Episcopal Diocese of Long Island Awards $90,000 in Scholarships to 18 Young Scholars at Juneteenth Jubilee

Investing in Educational Opportunity 

Established by the Reparations Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, the Barbara C. Harris Scholars Program helps remove financial barriers to higher education and vocational training for Black, African American, and Caribbean American descendants of enslaved people. 

"The Barbara C. Harris Scholars Program is an investment in the future," said Bishop Provenzano. "These scholars embody excellence, perseverance, and a deep commitment to their communities. As we celebrate Juneteenth and the continuing work of freedom and justice, we are honored to support their educational journeys and leadership aspirations." 

Scholarship recipients were selected through a rigorous three-round review process conducted by the Diocese's Reparations Committee, chaired by Penny Allen Grinage. 

"In 2021, Bishop Provenzano charged the Reparations Committee with creating a scholarship program for African American and Caribbean American descendants of enslaved people pursuing college, vocational, and trade education," said Grinage. "The intent was to offer opportunity and promote equity through education. In just five years, that vision has resulted in 70 scholarships being awarded, including this year's recipients." 

Honoring Leadership and Legacy 

During the celebration, Grinage also recognized Bishop Provenzano's steadfast support of the Diocese's reparations ministry as he prepares to retire later this year after 17 years of episcopal leadership. 

"The committee has had Bishop Provenzano's unwavering support from the very beginning," she said. "His commitment has enabled this Diocese to do the work of the Beloved Community and create opportunities that will transform lives for generations to come." 

The committee presented Bishop Provenzano with a commemorative booklet featuring an essay by the Rev. Gideon Pollack, A Theology of Repair: From Enslavement to Educational Reparations, in recognition of his leadership in advancing reparative justice throughout the Diocese. 

The Juneteenth Jubilee also celebrated the life and legacy of the Rt. Rev. Barbara C. Harris, the pioneering civil rights activist and church leader for whom the scholarship program is named. Harris became the first woman ordained as a bishop in the Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the first Black woman to serve in that role. 

Each scholarship recipient received a copy of Harris's memoir, Hallelujah Anyhow, as a reminder of the faith, courage, and perseverance that shaped her remarkable life and legacy. 

The Diocese hopes to continue expanding the program in the years ahead, extending educational opportunities to more students and deepening its commitment to truth, repair, and justice.