The Mellon Foundation has awarded a transformative $1 million grant to Lincoln University to support a new interdisciplinary initiative centered on Black freedom movements. This funding will enable Lincoln to make crucial faculty hires, expand student engagement opportunities, and preserve its rich archival history related to Black freedom movement studies.

The initiative will equip students to study, engage, and actively participate in Black freedom movements, building on Lincoln’s legacy of leadership and activism. It responds to a call to action from Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II, who received an honorary doctorate from Lincoln in February of 2024. During his address, Rev. Barber urged the community to “know history, face history, and make history.” His words echoed the activism of Lincoln’s own “Freedom Fourteen”—students who, just last year, marched 66 miles to the State Capitol to secure crucial funding for the University. This initiative honors that legacy and empowers students to pursue justice and social change.

“At Lincoln, we have a proud history of fostering leadership and activism through education,” said Dr. Brenda A. Allen, President of Lincoln University. “This initiative reflects our commitment to teaching history and actively engaging students in making it. By broadening our interdisciplinary approach and providing hands-on opportunities, we’re preparing the next generation of leaders to continue the fight for justice.”

The Mellon grant will support the recruitment of two new faculty members specializing in Black freedom movements, with expertise in African American art, music, and literature. These hires will strengthen Lincoln’s offerings in Black history, culture, and activism. New courses, including a fall seminar on Black freedom movements and focused spring seminars, will deepen students’ understanding of historical movements such as abolitionism and protest music. A Visiting Scholars Program will bring leading experts to Lincoln to enrich the academic experience.

Student engagement is central to the initiative, with paid internships at organizations like the Equal Justice Initiative and Southern Poverty Law Center. Annual heritage tours will take students to significant sites like the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. These immersive experiences will deepen their understanding of ongoing struggles for racial justice.

The initiative will also establish the Lincoln Freedom Award, recognizing contemporary leaders in Black freedom movements, who will deliver lectures to inspire and educate students.

The Mellon grant will also fund the restoration and preservation of Lincoln’s archival materials documenting its historical role in Black activism. These archives will be curated and made accessible to students, scholars, and the public, ensuring that Lincoln’s contributions to Black freedom movements remain a vital resource for future generations.

With Mellon Foundation support, Lincoln will expand its academic and extracurricular offerings, creating a sustainable program that intellectually and practically engages students in Black freedom movements. This initiative will shape the next generation of social justice leaders and keep Lincoln at the forefront of the fight for equality.

“Through this initiative, Lincoln University will continue to be a beacon for social justice education,” said Dr. Allen. “We are excited to offer our students the opportunity to engage deeply with the history and ongoing work of Black freedom movements, equipping them with the tools to lead and effect change in their communities and beyond.”