Date of Award

Fall 2022

Document Type

Consultancy Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Committee Chair

Elizabeth Jones

Abstract

The story of Sankofa teaches us to look back to move forward. Concerning this consultancy project, it means that by gathering information from the past, experiences, joys, challenges, and insights, we would be able to reflect, synthesize the information, and chart a course of action for the prosperity and future of the African American Cultural Center at NC State University. As college campuses become more diverse and the need for robust diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in colleges and universities increases, this project seeks to provide a community engagement plan outlining comprehensive ways to build a significant Black cultural community center at a large research-intensive university. This project centers on education, belonging, and inclusion, providing a roadmap and action plan recommendation to successfully connect with and impact the Black community at a large historically and predominantly White institution. This project includes interviews with staff; focus groups with students and university employees; surveys of community members; and a review of current offerings, services, and programs of a Black cultural center and, using an appreciative inquiry and social systems theory, sought insights into what the future of the expansive Blackness in the center could be.

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Education Commons

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