SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
TUSCALOOSA — As Stillman College prepares to celebrate its 150th anniversary, the historic institution is securing its future with a major financial win. Stillman has been awarded up to $1.04 million through the groundbreaking HBCU Brilliance Initiative, a first-of-its-kind program designed to help historically Black colleges address decades of underfunding and modernize their campuses for generations to come.
Stillman is the only Alabama HBCU selected among 11 institutions nationwide. Each school receives a $40,000 grant, up to $1 million in low-interest financing, and access to an exclusive network of financial experts who will assist with campus planning and long-term stability.
For Stillman President Dr. Yolanda Page, the timing could not be more meaningful. With the Sesquicentennial approaching, she said the investment supports her goal of building a financial and structural foundation sturdy enough to carry the college through the next century and beyond.
“It’s like building a house,” Page said. “You want a firm foundation so anyone who inherits it can depend on its strength. That’s what I want to establish at Stillman.”
Addressing a Legacy of Inequity
The Brilliance Initiative, created by the Reinvestment Fund, aims to close long-standing financial gaps between HBCUs and predominantly white institutions. A 2023 federal report revealed a staggering $12.6 billion funding disparity, with Alabama among the states ordered to increase investment in their HBCUs.
The program includes several private HBCUs that, according to national research, have experienced the steepest declines in federal funding over the past two decades.
Despite chronic underfunding, HBCUs continue to produce a disproportionate share of Black professionals nationwide — including 70% of Black doctors and dentists and 80% of Black judges.
Preparing Stillman for the Future
Stillman will use the new funds to:
• Conduct condition assessments of 39 campus buildings
• Advance its campus master plan
• Improve budget modeling and financial forecasting
• Digitize archives and blueprints to preserve institutional history
Many buildings require major upgrades, including asbestos abatement and HVAC modernization. Page noted how quickly infrastructure costs accumulate. “I’m at a million dollars very quickly,” she said.
Ultimately, Page said every dollar strengthens Stillman’s mission and future. “That Black legacy is important. It’s about being financially secure.”