Meridians
Since 2000, the Meridians journal has showcased the ideas and voices of women of color. Founded at Smith under the leadership of Smith President Emerita Ruth J. Simmons with the help of advisors including Angela Davis, Wilma Mankiller, and Toni Morrison, the publication’s goal is to make scholarship by and about marginalized women central to economic, political, and social practices in the U.S. and around the world.
Tightly woven into the fabric of Smith through student internships, faculty mentoring, and coursework, Meridians shares key tenets of the college’s mission: to fight for gender and racial equity, and to develop engaged global leaders.
Endowing this intellectual treasure will protect its focus on women of color, energize its community-building and outreach, and sustain its ability to publish exceptional academic and creative work for another 25 years—and beyond.
“For far too long, generations of students and scholars were unaware of the stories and intellectual contributions of women of color. Meridians has changed that, making these part of the academic discourse.”
The Meridians Movement
Meridians’ greatest point of pride is the vibrant intellectual community it has fostered through its work—a community that embraces Smith faculty and involves students in every aspect of the publishing process.
The journal has grown to become an influential community for women. The peer-reviewed journal publishes outstanding scholarly and creative work, spurring conversation around feminism, race and transnationalism. Meridians’ global network of contributors, readers and teachers collectively support the publication’s mission to empower women.
“We’re creating a conversation of intellectuals, an international community with a shared focus on feminism and activism, which expands the pipeline of women of color scholars, and supports women in shifting the ways in which academic communities envision social justice,” says Ginetta E.B. Candelario ’90, Meridians editor.
“It is incredibly important to have Meridians at Smith, where it has played a powerful role in giving women of color scholars a voice and building a global community in support of those voices… Based right on campus, Meridians encourages Smithies to engage directly with its work as interns and through the journal’s activities. After 25 years of breakthroughs, Meridians is ready to do much more.”
With Your Support...
Philanthropic Opportunities
An anonymous alum, moved by the mission and vision of Meridians, has committed a foundational endowed gift of $1 million to inspire other alums to join in sustaining the journal and help it expand globally.
“Meridians’ time has come,” says the anonymous donor. “It’s an extraordinary journal, and we have a chance to really propel it. I’m thrilled that we have the opportunity as a community to support Meridians with the respect and resources it deserves.”
Smith is asking alums to join in with donations of any amount to permanently endow Meridians.
These donations will go directly to the Meridians endowment, helping amplify the voices of women of color.
For more information, contact Marea Wexler, senior philanthropic advisor, at 413-585-2672 or mswexler@smith.edu.