National Economic Association to Present Samuel Z. Westerfield Award to Dr. James B. Stewart

The National Economic Association (NEA) will present the 2023 Samuel Z. Westerfield Award to Dr. James B. Stewart, a Senior Fellow at the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy at the New School and inaugural Director of the Black Economic Research Center for the 21st Century. Dr. Stewart spent most of his professional career at Penn State University (PSU) and in 2009 retired with the rank of Professor Emeritus after 29 years. He is also a past NEA President.

The award will be given at the Samuel Z. Westerfield Award luncheon on January 7, 2023, at the New Orleans Hilton Riverside Hotel in conjunction with the NEA Annual and Allied Social Sciences Association (ASSA) meetings. The luncheon will draw top leaders and thinkers from the world of economics, especially the African American community.

The Westerfield Award, one of the most coveted awards presented by NEA, acknowledges outstanding achievements in the field of economics by African American scholars. It is presented tri-annually to a Black economist in recognition of their distinguished service, excellent scholarship, and accomplishments in the field.

A Notre Dame alumnus, Dr. Stewart was the former Vice Provost for Educational Equity at PSU. He coordinated the development of Penn State’s first Diversity Strategic plan, entitled “A Framework to Foster Diversity at Penn State: 1998-2003.” This plan has been the foundation for subsequent revisions and updates and a model adopted by several other educational institutions. In addition, Dr. Stewart, a former editor of The Review of Black Political Economy, has edited and coedited several monographs and authored several articles in peer-reviewed journals such as African American Studies, Industrial and Labor Relations Review, Journal of Black Studies, Journal of Economic Literature, Journal of Human Resources, Journal of Negro Education, Review of Black Political Economy, and Review of Economics and Statistics. Stewart’s past and current leadership positions reflect his parallel careers in Economics and Africana Studies.

The award is named after the first recipient of the award, Ambassador Samuel Westerfield, who is hailed as an extraordinary teacher and university administrator, committed government official, highly respected international diplomat, and an ardent builder of organizations devoted to widespread economic development and acknowledgment of the Black experience.

Democrat Jonathan Jackson, son of Jesse Jackson Wins Illinois 1st Congressional District Seat

Democrat Jonathan Jackson – a son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson – declared victory Tuesday night in the race for the Illinois 1st Congressional District.

He was up against Republican Eric Carlson.

The Associated Press declared Jackson the winner of the race Tuesday night. With 42 percent of the precincts reporting, Jackson had a comfortable lead of 79 percent compared with 21 percent for Carlson.

Jackson will succeed U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush.

At his victory celebration Jackson gave credit to his famous Civil Rights leader father in his victory speech

"I've seen my father bring the hostages home. I've watched my father create trade agreements and alliances with corporate America to bring our resources back. I've watched my father be a voice for the voiceless. I've watched my father – with just the faith that he's had and his belief in his God – try to make a better humanity," Jackson said. "But on this day, I can watch my father see that I want to be just like him, and carry his name and good works forward."

[SOURCE:CBS NEWS]

Statement from White House on the Shooting at the University of Virginia

The White House released this statement following the tragic shooting at the University of Virginia which let three UVA football players dead. Those three players were UVA D'Sean Perry (left), Devin Chandler (center) and Lavel Davis, Jr. (right).

The President and First Lady are mourning with the University of Virginia community after yet another deadly shooting in America has taken the lives of three young people. Our deepest condolences are with the countless families, friends, and neighbors grieving for those killed as well as those injured in this senseless shooting.

Administration officials are in close contact with state and local officials, and we are grateful for those authorities’ swift response to this attack.

Too many families across America are bearing the awful burden of gun violence. Earlier this year, President Biden signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly three decades, in addition to taking other historic actions. But we must do more. We need to enact an assault weapons ban to get weapons of war off America’s streets. House Democrats acted, and the Senate should follow.

Dr. Jonathan Lee Walton Appointed the Eighth President of the Princeton Theological Seminary

Jonathan Lee Walton, has been named the eighth president of the Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey. He will begin his new duties on January 1.

“Theological education is at an inflection point,” says Dr. Walton. “The church is changing. Society is changing. So we need clear-minded, faith-informed professionals who can speak hope, equity, and healing in all fields of human endeavor.”

Princeton Theological Seminary enrolls just over 330 students, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education. African Americans are 11 percent of the student body.

Dr. Walton has been serving as dean of the School of Divinity at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He also holds the Presidential Chair of Religion and Society at the divinity school and is dean of Wait Chapel on campus. Before coming to Wake Forest in 2020, Dr. Walton was the Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the University’s Memorial Church at Harvard University.

Dr. Walton is trained as a social ethicist whose scholarship focuses on the intersection of evangelical Christianity, mass media, and political culture. He is the author of two books: Watch This! The Ethics and Aesthetics of Black Televangelism (New York University Press, 2009) and A Lens of Love: Reading the Bible in Its World for Our World (Westminster John Knox Press, 2018).

Professor Walton earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Morehouse College in Atlanta. He holds a master of divinity degree and a Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary.

“This feels like a glorious homecoming showered with grace. For over two decades, Princeton Seminary and the precious people that I’ve been blessed to know have enriched my intellectual and spiritual life,” said Dr. Walton.

Georgetown Launches $400,000 Annual Fund to Support Descendants of the Enslaved

Georgetown University launches $400,000 annual fund for projects supporting Descendants of the enslaved.

The Reconciliation Fund, inspired by a 2019 undergraduate student referendum, has begun accepting applications for community-based projects that aim to benefit the Descendants of the men, women, and children enslaved on Jesuit plantations in Maryland. Many of the Descendants live in and around Maringouin, Louisiana, where their ancestors were sold and forcibly moved to in 1838. The projects could include health and legal clinics, environmental justice projects, after-school and pre-college programs, and local history and memorialization projects.

In partnership with the university, a student committee and an advisory committee of Descendants have developed the application process for the Reconciliation Fund. Both groups will also review grant proposals for community-based projects and make recommendations to university leaders, who will select the final projects. To date, more than 500 alumni have provided financial support for the $400,000 annual fund.

“The Reconciliation Fund is a collective effort—an example of our community’s deep commitment to the possibilities that can emerge when we work in partnership to advance reconciliation,” said Georgetown President John J. DeGioia. “This project is one way the university is reckoning with the legacies of slavery that have shaped our past and to respond by advancing justice and equity in our present.”

Read more about The Reconciliation Fund here: https://www.georgetown.edu/news/georgetown-launches-400000-annual-fund-to-support-descendants-of-the-enslaved/