GCSW alumna Ursela Knox leverages her knowledge gained as a GLOBE student and her passion for her native Fort Bend County to ensure the elevation and honoring of the lives and stories of the Sugar Land 95. Serving as a super volunteer for the Society of Justice & Equality for the People of Sugar Land (S.O.J.E.S.), an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation and community education about African American contributions to Sugar Land and Fort Bend County, Texas, Ursela collaborates with legislative officials, appointed officers, community organizers and volunteers to address our history of racial injustice. 

"As a native of Fort Bend County, I've always been intrigued by its rich history," Ursela explained. Following the discovery of the Sugar Land 95, Ursela began volunteering with S.O.J.E.S. to educate the world about the atrocities of convict leasing and related historical racial and social injustices that perpetuated racial oppression and exploitation of people of color across the South. "These individuals weren't just convicts; they were chemists and botanists trained in cultivating sugar cane. It's my obligation to honor their contributions to the development of one of the most diverse and affluent counties in Texas," Ursela emphasized. 

My commitment to educate, honor, and heal through community building and advocacy is social justice. - Ursela Knox, MSW  

S.O.J.E.S. is actively engaged in developing "The Sugar Land 95 Experience," a national traveling convict leasing museum and educational center, as part of its ongoing commitment to fostering awareness and understanding. This collaborative endeavor aims to facilitate education, memorialization, healing and reconciliation, bridging the gap between past injustices and present-day realities. Complementing this initiative, the organization amplifies its message through the grassroots podcast Black Sugar Not So Sweet, which is accessible in four countries, thereby extending the Society of Justice & Equality for the People of Sugar Land's influence on a global scale. 

 Learn more about the Society of Justice & Equality for the People of Sugar Land by visiting https://www.sojesjustice.org/