University of Mount Saint Vincent and Dedication to Community launch d2c Justice Institute to expand justice education and community engagement

The University of Mount Saint Vincent and the nonprofit Dedication to Community announced a new partnership to launch the d2c Justice Institute, which the university and partner described as a hub for education, training and community engagement focused on justice, restorative practices and inclusion.

Dr. Suzanne Burns, president of the University of Mount Saint Vincent, said the institute builds on the school's mission and history of community service as a Hispanic‑serving, minority‑serving institution with many first‑generation and Pell‑eligible students. "We are oven for The Bronx," she said, emphasizing the campus connection and invitation to off‑campus residents.

Quentin "Q" Williams, founder and CEO of Dedication to Community, said he grew up nearby and called the institute an opportunity to "come home," noting plans for courses, training, externships and community convenings that bring practitioners and community experts to campus. "We believe that by taking action through education, by being embedded on the campus... we're taking appropriate action to be proactive, preemptive, preventative when it comes to issues of economic, social, criminal, procedural, and restorative justice," he said.

Both speakers emphasized student opportunities for internships, new curricula and community programming. The broadcast directed interested viewers to mountsaintvincent.edu and dedicationtocommunity.org for more information.