A conversation on the importance of belonging
By Carlos Martinez
At a time when diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts have become increasingly politically contentious (Ferguson, 2023). CTB remains committed to forging a safe space where belonging is one of the many principles for student success. Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago (LUC), the very first CTB model college in the country, serves as an example of a belonging-centric institution.
Additionally, a 2018 study done by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) states that graduation rates are lower for Black (40%) students compared to their White counterparts (64%). It is important to acknowledge that student success amongst BIPOC students is often affected due to a lack of a sense of belonging. As noted in Mary Murphy’s (2020) study on belonging, the implementation of customized materials within the school curriculum and structure can have a positive impact on student success by directly instilling a sense of belonging.
As part of this commitment to belonging, CTB seeks to celebrate the impact the leaders in our community have. As it is the case with Arrupe 2020 alumna, Egypt Watson, and Arrupe faculty, Dr. Lavar Pope. They are the founders of the one and only Black Student Union (BSU) at Arrupe College of LUC. Egypt is also a graduate of Lincoln Park High School and she obtained her B.S. in Political Science from LUC in 2022. Dr. Pope serves as a Clinical Associate Professor of Political Science at Arrupe College of LUC, in addition to being a mentor for Arrupe’s Black Men for Success student organization.
In a full-length podcast conversation, former BSU President Egypt shared with us that “belonging is [...] feeling accepted, and appreciated in whatever space you are in, specifically in your educational space.” BSU Faculty Advisor Dr. Pope added that belonging means “[feeling] safe, physically safe, emotionally safe, safe that you are not going to get attacked in that community.” The CTB model is meant to contribute to establishing “a sense of belonging [which] is centered on gaining acceptance, being part of something and feeling supported as well as giving support to others,” (West, 2022).
Egypt recognized that “there was a need in our predominantly white institution [Loyola University Chicago] for Black people to feel safe, feel heard, and to be seen,” prompting her to take action and create the BSU space which is able to “provide an extra layer of support and sense of belonging to students at the start of and during their studies,” (West, 2022). Now more than ever, forging affinity spaces for Black students, like the BSU at Arrupe, is of utmost importance. In certain parts of the country, politicians “seek to make it unlawful to teach and study intersectionality, the Black Lives Matter movement, Black feminism, Black queer studies, reparations, and Black freedom struggles,” (Ferguson, 2023).
As CTB Board Member Kwaku Frimpong reflects, “belonging means being intentional with finding your community. Your community is not solely evaluated as a group with shared beliefs and values, but it should also include those that challenge you to be the best version of yourself. You mutually care about each other’s personal development, well-being, and success.” This is exactly what the BSU at Arrupe has and will continue to do for the Arrupe and the LUC Black student population
CTB and our two CTB model institutions, DFC and Arrupe, welcome all of you to join us towards the building of more accepting and inclusive higher education institutions that prioritize belonging as part of the work that is being done within DEI. Check out the full length conversation we had with Egypt and Dr. Pope about the importance of belonging on your preferred podcast platform or on YouTube.
