Message from Dean Charles E. Menifield

Dear SPAA Family:

On Sunday morning I heard a noise out of my downtown Newark apartment window. It was the sound of protesters alerting the community to their disdain for the events that occurred in Minneapolis and other cities around the country. As I listened to their words, I started to think how hard it is for persons of color to live in the U.S. and other countries.

I also thought about my role as an individual and the role of others in bringing about the changes that we desperately need in our society. In the future, I hope that SPAA can collaborate with police departments and other government agencies in providing training and workshops that address subjects such as cultural competence, micro-aggression, de-escalation and so on. All of us are committed to positive change and only by working together can we truly achieve equity and inclusion.

Dean Charles E. Menifield
School of Public Affairs and Administration
Rutgers University-Newark