The Center for Civil Rights and Racial Justice (CCRRJ) proudly announces the recipients of the CCRRJ Scholar Award. The CCRRJ Scholar Award supports students committed to advancing civil rights and racial justice through academic, research, legal, or practical applications. This year, seven exceptional students have been selected to receive $1,000 each to alleviate the financial burden on students dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial justice through academic, research, legal, or practical applications.
The recipients, spanning various disciplines and backgrounds, have demonstrated exceptional commitment to addressing systemic disparities in police violence, public health, women’s reproductive health, access to legal advice, and employment.
Pitt Law 3L, Elijah Winborne, has been lauded for his tireless efforts in dismantling barriers to justice for minority communities. His support for the Derrick Bell Pro Bono Legal Clinic and his research on laws that discriminate against Black people are just a few of his significant contributions.
Winborne is an academic and advocate passionate about breaking down barriers to justice for minority communities. As the vice president of the Black Law Students Organization, he is committed to organizing and promoting the Derrick Bell Pro Bono Legal Clinic, which provides members of minority communities with free legal advice.
As a member of the reparation task force for Pennsylvania State Representative Christopher M. Rabb, Winborne has done dedicated research and documentation on all the laws enacted in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that have discriminated against black people. While at the McElroy Law firm, he participated in the Pro Bono Landlord Tenant Mediation Project, providing free representation to low-income individuals in landlord-tenant disputes to prevent an eviction filing or eviction order.
The Scholar Award will be pivotal in supporting and advancing Winborne’s academic journey this summer. It will provide him with the necessary financial backing to continue his educational and professional growth pursuits while championing and bolstering the pro bono law clinic.