The diocese is pleased to report that the Racial Justice Initiative, through its Henrietta Bell Wells Scholarship, greatly enhances the lives of its recipients. Since the spring of 2021, 107 scholarships have been awarded to 55 students at the following Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): Huston-Tillotson University, Prairie View A&M University, Texas Southern University (including Thurgood Marshall School of Law), and Wiley College.
Having disbursed $285,000 to date, sponsoring congregations and college ministries include Epiphany, Houston; Holy Comforter, Spring; Hope, Houston; Houston Canterbury, Prairie View A&M University Canterbury; St. James, Austin – Freedom School; and St. James’, Houston.
The Henrietta Bell Wells Scholarship Fund is designated for awards to students attending HBCUs in the state of Texas. Serving its intended purpose, several recipients had to delay graduation due to their tuition having gone unpaid prior to learning about diocesan scholarships available through this initiative. In some cases, students were unable to register for classes the following semester without financial relief offered by this fund.
With many students now graduated and/or enrolled in graduate programs, the diocese is encouraged by the distinguished recipients of this reconciliation process through the Racial Justice Initiative of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. We applaud Rhonda Rogers, Chair of the Henrietta Wells Subcommittee, for her diligence in this work to determine scholarship eligibility and the associated processes involved in this vehicle, as well as the engagement of the overarching Racial Justice Initiative Committee, chaired by Samuel A. Dodson.
