are excited for the continued partnership and learning journey!"

– Kathie Eiland-Madison, Chief Engagement and Inclusion Officer, Delta Dental

"Watch any high-end historical documentary and you’ll see Dr. Williams of the ��ǹٷ��ҳ. Thomas as he is THE go-to voice on American history. I was blessed to first connect with Dr. Williams in 2019 and remain in awe of him and his work.

"Yohuru is a phenomenal speaker with the ability to simultaneously educate and uplift. Yohuru leads with love and compassion. Yohuru, THANK YOU, for your strength, patience, and for leading the way in our community. I deeply admire your critical thinking process and am thankful for your friendship."

– Cory Hepola, Vice President of Communications, Growth, and Strategy at The Brookshire Co., TV anchor, host, and documentarian

Contact Us

Please contact us to learn more about how to get involved with the Racial Justice Initiative including sponsorships and customized engagements:

Sara Cotter
Director of External Relations

St. Thomas now offers a Master of Arts in Diversity Leadership. This interdisciplinary program grounds leadership training in culture and inclusion in a way that no other program does. For leaders seeking to effectively implement DEI strategies in their organizations and communities, the MA in Diversity Leadership provides a flexible two-year degree that will build on your enthusiasm and vision for diversity and racial justice.

News from the Racial Justice Initiative

May 24, 2025

As America reflects on the fifth anniversary from the date of George Floyd’s murder, Dr. Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the ��ǹٷ��ҳ. Thomas, has appeared with multiple media outlets discussing the implications from the history of police brutality and racism in the U.S. to where we go from… The post In the News: Dr. Yohuru Williams on Five Years After George Floyd's Death appeared first on Newsroom | ��ǹٷ��ҳ. Thomas.

May 24, 2025

Dr. Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the ��ǹٷ��ҳ. Thomas, is featured in Kevin Costner’s The West, an eight-part docuseries that premiered May 26 on the History Channel. Executive produced by actor Kevin Costner and Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, The West explores the contested and complex history… The post Dr. Yohuru Williams Featured in New History Channel Docuseries by Kevin Costner appeared first on Newsroom | ��ǹٷ��ҳ. Thomas.
May 14, 2025

Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the ��ǹٷ��ҳ. Thomas, spoke to MPR News on racial changes in Minnesota, looking at the last five years since the death of George Floyd. He was joined by Kiana Cox, a senior researcher at the Pew Research Center who authored a recent study… The post In the News: Yohuru Williams on Minnesota Five Years After George Floyd's Death appeared first on Newsroom | ��ǹٷ��ҳ. Thomas.
March 25, 2025

Dr. Yohuru Williams, the founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the ��ǹٷ��ҳ. Thomas, recently joined PBS’ “Almanac” to discuss the Minneapolis Police Department’s pending federal consent decree, which is on hold another 30 days after a federal judge granted the extension requested by the Trump administration. From the interview: Host: Is there… The post In the News: Yohuru Williams on MPD Consent Decrees appeared first on Newsroom | ��ǹٷ��ҳ. Thomas.
March 5, 2025

The Distinguished University Chair, Professor of History, and Founding Director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the ��ǹٷ��ҳ. Thomas, Dr. Yohuru Williams, recently weighed in on the importance of Black History Month in the Minnesota Star Tribune. In the article, Williams reflects on the origins of the observance, which began as Black History… The post In the News: Dr. Yohuru Williams Explains Origins of Black History Month appeared first on Newsroom | ��ǹٷ��ҳ. Thomas.

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