The Interdisciplinary Studies Department in UMass Amherst’s University Without Walls (UWW) hosted the 2024 Social Justice Residency Weekend on April 26 to 28, bringing together attendees at the UMass Amherst Henry M. Thomas III Center at Springfield around the theme "Good Trouble: Everyday Activism and the Pursuit of Justice."

Students, community activists, and experts discussed what social justice means and how it is interconnected with daily life. Together, they addressed themes such as silence, erasure, and voice, knowledge and power, intersectionality, systemic oppression, various forms of violence as perpetuated against individuals and communities, as well as the ways that people resist injustices, build coalitions, and work to advance social change.

Saturday and Sunday programming included workshops, panelist presentations, and discussions exploring the intricacies of activism and advocacy coalition building, and work toward advancing positive social change. Registered students who couldn’t attend the residency in person participated remotely via Zoom, making it an accessible and hybrid experience.  

In its eighth year, the residency featured a free, public keynote address—funded by the Chancellor's Community, Democracy, and Dialogue (CDD) working group—by Dr. Jallicia Jolly, Amherst College assistant professor of American studies and Black studies, titled "Justice in Practice: Black Women's Activism and Pathways to Social Transformation."

According to UWW Interdisciplinary Studies Chair and residency co-faculty Julie Skogsbergh and original founder and faculty member Mitch Boucher, the residency was developed more than a decade ago by former and current faculty who taught and developed community-engaged programming out of the UMass Amherst Center at Springfield. The organizing committee is comprised of UWW Interdisciplinary Studies faculty, staff, students, and alumni.  

The residency aligns with a key priority of the Accelerate campaign—revolutionizing access to education—which focuses on increasing access that goes beyond admission. Experiences outside the classroom create opportunities for students to engage and connect, enhancing their UMass education.

“The majority of UWW IS students are completing their bachelor’s degree online as working adults with family responsibilities, so attending college would otherwise not be an option for them,” Boucher said.

“Many of our students are eager for some in-person and/or synchronous learning opportunities, and many are interested in issues related to social justice.”

Skogsbergh notes the majority of UWW Interdisciplinary Studies students come from Massachusetts and live in the western Massachusetts area, with the highest percentage of students coming from Hampden County. Most are transfer students with some college and/or have an associate degree from community college.

According to organizing committee member and spring 2024 graduate Megan Ussery, “There is great polarization regarding political, social, and cultural issues; this event hopes to engage students with these topics. The goal is to give students a chance to engage in discussion about complex topics related to social justice while exploring the intricacies of activism, advocacy, and allyship.”

Story originally published by the University Without Walls Department of Interdisciplinary Studies 

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