Geiger Named to Inaugural Cohort of Racial Equity Collective
Geiger Honor Heading link
University of Illinois Chicago Jane Addams College of Social Work Associate Professor Jennifer Geiger was selected as a member of the inaugural cohort of the Forefront Racial Equity Collective.
The Collective is a multi-sector collaboration of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) leaders, non-profit plus private sector, philanthropic funders, and legislators committed to creating sustainable systemic change that will address and counteract the myriad of systemic inequities and divestments in the social impact sector in Illinois, both past and present.
By convening, organizing, and coordinating efforts within the social impact sector, the Collective can scale racial equity infrastructure fueling greater collaboration and more cohesive and strategic action throughout the state.
Geiger, PhD, has focused her work on promoting well-being among the most vulnerable youth and families, particularly those involved with the child welfare system. Her work with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and communities across Cook County, and the Permanency Enhancement Project (PEP), has emphasized a critical need to examine the historical and systemic issues that perpetuate structural racism, and work alongside the community to develop solutions on a practice and policy level to address racial disproportionality and disparity.
“I am thrilled to be selected as a member of the inaugural cohort of the Forefront Racial Equity Collective,” Geiger said. “I am excited to learn from others about how to infuse anti-racist practice and promote racial equity in my role as a faculty member at Jane Addams, as well as a researcher and community collaborator in the pursuit of systemic change.”