Each year the Grinnell Prize recipient comes to campus in the fall. They receive their prize, meet with students and the wider community, and offer presentations about their work.
Throughout Prize Week 2020, students, faculty, staff, and guests had the opportunity to celebrate and interact with 2020 Grinnell College Innovator for Social Justice Prize winner Alexander McLean, founder and director general of Justice Defenders.
McLean, through his work with Justice Defenders, provides legal assistance, training, and education to incarcerated people and select prison staff. This support gives agency to those directly impacted by incarceration by providing incarcerated people with the knowledge needed to attain their own release and dignity.
Friday, Oct. 30
- 2020 Grinnell College Innovator for Social Justice Prize Award Ceremony and Keynote Address
- View the award ceremony and keynote address (login required).
- Students, staff, faculty, and alumni were welcome to join this event.
- Award celebration and keynote presentation by Alexander McLean, winner of the 2020 Grinnell College Innovator for Social Justice Prize. Q & A session following the award ceremony.
Saturday, Oct. 31
- 2020 Grinnell Prize Workshop:
The Future of Justice: Envisioning the Impact of Digital Justice - 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. (CDT)
- Students, staff, faculty, and alumni were welcome to join this event.
- The Covid-19 crisis has highlighted the global justice gap more than ever. Entire court systems have shut down, leaving countless people worldwide waiting for a fair hearing. Justice Defenders have found ways to keep the wheels of justice turning during the pandemic and have strived to elevate the voices of the marginalized. Justice Defenders see the opportunity to re-imagine the future of digital justice. Can dismantling the threads of injustice best be done from the margins? Can those with the least power in society be agents of change and reform? 2020 Grinnell College Innovator for Social Justice Prize winner Alexander McLean on how we can create a more egalitarian judicial system in the digital age.
Sunday, Nov. 1
- Conversation with Alexander McLean and President Anne Harris: Finding the Gift in Adversity
- View the conversation
- Students, staff, faculty, and alumni were welcome to join this event.
- As the world faces the simultaneous challenges of a global pandemic, racial, educational and economic inequities, and the increasing impact of climate change, how can we use this time of adversity to pause and reimagine what is possible? Hear 2020 Grinnell Prize winner, Alexander McLean, and Grinnell College President, Anne F. Harris, for a conversation about identifying opportunities for creative change-making for the common good.
- Small Group Discussion #1 with Alexander McLean: Change-Making in the Digital World
- 1–2 p.m. (CST)
- Participation was limited. Students, staff, and faculty were welcome to join this event with 2020 Grinnell Prize Winner Alexander McLean for a small group discussion about social change-making in a digital world.
Monday, Nov. 2
- Careers and Leadership Panel Discussion: Radical Inclusivity + Leadership = Radical Change
- Noon–1 p.m. (CST)
- Students, staff, faculty, and alumni were welcome to join this event.
- Moderator: Diego Rodriguez, associate director of employer engagement and internships
- Alexander McLean, 2020 Grinnell Prize winner, was joined by Grinnell College alumni to explore the importance of radical inclusion, leadership, and identity in their fields of work to drive creative and socially-just problem solving.
- Grinnell Prize Moderated Interview: The Role of Justice System Reform in Anti-racism Work
- 2–3 p.m. (CST)
- Students, staff, faculty, and alumni were welcome to join this event.
- Danielle Lussier, associate professor of political science and Grinnell Prize selection committee chair, explored the role of justice system reform in alleviating racism in our communities with Alexander McLean.
Tuesday, Nov. 3
- United States Election Day
- Because voting is an essential component for social change-making, participants were encouraged to use this day to vote or support other civic engagement efforts. As we reflect on the need for larger social change on this Election Day and beyond, check out these resources from Campus Compact Iowa for envisioning and implementing concrete social change strategies.
- Toolkit: Campus Compact Iowa Social Change Wheel 2.0 Toolkit
- Video: Social Change Wheel: Voting and Formal Political Activities
Wednesday, Nov. 4
- Grinnell Prize Small Group Discussion #2 with Alexander McLean: Change-Making and Radical Inclusivity
- 1–2 p.m. (CST)
- Participation was limited. Students, staff, and faculty were welcome to join this event.
- Participants joined 2020 Grinnell Prize Winner Alexander McLean for a small group discussion about social change-making and radical inclusivity.