 HBCU digest welcome back Distinguished guests here to talk about a major announcement at Virginia State University The university just announced a new initiative that will increase black political engagement and leadership throughout the Commonwealth our Distinguished guests this morning our Virginia State President Dr. McCullough Abula and the interim chair of political science at VSU Dr. West Bellamy brothers It is a pleasure to have you on this morning So talk a little bit about this this announcement man, this is this is something big And for Virginia State, which has taken the opportunity of the pandemic to for the second time roll out some academic and development initiatives first speaking to HBCU history from the academic side now This is something that speaks politically to political training and development doc Well, both the other doctors but president Abdulla Chair with us this announcement and why it matters so much for VSU to be leading in this way Well, look, man, we are really really excited about this initiative When you talk about the past the present and the future of Virginia State University was founded by Delegate Alfred W. Harris was a politician here in the Commonwealth of Virginia our first president was John Mercer Langston Who of course was a congressman out of Virginia also? And so HBCU's Virginia State University and politics have always gone hand-in-hand You start to bring that through and Douglas Wildo was a adjunct professor here at Virginia State and then carry that through the present Well, we have young lions like Dr. West Bellamy Who was a former vice mayor of the city of Charlottesville and Loshery's air who represents our area as a Delegate who's a Virginia State University loan senator Mamie lock who was just here a minute ago Who's a professor at Hampton University? I would also as a part of this initiative We've always been involved in politics. We've always been a part of change in Virginia. So I'm just proud that You know kind of stimulated us to start to move forward Dr. Bellamy talk about you're no stranger to to political activism social engagement and social justice What kind of things do you think that the department will lend to the opportunity for African Americans throughout Virginia to not Only become engaged about the political process but to consider careers in politics at municipal and state levels Well, our initial goal is to develop a pipeline. Excuse me is to develop a pipeline We want to ensure that individuals from across the Commonwealth of Virginia specifically those who are African-American Have the opportunity have the wherewithal have the training to not only lead But also understand what it takes to be able to move the Commonwealth of Virginia into the future And what we want to do is again not just look at what it means to run for office But what about the individuals and develop those who are looking to be political operatives? Those were your city managers your treasurers those were the head of social services and things of that nature And our other component is ensuring that we have research and data that can show specifically how African Americans from across the Commonwealth feel we are looking forward to unveiling and it'll be forthcoming our initial black Virginia voters poll Which will be something unlike and unlike anything that we've seen across the Commonwealth specifically looking at data and research for black folk and then we are excited about building And continuing to show that Virginia state is one of the leaders in the Commonwealth of Virginia But also the nation in terms of building black political leadership And when president Abula has been able to do in terms of empowering his staff and his faculty Individuals like myself to be able to be bold and innovative We are extremely proud of this moment and we're looking forward to what's going to transpire We see a big influx of young African American political presidents that are not only running But winning or coming close to winning in Florida. We've seen it in Georgia. You were successful in in Charlottesville, Virginia We've seen it in Alabama Virginia is a politically diverse state that is shifting in many ways Do you think that that can that will Give you not only opportunity to the training but to to possibly diversify The way that African Americans think about politics not just on one side of the aisle But both sides and then how does that work to the benefit of black interests black institutions? Black black social concerns Is that something that yet that you feel needs to be attacked from two sides of the aisle Or just a tax period for people regardless of their political bid Well, we understand that black folk are not a monolithic group and we want to ensure no matter where you lie on the political spectrum You understand that it's important for us to have African American leadership that our issues must be addressed And again with the political history that we have here at the virginia state university We want to make sure that again people from across the commonwealth understand that when you're looking to progress Specifically black folk when you're looking to be trained when you're looking to understand the nuances of our people This is the place in which you want to come there are other institutes from across the commonwealth like the sourcing institute The minority political leadership institute at virginia commonwealth university and sourcens at uva But we understand the need for black leadership and developing these pipelines here at the virginia state university We understand the diversity of thought We understand the diversity of need and we want to fill that void And it's not something that we hope that we can do it's something that we will do and we will continue to be very great at I think one of the one of the exciting things for me is we talked about it a minute ago There's so many young lines who are getting in the political field who are doing great work west is one of those people To be able to have people come to campus so students can see them So that they can know that They can aspire for public office. They can aspire for public service and they don't have to wait 20 or 30 years to do it That their time if you will can be now If they're ready if they're prepared if they study So I think that's one of the huge benefits that have come out of this And that's what I was asking about the influence that it would have on undergraduates specifically Specifically at virginia state, but let's talk about from an institutional perspective So we know that higher education particularly touches a lot of political realms And a lot of funding opportunities and a lot of political considerations Is there going to be a bend In the way that you approach politics as a president The way that the campus approaches politics that may influence the way that this pipeline is developed So not just to focus on one set or a set of issues But to be multifaceted in the way that people consider political opportunities and political development opportunities almost definitely, I mean we are We serve the commonwealth of virginia And so being a part of our stakeholders talking to our government officials Making sure that they understand our needs and that we understand the needs of the commonwealth is critically important And so the center is one of the other people He's actually behind the camera right now as our director of government relations. He is involved In the center. He's got as much in it as anyone else And so to make it so that our our students understand what they can do to help virginia state Our students understand what they can do to help the communities that we live in here That their issues and their concerns matter And that they can help drive the agenda And so yes, this is a part of our work Not just at the at the student level not just at the policy but at virginia state And then for both of you How will you know that this initiative has been successful if you look back in two three four years What will be one of the key metrics that you'll say this worked and for you to say brother president Well, when we look at key metrics specifically Breaking individuals from across the commonwealth to take part in the institute will be one of the metrics We're looking at developing small cohorts initially and then building out as we continue to grow When we look at the research and data as we unveil our black virginia voters poll And some of the future polls in which we're looking to produce But we see the results of such and then we're able to produce research and show tangible Policy recommendations based off of our polling and research that will be a success indicator But more than anything else we want to ensure that folks understand that they can do this This is something in which all people will be able to feel her power When we look at black political leadership across the commonwealth of virginia It's not just people like persons like myself or uh, look mayor labar stony or in alabama Like our good friend mary wolfen you too can be those same persons You can become a city manager. You can become a political opportunity So as we continue to expand our internship opportunities as we continue to push individuals to run for office as we get people Place in these uh local jurisdictions in terms of the municipal jobs and things of that nature Those will be the success indicators But again more than anything else Just the fact that we were able to pull this off here at the commonwealth of virginia at the virginia state university The premier hbcu in the country not just in the commonwealth, but the premier hbcu in the country better. No doc There you go We are very proud and this is a legacy This is something that will be president do this legacy mr. Burton's legacy And uh, excuse me our institutions legacy that we put this together for our people to know that we're good enough And again, we will develop this pipeline. I'm very excited I'll answer that question. I got a couple of kpis one that there will be one Government official here in the commonwealth of virginia that doesn't understand what virginia state university brings to take That's number one number two That our students are voting Not just in the national elections but in the local and regional elections And that they become a powerhouse to make sure that they elect officials that are doing what they need Third that more elected officials and public servants come out of virginia state university That they are inspired by the work of the center and that they want to inspire to be like what's uh, and last but certainly not least The number one our kpi is to make sure that we keep west bell, man. I'm three or four years I'm not going anywhere And before I go, I appreciate your time let everybody out here who's watching this or will watch this How can we donate? Donate donate to support this initiative and virginia state university overall You can give to virginia state university Our west our website is giving dot virginia I'm sorry giving dot vsu dot edu. I'm going to send you the link so you can put it below But you can give to virginia state universities to support the institute But also to support any of the activities that we have going on and especially our young people For me our young people are first second third and fourth and anything that we can do to continue to support their growth and development Is greatly appreciated