The Institute on Black Life

IBL

The Institute on Black Life (IBL) was established in the fall of 1986. IBL's founding director was Dr. Juel Shannon Smith. Her vision of a resilient university-community relationship continues to be a strategic goal of the Institute and the University of South Florida. The mission of the Institute on Black Life is to serve as a resource center on historical, cultural, political and economic issues related to peoples of Africa and the African Diaspora. Since its inception, IBL has consistently developed and implemented various local, state, national and international projects that have addressed a range of critical issues including: the achievement gap, urbanization in Africa, low-income housing and health disparities. IBL has also provided substantial support for faculty and student research and established innovative, community-based initiatives that have facilitated learning opportunities for youth and families. IBL maintains a scholarly agenda through a broad array of grant-funded projects, university-based events (such as speaker series and colloquia), an annual conference and various scholarly collaborations with academic departments. In 2008, IBL joined the Africana Studies Department and continues its work with the active support of Africana Studies faculty.

 

Contact

Institute on Black Life
University of South Florida
4202 E. Fowler Ave. FAO274
Tampa, FL 33620

Phone: 813.974.4727
Fax: 813.974.5042