By Chris Weber, Phoenix Staff Writer

Governors State University celebrated the groundbreaking of a new Social Justice Initiative building on Oct. 23.

Administrators welcomed community members, faculty, students, staff, and the university’s board of trustees to the event.

The mission of Governors State University is to provide accessible education,” said GSU Board of Trustees Chair Angela Sebastian. “You cannot do that without social justice. So this is a big part of us fulfilling our mission and the vision of Governors State University to be an economic catalyst for the entire south region.”

The new building will house efforts to provide crucial services to the Southland residents.

“This is the cornerstone of Dr. (Cheryl) Green’s vision for our university,” said GSU Provost Beverly Schneller. “Her passion is reflected in this building. The Social Justice Initiative has been in the works since 2021, and its mission is to transform vulnerable populations through addressing racial and economic injustices locally and globally.”

Social Justice Initiative coordinator Phylis West thanked the large crowd and stressed that the groundbreaking was one of many steps toward establishing a Social Justice Institute.

An upcoming social justice fair on Friday, Oct. 27, is scheduled from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The fair will feature employers willing to hire applicants with criminal records, a closet that provides clothes for job interviews and court dates, and more.