Karson Institute鈥檚 five-year anniversary celebration reflects on the past, looks ahead to the future
The Karson Institute for Race, Peace & Social Justice marked its five-year anniversary with a VIP reception on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, at Loyola Notre Dame Library, followed by a symposium on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, at 樱花动漫's McGuire Hall. These events convened students, educators, officials, and community leaders for reflection and dialogue on the Institute and democracy.
Fifth-Year Anniversary VIP Reception
Wednesday鈥檚 reception opened with live jazz by local musicians, followed by a welcome from founding executive director Karsonya Wise Whitehead, Ph.D.鈥� Dr. LaMarr Darnell Shields, a nationally recognized educator and thought leader, hosted the event.
Greetings were offered by Terrence M. Sawyer, J.D., president of Loyola; Cheryl Moore-Thomas, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president at Loyola; Rodney Parker, Ph.D., chief equity and inclusion officer at Loyola; and Martha Walker, Ph.D., provost and vice president of academic affairs at Notre Dame of Maryland University.
VIP remarks came from Kweisi Mfume, U.S. Representative (D), Maryland鈥檚 7th Congressional District, and Baltimore City State鈥檚 Attorney Ivan Bates, J.D. Brooke Lierman, comptroller of Maryland, presented Dr. Kaye with a Citation. Dr. Frances 鈥淭oni鈥� Draper, M.S. '96, chairman of the board and publisher of The Baltimore Afro-American, also attended the event. The Afro is the longest-running family-owned African American newspaper in the United States.
During the Fireside Chat with Dr. Shields, Dr. Kaye highlighted past partners, programs, and successes of the Karson Institute over its first five years, such as the Backpack Journalism Program, the Wilson Peace Symposium, and the work of the Center for Research and Culture. This conversation set the stage for envisioning what comes next for the Institute.
Looking ahead, Dr. Kaye described the Institute as a lighthouse for Baltimore and noted new partners, including the and .
Following a benediction by the Rev. Timothy Brown, S.J., guests were invited to tour the Karson Institute. Before departing, everyone received their own pint of Taharka Brothers鈥� ice cream. The new flavor, launched in honor of Dr. Kaye, is called 鈥淒r. Kaye鈥檚 Taste of Freedom: Justice You Can Savor,鈥� and will be available at Taharka Brothers throughout the month of October.
Another Sankofa Moment
Thursday night, the Karson Institute hosted its anniversary symposium, 鈥淎nother Sankofa Moment: Looking Back to Move Forward,鈥� with members of the community. The panelists included Dr. Lester Spence, professor of political science at Johns Hopkins University; Jason Green, documentary filmmaker and alum of the Obama 2008 campaign and Obama White House; Katara West, senior equity specialist from Anne Arundel County Public Schools; and Dr. Shields. Panelists were joined by Loyola students, who offered readings by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nikole Hannah-Jones. Dr. Kaye鈥檚 father, for whom the Karson is named, closed the evening in prayer.
"In the spirit of Sankofa 鈥� reaching back to fetch what we鈥檝e left behind 鈥� the Karson Institute took these two days not only to reflect on its progress, but also to chart a path forward, demonstrating how milestones inspire future action," shared Dr. Kaye.