In this Social Justice Program Spotlight edition, we sit down with Ericka Mack from Fair Fight U, Aiyana Ringo from Unlocked Minds, and Parker Chambers from the Health Advocacy Initiative to unpack what activism looks like on campus and beyond the gates. From the moments that first radicalized them to the initiatives they lead today, our guests reflect on community needs, obstacles in rallying, and the realities of organizing as Black women at an HBCU. Together, we explore how modern activism compares to movements of the past, the impact of technology on advocacy, and the challenges posed by an evolving sociopolitical climate.

The Spelman College Archives, located in Room 200 on the second floor of the Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby, Ed.D. Academic Center, is the official repository for the history of the college. It contains a variety of collections, from the founders' journals to the history of the Glee Club. However, the Spelman Archives' specialty is documenting the lives and experiences of influential Black feminist thinkers, including our very own Dr. Johnetta Betsch Cole, as well as iconic Black feminist writers such as Black lesbian feminist poet mother Audre Lorde and radical Black feminist cultural worker Toni Cade Bambara. In this episode, Archivists Gabrielle and Haven engage in conversation with members of the Spelman Archives team, including Ms. Holly Smith, our college archivist, Ms. Nicole Carr, the Archives administrative assistant, and Sienna Keigwin, a student worker in the Archives. They discuss the legacy of the Spelman Archives and the role they play in centering voices that are often repressed and imagine what the future could look like for archives here and everywhere.

In this special episode, join Jocelyn Baker and Dr. Crosby in a conversation about the future of Forced Migration & Refugee Studies at Spelman.

In conversation about political violence, Black women, and discriminatory narratives perpetuated by hateful figures, our newest FTR explores it all.

In this episode, hosts Makayla Rivera and Jasmine Patrick open up with reflections on the transition of leadership from Dr. Helene Gayle to Interim President Dr. Brewer before diving into an honest conversation about Black women’s leadership. They explore what leadership means, why Black women often carry its weight, and how rest can function as a powerful key to leadership. The hosts unpack Spelman’s unique culture of leadership, from classroom expectations to RSO dynamics, questioning both the pressures and the performance that come with being a leader.

African Diaspora and the World (ADW) is a course that all Spelman students are required to take, yet the experiences that students have with the course vary widely. In this episode, Gabrielle, Denim, and Mari from the Archives team discuss the history of ADW and situate it within the context of the movement of Black studies programs. They discuss student experiences and feedback on their ADW experience, concluding with a radical imagining of what the future of ADW can look like.

In this episode, Host Makayla Rivera alongside Archives Lead Gabrielle and TBR Director Jasmine Patrick explore the historical evolution of Black Americans from commodities under slavery to participants in capitalism, questioning whether true liberation can exist within a system built on exploitation. The group critiques the commodification of "Black Excellence" and the rise of respectability politics, highlighting how elitism and capitalism undermine collective uplift. Ultimately, the episode asks whether freedom lies in reforming the system or building a new one rooted in community and sisterhood. Contributions made by Communications Lead Gabrielle Dandridge

In this episode, host Makayla Rivera (co ‘28) and TBR director Jasmine Patrick (co ‘26) explore the complexities of sisterhood at Spelman College, beginning with a mental check-in post election season.

The two trace the origins and traditions of Spelman, examining how ideals of unity, legacy, and belonging have shaped the student experience. From the symbolism of first-year rituals to questions of imposter syndrome and inclusion, the conversation considers what sisterhood truly means in both historical and contemporary contexts.

The episode concludes with a reflection on how authentic, sustainable sisterhood can be cultivated within TBR and across the wider Spelman community.