Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice

A Catalyst for Social Justice

The mission of the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice is to build knowledge about social justice, to develop skills for advancing social justice through individual and collective action, and to serve as a catalyst for actualizing Bridgewater State University’s commitment to social justice.

At BSU, we believe that social justice requires individual and collective action to ensure fairness in pursuit of opportunities, freedom from oppression and the equitable distribution of resources. Fairness, freedom from oppression and equitable distribution of resources are all grounded in the same basic principle: that all human beings have equal dignity and worth.

The Institute for Social Justice was established in 2011 and renamed in honor of Martin Richard in 2015. Eight year old Martin was one of three people killed, while hundreds of others were injured, by bombs at the Boston Marathon in 2013. Martin’s parents, Bill and Denise Richard, are BSU alumni.

Upcoming Events

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Featured Opportunities

MLK Day of Service

MRISJ is excited to announce the return of BSU's annual MLK Day of Service Project on January 25th, 2025! Sign up now to join us at one of the four sites across southeastern MA as we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Folks can serve with End Hunger New England, Gifts to Give or Old Colony Habitat for Humanity in the community, or join us on campus to support Project PACK and Be the Match. Please note that our on-campus project is the only site able to accept youth volunteers.

While all are welcome to join, registration is required to secure your place for all registrants. Space is limited and spots will be filled on a first come, first served basis.

The Unseen Truth: A Conversation with Danielle Allen

In today's media-driven society, we have access to unlimited content at our fingertips. Doomscrolling through social media, watching renowned ballet performances from your living room or viewing virtual photography exhibits from across the globe has become the norm. But who is represented and who gets left out?

Sarah Lewis joins us on January 30th to explore the role of art & culture in racial justice and how visual representations can spark action and set us on the path to a more just future.

MRISJ thanks Santander Bank for its generous support of our Civic Speaker Series.

Our Programs

Community Service

The Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice encourages members of the Bridgewater State University community to become life-long engaged citizens in our local, regional, national and global communities through serving their community.

MRISJ Justice Fellows

MRISJ Justice Fellows are undergraduate students, hired as BSU student employees, and work 10 hours per week throughout the academic year. Fellows are paired with a nonprofit organization or campus-based initiative.