Descendants United

Dear Descendant Family,

Last year we invited a diverse group of descendant community members to provide feedback on choosing a new name and logo as we rebranded our organization to explicitly include ALL descendants of Jesuit enslavement.

Thank you again to everyone who shared your thoughtful ideas and heartfelt input as we consider the next chapter of our organization’s journey. Your voices have guided us with the same spirit of unity, truth, and love that has sustained our community from the very beginning.

We are pleased to share a significant update: in preparation for the favorable approval of our 501(c)(3) nonprofit application, our organization’s name will officially transition from GU272 Descendants Association to Descendants United.

This new name reflects what has always been at our core—a united community of descendants, rooted in truth, and moving forward together. It is fully inclusive of all who share in the legacy of Jesuit enslavement and our collective work toward healing, justice, and empowerment.

In the coming weeks, you will see this name reflected across our communications, website, and community initiatives. While the name is simpler, our mission remains the same: to identify and honor our ancestors, certify our lineages, and unify to strengthen our collective voice.

We thank you for walking this path with us, and we look forward to continuing our work together under the banner of Descendants United.

With gratitude and solidarity,

Rochell Sanders Prater, Executive Director
Member - Board of Directors

Descendants United
(formerly GU272 Descendants Association)

Dear Descendant Community,

We write to share an important and historic announcement from Georgetown University. The Board of Directors has named Eduardo Peñalver as the 49th President of Georgetown University.

President-elect Peñalver brings a distinguished record of leadership, scholarship, and service. A graduate of Cornell and Yale Law School, and former Dean of Cornell Law School, he is a devoted educator and public servant who has worked to expand access, equity, and academic excellence.

As descendants of those enslaved by the Maryland Jesuits, we recognize the importance of this moment in Georgetown’s ongoing journey toward truth, reconciliation, and justice. Leadership transitions offer renewed opportunities for continued partnership and accountability in the shared work of remembrance and repair.

The GU272 Descendants Association looks forward to engaging with President Peñalver and the University community as we build on the progress made and reaffirm our shared commitment to a future rooted in truth.

To read the full announcement from Georgetown University, visit:
👉 https://www.georgetown.edu/news/49th-president-penalver

Descendants of the St. Louis University Enslaved - DSLUE Dialogue on Race Louisiana S. Epatha Merkerson Knights of Peter Claver, Inc. Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation Julie Hawkins Ennis Houma, Louisiana Donaldsonville, Louisiana North Iberville Bears Grand Coteau, Louisiana Georgetown University

Eduardo Peñalver Named 49th President of Georgetown University - Georgetown University Eduardo M. Peñalver, the president of Seattle University and former dean of Cornell Law School, will be the next president of Georgetown.

Join us in congratulating our Cuzzin Robin Proudie!

Cuzzin, Robin Proudie, Founder and Executive Director of Descendants of the St. Louis University Enslaved - DSLUE, spoke on behalf of descendants of people trafficked by universities during the Reparatory Justice Panel at the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent in New York. From the global stage, she lifted the voices of our ancestors and demanded truth, accountability, and reparative justice from institutions built on their backs. ✊🏾🕊️ and ReparativeJustice

Descendant of St. Louis University Enslaved (DSLUE) Speaks at UN Cuzzin, Robin Proudie, Founder and Executive Director of DSLUE, spoke on behalf of descendants of people trafficked by universities during the Reparatory Jus...