Syracuse Sun

Students interested in researching how social justice issues and historic racism practices impact public health are invited to apply for the 2024-26 Lender Center for Social Justice Student Fellowship Program. Their project will explore the historic legacy of “redlining,” a discriminatory practice of designating certain neighborhoods, especially predominantly Black neighborhoods, as poor credit risks.

Five students will be selected to form an interdisciplinary research team. They will work with Miriam Mutambudzi, the 2024-26 Lender Center faculty fellow and an assistant professor of public health in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. Her research project examines how Black adults who reside in historically redlined neighborhoods can experience a disadvantaged occupational life course and subsequent health consequences. She wants to raise awareness about the lasting effects of discriminatory practices as basic determinants of health and use those findings to inform policymakers and community leaders.

Working with Mutambudzi, student fellows will conduct data analysis, gather literature on social and economic disparities and health outcomes for residents of those areas, and synthesize findings. They will also engage with community residents and grassroots organizations that are examining the impact of redlining practices in Syracuse.

Students from any discipline and background who are interested in community advocacy and social justice are encouraged to apply online. They will spend two years on the project and present their findings at the 2026 Lender Center for Social Justice symposium. Participants receive a $2,000 stipend, with opportunities for additional funding. Program details are available on the Lender Center’s student fellowship webpage.

An information session is scheduled on Friday, Sept. 18 at 4 p.m. in Bowne Hall 207, when Mutambudzi will provide more details about the project and how the fellowship program works.

The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. Students can apply through the online application portal.