Summer Race, Reflection & Discussion Series

Since the June 2015 fatal shooting of nine Black individuals by a white man at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC, the the Center for Race, Ethnicity, & Diversity Education (CREDE) created space for faculty and staff to process and discuss race and racism in response to this tragedy and other acts of racial violence– The Summer Race, Reflection & Discussion Series. The series emerged from a need for colleagues to come together and address the complex issues of race and the pervasive impact of racism within our campus community.

Over the years, the series has grown into a critical professional development opportunity, where participants engage in meaningful and transformative conversations. Held annually in June, the extended lunch-and-learn format features facilitated discussions with prompts designed to foster shared learning, reflection, and a deeper exploration of these complex concepts.

This series is a collaboration between Belk Library, Black Lumen Project, Committee on Elon History and Memory, Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education (CREDE), Office of Inclusive Excellence Education and Development (OIEED), Office Of Leadership and Professional Development (OLPD), and other campus partners.

Summer 2026

Beginning this year and moving forward, we are intentionally aligning the SRRDS with Juneteenth commemoration events to offer an Inclusive Excellence Summer Development Series:

This summer’s theme is American Anniversaries: 250 Years, Over 160 Reasons to Heal.

In recognition of the nation’s 250th anniversary and the 161st anniversary of Juneteenth, this series invites faculty and staff to draw connections between key moments in American history and Elon’s own story through the lens of racial healing. Through dialogue, colleagues will explore what founding principles like freedom, equality, and justice mean to them personally and explore how race and racism have shaped how these ideals are experienced differently across American life.

The Racial Healing Handbook: Practical Activities to Help You Challenge Privilege, Confront Systemic Racism, and Engage in Collective Healing by Anneliese Singh will guide the discussion series on the following dates:

  • Tuesday, June 9; 11:45am-1:30pm; McBride Gathering Space
  • Thursday, June 11; 11:45am-1:30pm; McBride Gathering Space
  • Tuesday, June 16; 11:45am-1:30pm; Lakeside 213/214
  • Thursday, June 18; 11:45am-1:30pm; Lakeside 213/214 (part of Juneteenth Commemoration events)
    • In-Person sessions: lunch opens at 11:45; discussion starts at 12pm
    • Virtual sessions: Zoom room opens at 11:45, discussion starts at 12pm
Past Discussions

For more information contact the Carla Fullwood (cfullwood@elon.edu) or the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education (crede@elon.edu).