Courageous Conversations
A key component of the mission of the Office of Social Justice and Belonging is to address race and social inequality on the Rutgers–Camden campus. To do this, we have created a Courageous Conversation series to start open and honest dialogue about key issues facing our campus. This particular initiative is based on research that shows while the majority of people recognize that individuals perceive race differently and that inequality exists, few feel ready or willing to have open and honest conversations about inequality. Our sustained dialogue series will carefully and critically address race and intersecting identities issues that help the Rutgers–Camden community process inequality. Guest speakers will attend periodically.
Person of Color Mentorship
The National Center For Education Statistics shows that since 2014, ethnic groups are increasing in institutional settings more than ever, yet in contrast, their educators in the U.S. are overwhelmingly white. This disparity presents feelings of inequity amongst students of color. The Office of Social Justice and Belonging in partnership with other specialized offices on the Rutgers University–Camden campus will hosts the Person Of Color Mentorship program and brunch. This mentorship initiative seeks to offer a mentor to mentee affinity partnership, professional networking opportunities, academic support, socio-emotional support, co-curricular activities, and leadership development.
Our goal in this initiative is to affirm, honor, and celebrate the identities of; act as a resource and funneling channel for barriers that impair the social, academic, and emotional wellness of; and promote enriching relationships that model professional success and leadership representation for students of color. Within this initiative, we hope to filter the concerns of students of color to the proper channels within the Rutgers–Camden community, organize learning and networking opportunities, and enable our students of color to confidently contribute to our diverse campus community utilizing the support they acquire through their mentor-mentee partnerships.