Community is a vital part of life. When pursuing an education, community within your major is a must. Cultural community is an added bonus. Black Scholars focuses on building a strong community by providing a sense of belonging to Black identify students throughout the Diaspora. Although Black Scholars emphasizes the Black American experience, they welcome all students from the diaspora.
Black Scholars is one of the three learning communities Student Equity serves along with LA Comunidad and Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Community (APIDA). To sign up for one of the learning communities students must be a part of the ethnic backgrounds served, be enrolled in a class, be pursuing their first degree, and fill out an application.
There are many benefits to being a part of the learning communities besides the academic counseling and social mixers. The financial benefits are an added bonus that actually come in handy. Students can get up to $150 in Target gift cards given they complete their program requirements. Students also get a $50 GCC Bookstore credit each semester. You’d think that would be the main reason students join, but the other experiences you gain are so much more rewarding, members said.
“Joining Black Scholars was really important for me because we are Black, we always understand each other, the vibe is really marvelous and fantastic,” said Black Scholars member and nursing student Carlile Fiaga, who is from Cameroon. “I love being part of Black Scholars.” Fiaga shares that she enjoyed the 2024 Black Excellence Week this year. This week of excellence is sponsored by Student Equity. “My favorite event is the annual Black [History] Month celebration, where we host lectures, debate, and cultural events to celebrate African American achievements. I wanted to be surrounded by students who share similar experiences and interests, which made me feel connected and supported.”
One thing that is known amongst Black American culture and many African cultures is the strong emphasis on community. Student Equity’s motto is: “The Student Equity Department helps minimize barriers, encourages self-advocacy, empowers students to explore their sense of self, and amplifies student voices all while fostering a sense of belonging through community.”
Black Scholars is solely curated by Student Equity counselor Alexandra Evans and a swing counselor. Evans said her favorite thing about facilitating the Black Scholars space is “fellowshipping with the Black community at GCC, creating a space that celebrates Black students for who they are, how they speak, and their unique experiences, and reminding Black students about our rich and influential history and culture.” Evans is also beloved among Black Scholars members for hosting the Black History trivia games.
“Black Scholars is an awesome program where I can connect with other Black students and the community,” GCC student Mikaella Lukban stated. “I have made many friends there and I am so grateful.” College is one of the places many meet some of their lifelong friends this is a reason programs like Black Scholars are promising for new students.
Student Equity is all about representation and inclusion amongst the learning communities. It’s promising to know GCC recognizes the importances of diversity. “Being a Black student at GCC is tough, most students are overlooked and fall through the cracks. Being a part of Black Scholars we aren’t overlooked and are able to succeed, have our questions answered and feel seen,” said nursing student Porshawna Mosely.
Billi Sarafina is an active member of Black Scholars. She can be reached at [email protected].