Faculty from the University of Kentucky College of Education’s Education and Civil Rights Initiative in collaboration with the NAACP are participating in the Summit for Civil Rights 2021 — First 100 Days Briefing. The online event is designed to provide U.S. leaders with research and analysis on issues impacting racial justice and economic inequality.

“A president’s first 100 days in office are considered a touchstone — a gauge for the level of impact that will be made. As our leaders create policies surrounding critical issues caused by the pandemic, a battered economy and racial injustices, we are focused on serving as a voice to help inform these approaches,” said Gregory Vincent, executive director of the Education and Civil Rights Initiative, housed within the Department of Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation at the UK College of Education, where Vincent serves as a professor.

The research-focused Education and Civil Rights Initiative was created in collaboration with the NAACP to advance and protect education for all students in preschool through higher education. The initiative focuses on those who are marginalized in the education sector, with particular emphasis on race-based discrimination.

“The University of Kentucky and NAACP joined forces to work with communities and educators to produce the scientific evidence needed to help policy-makers reach decisions and transform lives. As we listen to the needs of students, teachers, families, school leaders and communities, we are committed to moving ideas from academic journals into the national conversation in a variety of ways, including participating in briefings such as the Summit for Civil Rights 2021,” said UK College of Education Dean Julian Vasquez Heilig, who will speak during the briefing.

The event will take place on Zoom starting at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 11. Registration is open for the summit, organized by Building One America, Case Western Reserve University, University of Minnesota Law School Institute on Metropolitan Opportunity and the University of Kentucky College of Education’s Education and Civil Rights Initiative in collaboration with the NAACP.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary nominee Marcia Fudge will serve as the summit’s featured speaker. As a member of Congress, Rep. Fudge introduced the Strength in Diversity Act. She is chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and member of the Committee on Education and Labor. She is joined by a number of national leaders, including U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, incoming chair of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee; NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson; and many more.

For a complete list of presenters, as well as sponsorship information, visit https://summitforcivilrights.org/100Days.