Events and Programs

The Center for Anti-Racism is the centerpiece of the university’s anti-racist work. We host events and programs that align with our mission to support the fight against racism. These opportunities provide space and time for us to spread awareness and engage directly with our community in order to mitigate the impact of racism.

Join us at a future event or program hosted by the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, Advocacy and Leadership. All are welcome to attend.

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Highlights from Past Events

Virtual Panel on Affirmative Action

On Thursday, July 13, 2023, Temple hosted a virtual panel, The Path Forward: Exploring the Impact of the Supreme Court’s Decision on Affirmative Action, with university experts from IDEAL, the Center for Anti-Racism, Undergraduate Admissions and Beasley School of Law, who engaged in a discussion of the Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard and its impact on affirmative action in higher education.

Juneteenth Celebration

On June 19, 2023, the center held an event to celebrate Juneteenth, which commemorates the day, two-and-half years after emancipation, that enslaved persons in Texas received the news.

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Children stand around a table while coloring and writing on paper.

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Children work on an activity during the center’s Juneteenth event.

A young child stands in the front of a room while holding up a white piece of paper with writing on it.

A student at the event holds up the affirmations they wrote.

Adults and children sit in chairs while looking forward.

Participants listening to the Juneteenth speaker.

A young girl sitting amongst her peers is speaking into a microphone.

A local student shares with the group.

A group of children hold up a book in their hands while sitting in chairs.

Children hold up the book they received.

A book is open and held in the lap of a young reader.

A closer look at the book that was used for a Juneteenth activity.

Ideally Speaking: A Conversation With Ibram X. Kendi

On Jan. 31, 2023, the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, Advocacy and Leadership (IDEAL) welcomed Ibram X. Kendi, CLA ’07, ’10, back to the nest for a candid discussion on racism. Timothy Welbeck, the center’s director, moderated the event. Read more about this engaging conversation.

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The stage at the Temple Performing Arts Center shown with two seated men in the middle and two women seated towards the side of the stage.

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IDEAL’s discussion with Kendi was held at the Temple Performing Arts Center.

A speaker at a podium with two men sitting on chairs in the background.

Molefi Kete Asante introduced the evening’s program including a brief biography of Ibram X. Kendi as well as some of his fond memories of Kendi’s time studying at Temple.

Two men face each other while sitting on chairs.

Welbeck and Kendi discussed many issues surrounding the topic of racism.

A man with a pink shirt is shown speaking into a microphone.

Kendi is a scholar, alum and author of the New York Times No. 1 bestseller ‘How to Be an Antiracist’, as well as the director of Boston University’s Center for Antiracist Research.

The event held at Temple’s Performing Arts Center was well attended.

Our Grand Opening

On Nov. 14, 2022, Temple hosted the grand opening of the Center for Anti-Racism. More than 200 people packed the event held at Room 140 in Mazur Hall. Learn more about the event.

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A document surrounded by written signatures sits on a table.

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A look at the anti-racism pledge that attendees were asked to sign at the center’s grand opening.

People are showing standing up and clapping.

Molefi Kete Asante at the grand opening. Asante played a pivotal role in the center’s creation and is the founder of the PhD program in African American Studies at Temple University.

A woman speaks at the front of the room while at a podium.

Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon, Temple professor and chair of the faculty senate, performing at the event.

A man stands at a podium with one hand outstretched and one hand holding a microphone.

State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta giving his remarks.

People in the audience are smiling and taking pictures with their phones.

Audience members capturing memories of the center’s grand opening on their phone.

The back of a man's head is shown while he signs a poster board.

Timothy Welbeck, the inaugural director of the Center for Anti-Racism, signing the pledge.

High School Students Visit the Center

On Sept. 12, 2022, students from Philadelphia High School for Girls and Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, the first visitors to the Center for Anti-Racism, were guests at an advance screening of PBS films highlighting Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman—two towering figures in the struggle to end slavery. The film screenings were sponsored by Temple’s Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, Advocacy and Leadership, also known as IDEAL. Read more about their visit.

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A man at the front of a room, behind a projector, speaks to a group of seated people.

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Timothy Welbeck speaking to the high school students.

People sit in chars and watch a screen at the front of the room.

Attendees watching the documentary films.

A group of about 20 people stand together and pose for a picture.

A group photo of the high school students at the screening.

The Center for Anti-Racism Receives a $1.3 Million Grant

In early 2022, State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta, KLN ’12, awarded Temple University a grant for the construction of the center. Read more about the grant.

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