Judge U. W. Clemon Center for Economic and Social Justice
The Judge U. W. Clemon Center for Economic and Social Justice is an academic center at Miles College which promotes research and policy aimed at reducing structures of injustice and oppression. It was founded as the Miles College Center for Economic and Social Justice in 2021 and is led by executive director Olivia Janay Cook.
Since starting in her role in August 2021, Cook has helped the college secure funding from the Alabama Power Foundation, the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama's Caring Foundation, and the U.S. Small Business Administration to support the establishment of the center.
The center is housed in the historic Williams Hall which was renovated with funding from the Historic Preservation Fund's Historically Black Colleges and Universities grant program administered by the National Park Service.
In November 2021 it was announced that the center would be named in honor of pioneering Civil Rights attorney and former District Court Judge U. W. Clemon, who graduated from Miles in 1965.
References
- Remkus, Ashley (April 25, 2020) "Alabama HBCU awarded $500,000 grant to restore its oldest building." The Birmingham News
- "Miles College Renames Center for Economic & Social Justice After Judge U.W. Clemon." (November 6, 2023) The Birmingham Times