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The George Washington University Institute for Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Equity (Equity Institute)

The Equity Institute leverages the resources of a premier research university and invests in transformative community partnerships with the goal of eradicating racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic inequity worldwide.

 

Equity Institute at GW

Our Motivation

  • DC Labor Inequality
  • DC Education Inequality
  • DC Health Inequity
  • Criminal Justice Inequity
  • Housing Inequity Nationwide
  • DC Wealth Inequality

  • Inequity Nationwide

Learn More

 

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Wendy Ellis

Meet Our Director: Wendy Ellis

I am delighted to have the privilege to lead the George Washington University Institute for Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Equity. The Equity Institute will be a wonderful opportunity to raise the visibility and impact of the work I have been dedicated to for my entire professional career. I am proud to join the community of like-minded students, scholars, and leaders dedicated to eradicating the devastating effects of inequity world-wide.

Read Dr. Ellis' Message

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The Change We Are Enacting

 

Featured speakers at 2023 Spring EI Workshop

Increase Impactful Research

The EI creates infrastructure to support GWU researchers’ writing, teaching, publishing, and fundraising dedicated to eradicating racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic inequity.

Wendy Ellis speaking at the 2022 Equity Institute Initiative Research Showcase

Invest in Authentic Community Partnerships

The EI forms community based participatory research partnerships to invest new knowledge and other resources that help reduce inequity in Washington DC, the United States, and the world.

Carmel Chiswick

Disseminate Actionable Policy

The EI translates and disseminates its interdisciplinary research into actionable policy interventions that tangibly and measurably increase equity in marginalized communities.

Wendy Ellis presenting at the 2022 Equity Institute Showcase

Convene Decision-Makers

The EI gathers academic, community, private sector, and government leaders to design solutions that will increase racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic equity.

Group photo with cabinet members and participants at 2022 Research Showcase

Equip Students to Serve

The EI trains students in best practices of community based participatory research to equip them to serve and lead with humility and integrity.

 

"The university’s decision to charter a new research institute dedicated to the principles of equality, fairness and freedom means everything. It means that at the dawn of our third century, GW has dedicated its resources to support faculty and students who seek to improve societies near and far, by contributing to the work of eradicating discrimination, bigotry, prejudice and inequality—to advancing the cause of justice, both here in the United States and around the world.”

Dayna Bowen Matthew
Dean and Harold H. Greene Professor of Law, GW Law; Co-Founder, Institute for Racial, Ethnic and Socioeconomic Equity

Dayna Bowen Matthew

 

Donald Braman

“Concretely there are already hundreds of people not incarcerated as a result of the work EI has supported, and we expect that number to grow rapidly as we onboard new jurisdictions. This kind of work is incredibly energizing for students and faculty, and it shows how GW can take a leadership position in criminal justice reform and do the kind of work that no one else is doing.”

Don Braman
Associate Professor of Law, GW Law

For all Equity Institute inquiries, please email our Equity Institute Project Director, Alesha Garvin.