An Inclusive and Supportive Campus with Faith

Transcript

Diversity and inclusion are high priorities at the U of I. It’s evident in very real ways here. The university has the most students of color among any top rank Midwest university. And there are students from over 100 countries and all 50 states represented on campus. You’re about to meet Faith. An out of state senior who can personally attest to the ways the U of I works to have an open, safe, and inclusive environment. She’s not only benefited from this culture of inclusion, but she’s also contributed a great deal to it herself. Let’s head over to the Foellinger Great Hall in Krannert Center for the Performing Arts to hear Faith’s story.

Hey everyone! Being a student at the University of Illinois has allowed me to deepen my passions and discover my purpose. I think what makes this university so special is its ability to serve students in a way that honors where you’ve come from and supports who you’re becoming. I’m not the same person that arrived on campus three and a half years ago. I’ve personally benefited in so many ways from the U of I’s diversity and inclusion efforts. Like the Office of Minority Student Affairs, this amazing resource offers various academic services for students of color. Including free private or group tutoring sessions at their location. Each tutor as a current student at the U of I, who excels in the course you need help in.

Being able to work with another student didn’t just help me in my freshmen statistics class, but it also gave me a mentor who is invested in my overall success. One of my favorite spots on campus is the beloved Bruce Nesbitt African American Cultural Center, also known as BNAACC. BNAACC is a place like no other. You can catch up on coursework in one of the many study lounges. Cook a meal with some friends in the stainless steel kitchen, record a song in the recording studio, or practice a routine in the dance studio. They host various educational and community building events each semester. There’s so much to do at the BNAACC and at the other cultural centers, all located on the same block.

Being able to have this kind of home away from home, didn’t just give me the opportunity to immerse myself in my own culture, but it’s also where I’ve made friendships that would last a lifetime. I’m a dance major, and one of the biggest things I was looking for was choosing a school that not only appreciates the arts, but allows me to explore my passions within them. The U of I does exactly that. My freshman year, I was able to help start a registered student organization on campus known as Fine and Applied Arts Black, which I now serve as president. Our goal is to uplift and strengthen the black arts community on campus. There are various community building, educational, and networking events.

Even if you’re not involved in the arts, what’s important is that the university supports students who want to start organizations, or implement new diversity and inclusion efforts. The U of I encourages it’s students to invest in their passions even outside of the campus community. The summer of 2019, I moved to New York City and interned with an arts and social justice organization that helps artists of underrepresented communities advance their careers. This experience gave me the incredible opportunity to bring together all of my passions around the arts and helping others. Ultimately it’s inspired me to one day establish my own art center that helps marginalized communities. The U of I has truly allowed me to discover my purpose. And I can’t wait to take that into the world and share it with others. Alex, back to you.

Faith, thanks for sharing. I love your sense of purpose and hearing about how you really embraced the opportunities and people on campus during your time here. Thanks again.