The Center for Black Culture and Research has established unique cross-campus collaborations to further efforts that create a supportive and inclusive campus for WVU students, faculty and staff.
With the support of the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Women’s Resource Center, the Women’s Leadership Initiative, the Women’s and Gender Studies Department, the Faculty Justice Network and Faculty Senate, the CBCR has revitalized the Sisterhood Coalition, which is dedicated to uplifting Black women across WVU’s campus community through programming, leadership and education.
“We strongly believe that creating safe, inclusive spaces where students, faculty and staff can connect, build camaraderie and feel a sense of belonging will make us a stronger WVU community,” said Leslie E. Tower, director of the Women’s Resource Center. “Programming is timely and engaging, and we encourage all to learn more and take part throughout the spring semester.”
The coalition will host a group conversation with Felicia Hooper from the WVU Carruth Center in April to encourage discussion about topics related to the mental health and the experience of Black women. Other events on the coalition’s calendar include social mixers, a conversation with Feminista Jones, writer, activist and expert on Black feminism and more.
Read more about the Sisterhood Coalition.
The Black Queer Student Coalition, created in cooperation with WVU’s LGBTQ+ Center, is designed to similarly lift up, celebrate and support Black queer students.
This semester, the BQSC will host speakers such as Preston Mitchum, advocate, lawyer and director of Advocacy and Government Affairs at The Trevor Project, a nonprofit organization focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth. The coalition will also host Da’Shaun Harrison, Black trans author of “Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness” for Transgender Day of Visibility.
“We want to build a coalition of Black queer thinkers, scholars, activists, organizers and leaders on campus,” Fuller said. “We plan to tackle issues related to mental health, academic achievement, mentorship and so much more. It’s also an initiative that we simply hope is fun for the students and other members involved.”
The Center for Black Culture and Research provides educational, social and cultural support for African and African American Students, faculty, staff, and community members.
The LGBTQ+ Center supports the university’s educational social justice efforts through trainings, classes, and advocacy on WVU campuses and across the state.