Photo by Tony Carpenter
Dr. Iva E. Carruthers is a social justice advocate and leader who has spoken and written about social issues that affect the Black diaspora. She is currently the general secretary of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference (SDPC), an “interdenominational organization within the African- American faith tradition focused on justice and equity issues.” In 1967, she graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a degree in sociology and French and went on to Northwestern University where she earned her M.A. in counselor education and Ph.D. in sociology (1972). Her studies prepared her to take on the educational and social advocacy work she would become known for throughout her career. Before retiring to focus on her faith work full-time, Dr. Carruthers founded and ran Nexus Unlimited, one of the largest women-owned ed-tech consulting firms in the nation.
As an educator, Dr. Carruthers is held in high esteem. Dr. Carruthers is professor emeritus and the former Chairperson of the Sociology Department at Northeastern Illinois University. In 1999, the University awarded Dr. Carruthers their Life Achievement Award. She also has spoken at the U.N. Civil Society Forums and other private and public institutions about racial and social justice.
As a writer, she has penned and edited many articles and books that outline her vision for a greater society. Some of her more recent advocacy work includes fighting for reparations. She is a member of the National African American Reparations Commission (NAARC) and has called on the faith community to contribute and support the organization’s 10-point plan. The organization’s 10-point plan includes social and economic development, affordable housing, and preserving black sacred sites and monuments. As a champion for what is just, Dr. Iva E. Carruthers has created a master plan for future generations that values equality and justice for all.
