The Dr. N. Joyce Payne Center for Social Justice is an independent think tank created by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. The Payne Center is devoted to research and programming that leads to pragmatic ideas on how to address the problem of social justice facing society. The mission of the Payne Center is to inform public policy that improves the lives of Black Americans and all marginalized groups.
The Payne Center’s research agenda covers a wide range of subjects, with six primary areas of concentration: civic participation; economics and wealth; educational equity; the future of work; communities and environments; and organizational entities. These topics are addressed through data-driven social science research methods. The Payne Center’s research philosophy asserts that those directly impacted by systemic discrimination and injustice are best suited to propose solutions to eliminate those barriers.
The Payne Center functions in following ways:
- Producing annual reports
- Conducting high quality research and scholarship on social justice issues that inform theory, policy, and practice
- Convening scholars (particularly from the HBCU community, public policy leaders, social advocates, and solution-makers to address topics triggering change in the lived experiences of Black Americans
- Publishing reports, articles, monographs, and books on social justice issues to inform national audiences
- Serve as a source of new ideas and innovative policies/programs in the field of social justice
- Providing consultation and professional development to activists/legacy organizations working on social justice issues
- Advising public official and policymakers on designing effective policies and services for Black Americans and other communities of color
M. C. Brown II, Ph.D.
Executive Director & Research Scientist
Dr. N. Joyce Payne Center for Social Justice
Thurgood Marshall College Fund
Meet Our Talent
Shaquille Profitt
“My participation in TMCF has allowed me to use my voice, skills, and abilities in spaces I previously believed I did not belong. I was fortunate enough to have been selected as one of the hosts of the 2021 Leadership Institute. By taking on this leadership role, I could step out of my comfort zone. Unequivocally,
Joshua A. Brown
“TMCF has helped me out in more ways than I could count. I’ve sat before Fortune 500 companies and interviewed for internships and full-time job opportunities. TMCF has allowed me to help find the best talent at my illustrious institution, Florida A&M University, and helped other students shine nationally. They’ve helped me financially with scholarships I
Angelica (Angie) Hood
During my internship at the Boeing Company, I interned under the Global Supplier Diversity. This gave me an opportunity to work within Boeing’s Strategic Initiatives and introduce small minority businesses to all available opportunities at Boeing. Along with the special projects I completed for my internship, the experience has impacted my professional endeavors and made me