Street named Black Earth Institute Fellow

Laura-Gray Street

English professor Laura-Gray Street was named a Black Earth Institute (BEI) Fellow over the summer.

The institute was founded in 2004 as a progressive think tank dedicated to creating a more ethical world. The artists and scholars who make up the group focus on social justice, environmental issues, and the spiritual dimensions of the human condition in their art and work.

Fellows and scholars meet annually to discuss their work in light of the organization’s mission, deepen their view of critical cultural developments, and set goals for the coming year. They also maintain a network to support and promote each other’s work.

Fellows guest edit an issue of About Place Journal, BEI’s online literary journal, choosing a theme to promote the institute’s goals in art, and participate in panels and readings at conferences, universities, and public gatherings.

In October, Street attended the annual retreat with current fellows and others at the Black Earth Institute in Wisconsin. As a fellow, she will be working on a BEI project in collaboration with the James River Association.