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Background

In July 2020, campus leaders convened in St. Petersburg and Pinellas County to explore collaborations to address inequalities in our city and county. One of the resulting recommendations was to create a Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) Campus Center.  With a planning grant from The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, four institutions including Eckerd College and the Stetson University College of Law began working together in October 2020 toward the goal of launching a collective center. 

Milestones:

  • January – The consortium co-hosted a virtual panel discussion for the St. Petersburg community to consider the role of higher education in promoting racial justice.
  • July – Consortium partners attended the TRHT Summer Institute, hosted by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), resulting in an action plan.
  • September – Higher education institutional leaders met and endorsed the work of a consortium.
  • September 2021 – The consortium launched the Racial Justice Student Fellowship initiative aimed at preparing interested student to engage in the important work of focusing on systemic changes to dismantle racial hierarchies within their institutions, as well as the community at-large.
  • December 2021– AAC&U certified the consortium as an official TRHT center.
  • March 2023 – Eckerd College and Stetson University College of Law rename the consortium, St. Petersburg Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Center in acknowledgment of their commitment to the partnership. 

Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation

TRHT Campus Centers implement visionary action plans with the aim of erasing structural barriers to equal treatment and opportunity on campuses, in our communities, and for our nation around the pillars of the TRHT Framework: narrative change, racial healing and relationship building, separation, law, and economy. 

Learn more about the framework at www.healourcommunities.org.

Goals and Actions

Steering Committee
Dr. Amanda Hagood
Instructor of Animal Studies and Member, Diversity Action Council
Dr. Amanda Hagood
Dr. Beverly Warren
Executive Director of Inclusive Excellence
Dr. Beverly Warren
Dr. Erika Spohrer
Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Member, Diversity Action Council
Dr. Erika Spohrer
Robbyn Hopewell
Assistant Vice President of Media Relations
Robbyn Hopewell
Carmen Johnson
Executive Officer for Diversity, Collaboration & Inclusion
Carmen Johnson
Judith Scully
Professor of Law, Founder & Co-Coordinator of the Social Justice Advocacy Program
Judith Scully

Community Partners
Caryn Nesmith
CarynNesmith

ST. PETE TRHT is interested in forming partnerships with organizations and individuals who are working on racial equity issues and desire to impact future racial justice leaders and higher education administration, faculty and staff.  Being a partner with ST. PETE TRHT means that you are willing to invest time, energy and/or other resources to help us achieve our mission.  To become a partner, please contact us.