This year marks the 134th anniversary of the Second Morrill Act of 1890, the legislation through which Congress established a branch of separate Land- grant universities at historically Black colleges and universities across the American South. 1890 universities were created to provide African American students an opportunity to attend college and pursue degrees in the agricultural, mechanical, and industrial arts that, until that time, had been prohibited due to segregation laws throughout the United States.

As we commemorate this significant achievement for the 1890 community, we must address the urgent social and environmental challenges impacting the communities we serve. Across America, the average temperature is anticipated to increase between three- and 10-degrees. Many of these changes will be most dramatically felt in communities we serve and represent that lack tree canopy. As a result of historically discriminatory practices, low-income neighborhoods and communities of color often have fewer trees and more pavement than their wealthier counterparts. An increase in urban tree canopies is desperately needed to reverse this trend.

The 1890 Universities Foundation has been awarded a $35 million grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service to help mitigate these heat trends at some of our universities, the communities they serve, and their surrounding communities. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Urban Community Forestry grant will help Tennessee State University, South Carolina State University, Alabama A&M, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Southern University, and Tuskegee University move closer to achieving tree equity for their communities. The 1890 Universities Foundation is proud to serve as the pass-through partner of the U.S. Forest Service to deliver these critical funds to the communities that need them most, and we look forward to additional 1890 Universities coming on board this year to achieve tree equity in more communities. As such, we are committed to addressing some of the most pressing environmental and health challenges that face the Black community and other communities of color, while creating a healthier, safer, and more connected 1890 network.

The 134th anniversary also coincides with the culmination of months of tireless efforts the Foundation has undertaken—the launch of our new 1890 Universities Foundation website. This project is a reflection of our ongoing commitment to serve and uplift our community while informing and educating the public on the legacy of the 19-Strong.

Why This Moment is Important:

The Foundation’s new website signals progress and growth for our team. In recent months, we have achieved several significant milestones, including securing historic funding through the Inflation Reduction Act via the USDA’s Forest Service agency to enhance green spaces across our campuses, expanded our team to better serve our mission and to better serve our community, and deepened our connections within the 1890 community.

What the New Website Offers:

Our new website will help us showcase our work and accomplishments. The website will highlight impactful work and the cutting-edge research and expertise that our universities provide. The navigation is designed to be user- friendly, and the site will serve as a welcoming gateway for all who seek to learn more about the 1890 Land-Grant mission and our contributions.

Thank you for being our dedicated partners on this journey. We look forward to building a stronger, more connected 1890 community in the months and years ahead. We truly embrace the moniker “19-Strong” because together we are stronger. We represent a system of HBCUs like no other, and there is nothing we cannot accomplish. The 1890 Foundation is here to support and serve the 1890 community. If you have any thoughts or words of encouragement, we welcome them as we take this next step together.

Sincerely,
Jewel Bronaugh,
Ph.D. President and CEO