The programs created and hosted by the Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice support the educational and community recommendations outlined in Brown’s landmark Slavery & Justice Report. In addition, the Center's programming is influenced by the recommendations of the Land Acknowledgment Working Group and the Community Engagement initiatives of the University.
Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice
Public Engagement and Education
The programs created and hosted by the Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice support the educational and community recommendations outlined in Brown’s landmark Slavery & Justice Report. In addition, the Center's programming is influenced by the recommendations of the Land Acknowledgment Working Group and the Community Engagement initiatives of the University.
Recent News from Education
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News from the Simmons Center
Spotlight On: Reina Thomas, Manager of Public Education Outreach and Initiatives
Reina Thomas develops and leads programs that connect RI high school students, educators, and the public with the Simmons Center's scholarship and resources. A Brown MAT graduate, her deep background in education and her passion for equity are key to the success of her work, which includes programs like the Black and Indigenous High School Summer Institute (BIHSI), MET in the Text, and The Teach-Ins.
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News from the Simmons Center
Reclaiming the Past: Black & Indigenous Histories Summer Institute Returns
In July 2025, we welcomed 15 High School students for a week of learning, reflection, and community-building focused on the often-untold histories of Black and Indigenous peoples in New England. Brown’s Simmons Center, NAISI, and the Tomaquag Museum led courses on the 13th Amendment and The War for the Dawnland, with guest speakers and space to reflect on these important stories.
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Ongoing Programs
A free summer program for Rhode Island students, the Black and Indigenous Histories Summer Institute (BIHSI) is designed for rising 9th graders through graduating 12th graders. It centers on a restorative justice framework that emphasizes self-reflection, critical thinking, and reading against the grain to reframe our understanding of history.
The Simmons Center is a hub of educational resources that provides access to curricula geared toward Rhode Island students that meet the needs of our diverse multilingual learners. Our educational program also offers professional development through restorative justice and responsive classroom frameworks to teachers and educational leaders.
The Slavery & Legacy Walking Tours examine the history behind Brown University, the State of Rhode Island and their roles in the transatlantic slave trade and settler colonialism. The tours help students (junior high, high school, and college) as well as adult groups think critically about the University and state histories.
The Teach-Ins are inspired by Brown's Slavery & Justice Report's recommendation to “use the resources of the University to help ensure a quality education for the children of Rhode Island.” This FREE two-part series is an opportunity for local K–12 educators to learn the history of Black and Indigenous folks in New England while creating and modifying lessons on the subject to bring back to their classrooms.
Are you an Educator looking for resources, curriculum, professional development, or a community of educators? Then, this is the page for you. Learn about opportunities to hear from scholars, community members, and other educators while also finding a space to create workshops, lessons, and events.
Program Archive
Running from 2015–2019, the Civil Rights Movement Initiative (CRMI) was an after-school program that served students from three Providence public high schools. This initiative aimed to help high school students understand the Civil Rights Movement as a bridge to understand the present. Each year's program culminated in a seven-day trip to visit historic sites and museums commemorating the Civil Rights Movement.