{"id":4989,"date":"2021-02-01T12:13:36","date_gmt":"2021-02-01T20:13:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/the-roar.net\/?p=4989"},"modified":"2021-05-26T11:16:07","modified_gmt":"2021-05-26T18:16:07","slug":"umoja-centers-black-experiences-in-higher-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/the-roar.net\/?p=4989","title":{"rendered":"Umoja Centers Black Experiences in Higher-Education"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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San Jos\u00e9 City College and Evergreen Valley College Umoja students attend a lecture during the Fall 2019 tour of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFeeling a sense of ‘belonging and acceptance’ is critical for any student in a college setting. This is especially true for many African American students who see a sparse representation of themselves when they arrive on campus,\u201d says Dedrick Griffin, Umoja Community Coordinator and Professor of English at San Jos\u00e9 City College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SJCC\u2019s Umoja Community<\/a> plays an essential role in supporting and encouraging this sense of connection and belonging among African American and other students. When people think of SJCC, they should think of excellence and affordability \u2014 but they should also think of an equitable academic experience for all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So let\u2019s explore how the Umoja Community strives to increase equity in higher-education by centering Black experiences and history \u2014 benefiting our community as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the Umoja Community?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The organization\u2019s mission statement<\/a> says \u201cUmoja<\/strong>, (a Kiswahili word meaning unity<\/em>) is a community and critical resource dedicated to enhancing the cultural and educational experiences of African American and other students. We believe that when the voices and histories of students are deliberately and intentionally recognized, the opportunity for self-efficacy emerges and a foundation is formed for academic success.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Umoja Community partners with California Community Colleges<\/a> to carry out this mission. You can find Umoja Programs at 60 different affiliated community colleges across California.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Umoja aims to support Black communities and improve their experiences in higher-education \u2014 often functioning as a kind of Black student union with a lot of fun cultural benefits. It\u2019s specifically designed to improve student retention, graduation and college transfer rates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, SJCC already has a reputation for being an inclusive and equal opportunity institution. So you might be wondering, why Umoja?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The need is great, we have to have representation, especially in higher education. Let the world know that we are here, and we are coming together to make the world a better place through our personal experience.”<\/p>Cara Parker, student leader and member of the Umoja Community at SJCC<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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