Carter Dowling
Much of what is known about the early life of Carter Dowling comes from a runaway advertisement placed in the…
200 YEARS OF HISTORY
Virginia Theological Seminary designated $2.8 million as a reparations endowment fund.
In September 2019, VTS announced the creation of an endowment dedicated to the payment of reparations, and the intent to research, uncover, and recognize Black people who labored on-campus during slavery, Reconstruction, and segregation under Jim Crow laws. The endowment is a part of the Seminary’s commitment to recognizing its participation in oppression in the past and commitment to healing and making amends in the future. Additional funds have been allocated to support the work of Black congregations that have historical ties to the Seminary; to create programs that promote justice and inclusion; and to elevate the work and voices of Black alumni and clergy within The Episcopal Church.
Click Here for Reparations Intake Form Event Space Request Form Reparations FAQ
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D. dean
and president of VTS, explained:
“This is a start. As we seek to mark Seminary’s milestone of 200 years, we do so conscious that our past is a mixture of sin as well as grace. This is the Seminary recognizing that along with repentance for past sins, there is also a need for action.”
The program will be administered by the Office of Multicultural Ministries. The Director, the Rev. Joseph Thompson, Ph.D. said, “This initiative has the potential to be transformative.
Though no amount of money could ever truly compensate for slavery, the commitment of these financial resources means that the institution’s attitude of repentance is being supported by actions of repentance that can have a significant impact both on the recipients of the funds, as well as on those at VTS. It opens up a moment for us to reflect long and hard on what it will take for our society and institutions to redress slavery and its consequences with integrity and credibility.”
This fund is fully funded by Virginia Theological Seminary as part of our commitment to recognizing the racism in our past and working toward healing and reconciliation in the future.
Laborer Profiles
Researchers
Maddy McCoy‘s work is primarily focused on the early African American experience in the mid-Atlantic region. She is the founding director of Slavery Inventory Database, an historical research consultancy established in 2005 with the mission of creating connections to those whom history has forgotten. The Slavery Inventory Database primarily works with historic house museums and historic sites by helping them identify and interpret their enslaved populations and narratives.
McCoy’s experience in the field has resulted in a wealth of earned knowledge of both local history and historical familial connections. Maddy has an intuitive understanding of how historic records can provide a voice to the intentionally silenced and the historically excluded — this allows her to breach the wall of slavery so that people may better understand their roots and restore important foundational connections. Her belief is this work must be done to create a more just, equitable, and empathetic society.
Simone Jacobs, LCSW-C, LICSW, is a trauma therapist and the owner of Takoma Therapy, a group practice in Takoma Park, MD. Her therapeutic focus is on working with Black women, exploring the intersections of race, gender, and intergenerational trauma. Simone recently co-authored a book published by Routledge, “Understanding the Paradox of Surviving Childhood Trauma,” which challenges traditional models of trauma treatment that tend to pathologize victims of abuse. Simone is passionate about educating fellow therapists and the broader community about the legacy of slavery through the lens of mental health, presenting at academic conferences, community forums and collaborating with Virginia Theological Seminary’s reparations program.
Research Updates and News about the Project
Multicultural Ministries Contact
The Rev. Canon Altagracia Perez-Bullard, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of Multicultural Ministries and Assistant Professor of Practical Theology
Phone: (703) 461-1731
Email: [email protected]
Reparations Contact
Ebonee Davis
Director of Reparations
Phone: (703) 461-1702
Email: [email protected]
Media Contact
Nicky Burridge
Vice President for Communications
Phone: (703) 461-1782
Email: [email protected]