Professor Courtney Mauldin is a co-investigator on a new Syracuse University research project that is one of nine that study issues contributing to or helping alleviate the racial wealth gap in the United States.
The awards are funded by a MetLife Foundation grant that supports research and community programming over three years to examine the racial wealth gap’s root causes and ideas that may resolve its economic and social inequalities, says Kendall Phillips, Lender Center interim director. The awards are part of the Lender Center for Social Justice initiative led by the Office of Strategic Initiatives.
The racial wealth gap is an ongoing issue that undermines potential economic and social progress and opportunities for members of underserved and underrepresented communities, according to Kira Reed, Lender Center senior research associate and associate professor in the Whitman School of Management.
“These research projects are noteworthy because of their unique courses of inquiry, their highly inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional nature and their close engagements with Syracuse community members and organizations,” says Phillips.
“Syracuse Futures” looks at Syracuse’s arts and humanities infrastructure and how universities and community organizations can partner in offering arts and humanities programming and college and career support to historically marginalized communities. Led by the College of Arts and Sciences’ Engaged Humanities Network, the effort involves multiple South Side organizations. Principal investigator is Brice Nordquist, Associate Professor and Dean’s Professor of Community Engagement, College of Arts and Sciences. Joining Mauldin and investigator is Rochelle Royster, Assistant Professor of Art Therapy, College of Visual and Performing Arts.