A Beloved Community
“I do not think of political power as an end. Neither do I think of economic power as an end. They are ingredients in the objective that we seek in life. And I think that end of that objective is a truly brotherly society, the creation of the beloved community”- Martin Luther King, Jr.
One of the things I value the most about IRT is the sense of community—not just any community but a potentially beloved community. In my view, the scholarship and engagement of IRT alums force us to imagine a better world and society and analyze our past. This work is critical in our present moment, allowing for prospective reconciliation and action to improve outcomes for the most vulnerable of us. Our community is also where we find prospective IRT Scholars, so please consider sharing our application with your networks.
In recent months, the IRT community has united at conferences, universities, and classrooms to share theories and knowledge. We also gathered in New York City to acknowledge and celebrate our Advisory Board’s and other supporters’ contributions. We hope to see our alums again soon!
One integral part of our IRT community is Brittany Zorn, IRT ‘13. Over the last nine years, she has supported countless scholars through the advising process and IRT staff members through her diligence, hard work, and beyond-B-Z attitude. She has supported our community and new initiatives to increase the support and advising for our scholars. Finally, she was instrumental in our exploration process and analysis of IRT and our future impact. We are thrilled for her future role as the Director of Multicultural Affairs and Student Engagement at Mount Wachusett Community College. We are thankful for all the work she has done during her tenure.
In the meantime, I want to emphasize the opportunities you all have to engage with each other in our private IRT Alumni Network. This community allows you to mentor, add jobs, connect with like-minded scholars, and more. During these times, connecting and sharing resources with others is essential. Many of you traverse complex fields and environments, and finding community can make you courageous. These everyday actions of connections can serve as inspiration in these uncertain times.
Best,
LaShawnda Brooks
Executive Director, IRT
Institute for Recruitment of Teachers 