David Covin, director of Pan African studies and professor of government and ethnic studies was awarded a grant of $177,000 from the Ford Foundation to help fund his project titled “Race and Democracy: Two workshops for Brazilian and U.S. Political and Social Scientists.” This marks the first time Sacramento State has received a grant from the Ford Foundation. “It is very exciting, stimulating and energizing,” Covin said. “It meant that a project would be possible.”

The origin of these workshops comes from the National Conference of Black Political Scientists, a group that calls itself the Brazil Group. Two workshops were scheduled in the project. The Brazilian workshops were held May 20-26 of this year.

“The Brazilian workshops were masterfully done,” Covin said.

The workshop at Sac State will be held July 6-13 of 2001. The project contains six days of workshops. One day will be devoted to an all day public conference to discuss the importance race plays in democracies. Three days will be devoted to discussing projects that officials are collaborating on and new ideas. The final two days will be dedicated to developing new plans.

“This is a very important workshop,” Covin said. “It is the first gathering of its kind in the U.S.”

This project produced a new class on campus this fall, Ethnic Studies 196K. The new course offering is based primarily on the Brazil workshop.

“It will help students to learn about race and democracy in two different countries,” Covin said. “It will also give students an understanding of how the grant process operates.” When the workshop comes to Sac State, more time will be spent on project development, Covin said.

Covin hopes that these workshops will have an impact on the scholarly world as well as on higher education. He is looking to focus more resources on race and politics. Covin also wants to introduce this into the undergraduate level.

“I want to get more undergraduates involved in research,” Covin said. “Not just reading about research, but coming up with their own findings.”