Temple University flag/Photo Courtesy of Twitter
Temple University has received a $1.3 million grant from Pennsylvania Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta. The funds will help build a Center for Anti-Racism Research building at the Philadelphia university and “upgrade” the college’s Department of Africology and African American Studies, the Philadelphia Tribune reported.
According to the Philadelphia Tribune, construction for the new building will kick off this week. Once complete, the Center for Anti-Racism Research will allow psychology, urban education and political science professors to discuss social issues and host workshops.
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“Racism remains a threat to our country and our society, so the funds made available to Temple University’s Anti-Racism Center and to upgrade its Africology/African American Studies Department are a valuable investment in the future of Temple University and its impact on the larger community,” Kenyatta reportedly said about the large grant, adding that he’s “very pleased to see this grant money being used for two areas that are crucial to our community.”
Kenyatta also set aside a multi-million dollar grant for a grocery store development plan in North Philadelphia.
Molefi Kete Asante, chair of the Department of Africology and African American Studies at Temple University, also understands the impactful benefit of the center, reportedly commenting on the project, “It moves the university into the appropriate space of being the leader in terms of issues and questions of human rights, and the Department of Africology and African American Studies is extremely pleased to see this gratifying response from the commonwealth.”
“After the murder of George Floyd, I personally wrote a letter to President Englert encouraging him to take on some initiatives that I had in my mind,” the professor added. “One of the initiatives was to create the Center for Anti-Racism Research. He would add some other ideas in terms of bridges to the community programs. But we also have to give credit to him for being open to the idea in his last year as president of Temple University.”
The center is expected to be finished by spring 2022.