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Statement of purpose. The purpose of the Charlye O. Farris Social Justice Resource Center (SJRC) is to serve as a hub of education and advocacy. We strive to build community connections around the issues of racial and social justice through activities encouraging reflection and dialogue. We provide training and development opportunities for community leaders and business partners focused on improving equity and inclusion in their organizations. The Charlye O. Farris SJRC… turning intentions into actions.
About Charlye O. Farris. A Wichita Falls native, Farris received her Bachelor’s Degree (1948) in Political Science and went on to study law at Howard University. She was the first Black lawyer to practice actively in Wichita County, and the “first black person to serve as a judge in the south since Reconstruction.” She served on the Board of Regents at Midwestern State University from 2006 to 2010.
What is social justice? Attempting to determine how we can best contribute to the creation of a more equitable, respectful, and just society for everyone. Both process and goal, social justice demands we address the policies, practices and behaviors that slow our progress toward being an equitable campus. Social justice, as a framework, guides us to recognize and resist unfairness in decision-making and resource distribution – and to cultivate a community that is safe and secure for everyone.
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Open Call for Programs. The Charlye O. Farris Social Justice Resource Center is accepting applications for workshops, activities and/or performances. All events and efforts coordinated by the SJRC are intended to create space for reflection, dialogue and collaboration around issues of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in our Wichita Falls community. Click here for additional guidelines and expectations.
Submit a Program Proposal
Calendar. SJRC programming and regular hours of operation begin September 1, 2021. Relevant diversity dates/observances and upcoming events will be posted here as they are confirmed. The facility can also be open by appointment; for assistance, email mosaic@msutexas.edu or call 940-397-4500.
REGULAR HOURS OF OPERATION - Bea Wood 131
Summer 2022
Fridays 10am – 6pm
21-Day Racial Equity Challenge Kick-off, Tuesday, February 1 2022. February 1-21... Mark your calendar! What is the Challenge about? Take 21 days to challenge yourself to learn something new, do something meaningful or connect with others about racial equity. Each day MOSAIC will offer recommendations on something to read, a podcast to listen to, an organization to follow; you can choose your own adventure! Just pick one thing each day to increase your awareness, reflect on your role in promoting racial equity or motivate yourself to act. Click here to register. Want more information? Visit our Event page for details and updates.
Past Events
SJ Action Step - Land Acknowledgments, Thursday, November 18 2021, 6:00pm, Charlye O. Farris Social Justice Resource Center (Bea Wood 131). Explore the what and why of crafting statements that center the land on which we thrive and the Indigenous peoples who originally called the area home. In this one-hour workshop, participants will:
- reflect on their own identity and the ever-present context of colonialism in the U.S.
- consider the purpose and intention of making land acknowledgements
- understand a useful framework for constructing a statement for your own organization or event
- identify further commitments to reconciliation and allyship with Indigenous peoples
Panel: The Case for Critical Race Theory, Tuesday, January 18 2022, 6:00 PM.
Critical Race Theory (CRT) has been hotly debated in recent months, but what do regular folks even know about CRT? Panelists will discuss...
- the definition and key concepts of critical race theory
- examples of the value of a deeper, more complex understanding of U.S. and world history
- the significance of a broader view of history and culture, in particular to BIPOC students and citizens
Better World Book Club Discussion: The Memo, Friday, January 21 2022, 12:00 - 1:15pm, Charlye O. Farris Social Justice Resource Center (Bea Wood 131). Calling BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) women! Join us for our winter read. Let's talk about what work, success and thriving look like for BIPOC women. What are we reading? The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table by Minda Harts. Most business books provide a one-size-fits-all approach to career advice that overlooks the unique barriers that women of color face. In The Memo, Minda Harts offers a much-needed career guide tailored specifically for women of color.
Fall 2021 Meditation Circle, Fridays, 10:15am, Charlye O. Farris Social Justice Resource Center (Bea Wood 131). Pushing for social justice can be exhausting and stressful. Make time for mindfulness! New to meditation? Join us for a Q&A at 10am before the session in the SJRC. #selfcare for Allies and Activists!
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SJRC Partners. Social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion are community efforts. We actively seek groups and organizations with which we can collaborate. To discuss partnering with the SJRC, email cammie.dean@msutexas.edu.
Visit the Center. Beginning in September 2021, the Charlye O. Farris SJRC will have a reading room with regular office hours and a meeting space available for reservation by our community partners. Hours of operation and instructions for reserving the meeting space will be posted here.
Updates & Announcements
Book donations. Know a book that allies and activists should consider reading? The SJRC reading room is a place for them to explore. Donated books can be dropped off in the SJRC during scheduled hours or in MOSAIC on weekdays. Desired topics include, but are not limited to, anything related to social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion. Not sure what to donate? Check out our wish list on Amazon.
Meditation Circle, Fridays, 10:15am. Pushing for social justice can be exhausting and stressful. Make time for mindfulness! New to meditation? Join us for a Q&A at 10am before the session in the SJRC. #selfcare for Allies and Activists!
Call for Programs. We are accepting applications for workshops, activities and/or performances. All events and efforts coordinated by the SJRC are intended to create space for reflection, dialogue and collaboration around issues of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in our Wichita Falls community. Click here for additional guidelines and expectations.
Monetary donations. We appreciate support at every level! You can read more about Charlye O. Farris and the SJRC by clicking here. Donations can be made through the Annual Fund webpage.
Help Wanted – Seeking Oversight Board Members. Contact Cammie.dean@msutexas.edu
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DACA/Undocumented Status. A report published by in 2020 indicated that there are more than 450,000 college students among the undocumented in the U.S. To learn more, check out an overview of the findings from Inside Higher Ed or read the full report from the Presidents' Alliance.
- Generation Progress. Generation Progress is a national advocacy and education organization that promotes progressive solutions to the political and social issues that matter to young people between the ages of 18 and 35. They provide resources you might need to fuel the progressive fight for young people around the country. Their resources include fact sheets, talking points, data series, key statistics, and more.
- Hispanic Coalition. We advocate for Hispanic youth in the Wichita Falls area supporting their pursuit of educational achievement, economic prosperity and cultural preservation
- Immigration Legal Resource Center. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is a national nonprofit resource center that provides immigration legal training, technical assistance, and educational materials, and engages in advocacy and immigrant civic engagement to advance immigrant rights. By providing education and leadership development, the ILRC helps the public to better understand the complexities of the policies enacted by the government.
- National Immigration Law Center. The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is one of the leading organizations in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of immigrants with low income. Their current focus is building a stronger, more inclusive immigrant justice movement and fostering intersectional alliances with other communities to amass the political power necessary to hold decision-makers accountable for making policy changes real and lasting. They will also engage in narrative and culture change to shift the public debate toward the notion that—no matter where a person is born or how much money they have—everyone has a stake and constructive role to play in shaping the country’s future.
- North Texas Dream Team. Based in DFW, the North Texas Dream Team is a youth-led nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the dreams and goals of students; to educate and bring awareness to everyone, regardless of color, when it comes to issues in our communities. Their webpage includes a list of immigration attorneys and links to national resources for college students.