By Hazel Scott/ASU
In a landmark moment for historically Black colleges and universities everywhere, Alabama State University (ASU) and Unite Inc.’s HBCU Civil Discourse and Freedom Institute have formalized a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), a $1 million-plus commitment to transforming how the next generation of HBCU students engages with democracy, civic life, and the future of American institutions.
“Through this partnership, both organizations are committed to expanding nonpartisan civic engagement, ensuring that HBCU students and faculty alike are empowered through meaningful civic engagement and enriched educational opportunities,” said Col. (ret.) Gregory Clark, Vice President of Institutional Advancement.
In 2011, ASU alumnus Dr. Travis Smith, then serving as the Student Government Association president at Alabama State University, founded Unite Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to connecting students with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and fostering civic engagement. Today, more than a decade later, that journey has come full circle with a meaningful partnership between ASU and Unite Inc.
“For us to bring this initiative back to its roots at ASU, a University known for its rich civic tradition, is a milestone for both the institute and its students. It will have a massive impact on the institution and students it serves for generations to come,” expressed Smith, the founder and executive director of Unite Inc.
Under the MOU, ASU and Unite will expand civil discourse infrastructure by launching a National HBCU Civil Discourse Speakers’ Bureau, establishing two endowed professorships, providing large-scale civil discourse training, offering graduate assistantships and scholarly funding, and convening leaders annually for a Civil Discourse Conference in Washington, D.C.
The MOU, Smith emphasized, is a declaration that HBCUs are not only centers of academic excellence, but indispensable pillars of American democracy.
“Through this alliance, ASU and Unite Inc. are shaping a brighter future, where students are empowered to lead with purpose and engage meaningfully in democracy,” Smith added.
A combined investment of over $1 million in professorships, graduate assistantships, and scholarly activities will have a lasting impact. The Alabama State University Foundation (ASUF) will manage the new Unite HBCU Civil Discourse and Freedom Institute account to ensure accountability and long-term sustainability.
“Together, Alabama State University and Unite Inc. are building a legacy of excellence, civic responsibility, and opportunity for generations to come,” Clark added.