Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s office appointed President M. Lee Pelton to lead a new citywide steering committee that will raise money to combat racism, according to an announcement Thursday.

The Boston Racial Equity Fund will collect millions to address systemic racism and prejudice in the city. Nonprofits that support economic development, public health, youth jobs, and education and training will benefit from the fund, according to multiple reports. 

The steering committee, led by Pelton, will consist of eight to ten people, predominantly people of color, according to the mayor’s office. It is unclear how much time Pelton will spend with the committee in conjunction with his full-time position at the college. 

Walsh declared racism a public health crisis in Boston earlier this month following several weeks of protests around the country after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

On May 31, Pelton sent a letter to the Emerson community following Floyd’s killing and several days of nationwide protests addressing his experiences with prejudice as a Black man. 

“Black Americans are invisible to most of white America,” he wrote. “We live in the shadows—even those of us, who like me, sit at the table of bounty. At the same time, we are hyper-visible in classrooms, workplaces, social settings, and as we go about our daily lives.”

The college could not immediately be reached for comment.