Conner receives Pitt Momentum Funds

Dr. Kya Conner, Director of the Center on Race and Social Problems and Associate Dean for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, was awarded a Teaming Award from the University of Pittsburgh through the Momentum Funds initiative to support the project entitled "Creating Synergies and Collaborations to Advance Race-Based Research at the University of Pittsburgh."  This project leverages Directors/Associate Directors of the six research centers with a racial equity lens across the University of Pittsburgh to engage in strategic planning and visioning, research team development, and the development of a race-related research database with the Center on Race and Social Problems in the School of Social Work as the lead. One of the objectives of this project is to create a localized repository of race-related research and scholarship that will further amplify the work of local race-based research and create meaningful connections to community partners and external racial equity scholars. This work has the potential to empower communities to participate in the research process and have a voice in shaping the solutions to their own challenges, generate new knowledge and insights that challenge dominant narratives and assumptions and inform policy and practice that are more responsive to the needs and interests of diverse populations. The ultimate goal of this project is to better position the University of Pittsburgh as an epicenter for racial equity research. Co-investigators include Mr. Ron Idoko (School of Social Work and Fredericks Honors College), Dr. Catherine Koverola (Center for African Studies), Dr. Tiffany Gary-Webb (Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health), Dr. Gabby Yearwood (Department of Anthropology), Dr. Zuly Inirio (Center for Ethnic Studies), Dr. T. Elon Dancy (School of Education) and Dr. Felix Germain (Department of Africana Studies). Read more.