Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law students Jasmine Harmon and Grayson Lanza were selected as the 2023-2024 FAMU College of Law Wells Fargo Racial Justice Fellows.
The FAMU Law college is currently located in downtown Orlando, near county and federal courthouses, and major law firms.
Harmon, a second-year student from Tampa, Florida, has been impacted by racism, discrimination, and poverty during her lifetime. This experience has motivated Harmon to fight for racial and social justice. Harmon sees her Racial Justice Fellowship as a perfect opportunity to make a difference in the community.
“My commitment to advancing racial and social change within my community is important to me through engagement in school and outside the classroom,” Harmon said. “I am eager to work to help serve as a representative to conduct policy reform and address racial disparities in Florida through informed discourse.”
Lanza is a second-year student from Naples, Florida. He recalls the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri by a police officer, which led him to participate in an Orlando Black Lives Matter protest, while a student at the University of Central Florida. “I am excited and grateful for this opportunity to work as a fellow to contribute to efforts uncovering, analyzing, and combating racial justice issues throughout Florida,” Lanza said.
The fellowship is designed for second-and third-year law students with an interest in civil rights, criminal justice reform, human rights and social justice. The Racial Justice Fellowships are made possible by funding from Wells Fargo. Each fellow receives $5000.00. “Our investment in the FAMU College of Law is part of Wells Fargo’s broader commitment to supporting education as the Bank of Doing and making a difference in communities in which we live and work,” said Kate Wilson, Senior Vice President, Community Relations at Wells Fargo.
“The Racial Justice Fellowships provide an invaluable opportunity to recognize students who are committed to civil rights and social justice and to support their engagement in direct advocacy, policy review, and public outreach and education around the most critical legal issues confronting our state,” said Director of Legal Clinics and Field Placements Mark Dorosin. “We are fortunate that Wells Fargo supports this work, which is fundamental to the mission of the College of Law.”
The fellows will work with the Florida Law Schools’ Consortium on Racial Justice, as well as other research, public education, and legal advocacy projects designed to increase awareness of and identify solutions to racial justice issues.
The Florida A&M University College of Law was founded as a division in 1949.
