Amanitore Truitt (Visiting Scholar)
Project:
No Man Left Behind: The Correlation Between Literacy Rates and Incarceration
Education:
Sophomore at Durham Academy
Education
Hank & Billye Suber Aaron Young Scholars Summer Research Institute
Program Description
The Aaron Young Scholars Summer Research Institute is a program that provides high school students enrolled in Durham Public Schools (DPS) with training to enhance their writing, research, and presentation skills. The program is sponsored by the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University in partnership with Durham Public Schools (DPS). In keeping with the Samuel DuBois Cook Center’s central mission as a community of scholars engaged in the study of the causes and consequences of inequality, program participants explore curriculum related to the economic, social, and political dimensions of inequality.
Goals
- Enhance student research, writing, and presentation skills within an academically high-achieving environment
- Facilitate student ownership of learning and develop tools for critical inquiry
- Foster collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to the study of the causes and consequences of inequality
- Enable student production of individual research related to the varied causes and consequences of inequality and possible remedies for achieving equity and social justice (involving the intersections of class, income, wealth, gender, race, health, law, employment, and education)
- Identify and recruit the next generation of scholars engaged in the study of inequality and design of remedies for addressing group-based disparities and conflicts.
Details
- Programming: TBD for 2025
- Location: TBD for 2025
- Food: Breakfast and lunch are provided while on site.
- Cost: Free.
- Requirement: Aaron Young Scholars Summer Research Institute participants must be currently enrolled in Durham Public Schools and the ninth, tenth, or eleventh grade.
Administration
Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity
- William A. Darity, Program Founder
- Gwendolyn Wright, Program Administrator
- Kennedy Ruff, Program Coordinator
- JoAnn O’Neal, Business Manager
Durham Public Schools
- Keaundra Robinson, Co-Program Liaison; Equity Leadership and Strategy Coordinator with Durham Public Schools
- Iwinosa Idahor, Co-Program Liaison; Student Equity, Engagement and Opportunity Coordinator with Durham Public Schools
Application & Deadline
We will be accepting and reviewing applications in 2025.
Please fill out the link below, and if you have any questions, please email Program Coordinator Ms. Kennedy Ruff at kennedy.ruff@duke.edu.
2024 Hank and Billye Suber Aaron Young Scholars
Cohort 1
Amaya Garcia-Clough
Project:
Decreasing Maternal Mortality in South Sudan
Education:
Junior at Northern High School
America Barrera
Project:
Central American Immigrant Students and Higher Education
Education:
Senior at Riverside High School
Bernadine Dela Pena
Project:
The Mental Health Effects of the “Model Minority” Myth among Asian Americans in the U.S. Education System
Education:
Sophomore at Riverside High School
Camren Pierce
Project:
The Lack of Representation of African American and Hispanic Doctors in the U.S.
Education:
Junior at Durham School of the Arts
Celine Gamino
Project:
Bias in Generative AI: A manifestation of Stereotyped Data
Education:
Sophomore at Josephine Dobbs Clement Early College High School
Cole Jones
Project:
Shortcomings in the Criminal Justice System: An Analysis of Incarceration and Recidivism
Education:
Junior at Middle College High School at Durham Technical Community College
Dante Lawson
Project:
Addressing the Crisis: A Look at Black Mortality Rates Through Equitable Healthcare
Education:
Junior at Northern High School
Cohort 2
Aliani Alvarez Alcantara
Project:
The Disparities of Socioeconomic Status & Its Effects on Mental Development in Children
Education:
Senior at Durham School of the Arts
Alina Mina Azhar
Project:
As the STEAM Rises: How the Downfall of Arts Education in the U.S. Impacts the Field of Engineering
Education:
Senior at Josephine Dobbs Clement Early College High School
Aniah Satterfield
Project:
Stereotypes and Authenticity in Black Cinema: Analyzing Representation Through Historical and Contemporary Lenses
Education:
Junior at Durham School of the Arts
Hana Sato (Visiting Scholar)
Project:
Prescription for Prejudice: How Health Care Bias and Discrimination Affect LGBTQ+ and BIPOC Individuals
Education:
Senior at Insight Colearning Center
Kailia Kissi
Project:
Racial Disparities in Maternal Health: How Can Medical Training and Racial Awareness Create Change for Black Women Experiencing
Education:
Sophomore at City of Medicine Academy
Kalia West
Project:
Differences in Lifetime Income for Post-Secondary Education Attainment by Race
Education:
Senior at Northern Durham High School
Maira Magwene Muñiz
Project:
Cultural Sovereignty: How Artifact Repatriation Policies Affect Indigenous Communities in the U.S.
Education:
Senior at Charles E. Jordan High School
Olaitan Ajasa
Project:
Listen to our Black Mothers: Social Stigmas in African American Maternal Health
Education:
Sophomore at Durham School of the Arts
Program Personnel
Kaleb Lucas
Role:
Cohort 1 Intern
Institution:
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Keaundra Robinson
Role:
Co-Program Liaison
Institution:
Equity Leadership and Strategy Coordinator with Durham Public Schools
Kollin Brown
Role:
Cohort 1 Intern
Institution:
Morehouse College
Lauren Casteen
Durham Public Schools
Cohort 1 Instructor
Sandra Santillian
Role:
Cohort 2 Intern
Institution:
North Carolina State University
Shamia Truitt
Durham Public Schools
Cohort 1 Instructor
“It was a total success and I know that the Young Scholars are motivated to become activist and change agents for social justice. Thank you again for this amazing program.”
Aaron Young Scholar Parent
“I enjoyed being in the 3rd year cohort and digging deeper into my topic. I also appreciate working with all of the teachers and staff of the institute."
Aaron Young Scholar
“Keep up the great work. You are creating future leaders who will understand the key issues impacting our community.”
Aaron Young Scholar Parent
“Although hesitant at first, my student thoroughly enjoyed himself, and he was excited to tell us about his daily work and learned information that is helpful to him. He was nervous about presenting, however he became more confident and did well.”
Aaron Young Scholar Parent
“My favorite part of the institute was watching the change in the depth of conversation with my student.”
Aaron Young Scholar Parent
It was really important to me that I finished the Social Equity Program and through your help, I was able to do so. This program has taught me so much and has even played a major impact on my future career goals.
Aaron Young Scholar
“I enjoyed hearing from everyone [at the Capstone] and the topics are all relevant and timely.”
Aaron Young Scholar Parent
“The teachers and staff are supportive and transparent. The village concept is working!”
Aaron Young Scholar Parent
My student blossomed under tutelage received. The boost to their confidence and ability to work with like minded young people has made for a wondrous experience. Thank you, for your efforts and commitment. These students benefited and our community will continue to benefit.
Aaron Young Scholar Parent
