Throughout February in recognition of Black history and heritage, Bemidji State University is joining communities across the nation to intentionally honor and celebrate Black and African American culture, life and history.
President Faith C. Hensrud said it is important to celebrate Black history and heritage while seeking ways to increase our individual capacity and knowledge of this history in America.
“With greater knowledge, we can work together to educate our students and to live up to our shared fundamental value that focuses on multicultural understanding as we embrace our strategic priority that commits to creating a university culture in which diversity is embraced and all members are safe, welcome and validated,” she said.
Dr. Ye “Solar” Hong, director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Bemidji State and Northwest Technical College, said that even though February is nationally recognized as Black History Month, Bemidji State’s celebration of Black lives, successes and heritage is not limited to one month. It’s year-round, she said.
“It is imperative to continually engage people in the work towards the common goal of equitable outcomes for everyone,” she said. “Black history and heritage should be celebrated and the recognition should not be limited to February only.”
Throughout the month, Bemidji State’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will hold a series of celebratory and educational events for the Bemidji community.
“The theme for this year’s Black history month is Black health and wellness which is particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic with the disproportional impact of the pandemic on Black communities,” President Hensrud said. “I encourage our students to participate in the events developed by Dr. Solar Hong, and for each of us to seek ways to engage in opportunities for individual, and professional growth and development.”
For up-to-date information about the events, visit https://calendar.bemidjistate.edu/.
Steven D. Parker, campus diversity officer for Bemidji State and Northwest Technical College, said the the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is working with community partners to host a virtual panel of Black Minnesota community leaders. The panel “Living in Black History: The Realities of Modern Leader” will encourage the campus communities to take advantage of these learning opportunities.
“The Black and African American history in the U.S. is dense, sometimes painful, and often times rich,” he said. “This year for Black history and heritage experience, the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion looks to provide students with opportunities to learn and embrace Black and African American truths. Led by Dr. Ye Solar Hong, students can expect a spread of engaging programs.”
Every year, Bemidji State makes strides in fostering equitable learning spaces for all students. Several recent advancements are listed below.
Black Student Union
Bemidji State’s Black Student Union, founded in 2017, strives to cultivate a spirit of unity and multicultural awareness on campus and in the region.
The club, which meets twice per month to discuss issues that black college students face on predominantly white campuses, was officially launched in the Spring of 2019 when the club’s officers developed a constitution and formally registered the organization with the university. In October 2019 the union held its first meeting and welcomed new club members.
Thankful for the diversity she sees at Bemidji State, Black Student Union secretary Beatrice Kjelland, a nursing senior from Park River, North Dakota, says the club offers her opportunities that she has otherwise not experienced.
“The Black Student Union allows for us people of color to learn things we didn’t know about our culture,” Kjelland said. “I come from a very white, Norwegian community and my sister and I were the only black people in our town so coming to Bemidji State University, while the black population is still limited, is a lot more than I have ever experienced.”
With the support of its students and campus advisers, the Black Student Union bolsters personal development by creating diverse, academic and social environments for the BSU community.
Equity Certificate
Bemidji State is now home to the first equity certificate program within the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities, offering undergraduate students a credential they can carry into their degree field and, ultimately, into their professions.
With Dr. Dan Allosso, assistant professor of history, at the helm as the inaugural equity certificate director the program is on track to launch in Fall 2022 pending final curricular approval from the Minnesota State system.
The equity certificate includes three main components – an introductory to equity course, three core courses and a capstone experience with community based opportunities.
Since then the idea brought many faculty, staff, students and administrators together to create an equity certificate program that directly aligns with Minnesota State’s Equity 2030 goals, which aim to eliminate educational equity gaps at all colleges and universities of Minnesota State by 2030. This strategic plan is intended to guide and inform equity and inclusion work in the immediate and long-term future between 2020-2025.
“The development of the equity certificate is a seminal effort to lessen equity gaps and to dismantle oppressive system,” Parker said. “This opportunity is not just for our students; we are hoping to offer the equity certificate to anyone. This includes faculty and other humans in our system, leveraging our Minnesota State community.”
Diversifying Sattgast Hall
For decades, BSU’s Sattgast Hall has been home to a collection of 24 sketched portraits of scientists throughout history. The monochromatic drawings represented a selection of the pioneers in the world of science, but they lacked diversity.
Now, after a faculty-driven and student-led diversification project, 17 vinyl posters will line the walls of Sattgast Hall representing scientists from a variety of backgrounds. The new posters include African American scholars Henrietta Lacks, Mae Jemison, Robert Henry Lawrence Jr., Katherine Johnson, Barack Obama, Mary Jackson and more.
Provost Allen Bedford, vice president of academic affairs and provost said inclusive representation is instrumental in student and academic success.
“Helping people build and realize their dreams is among the most important work we do as educators. The portraits and stories about scientists, now gracing the walls in Sattgast Hall, help more of our students see themselves in these roles.” Bedford said. “Students seeing their backgrounds represented among the role models presented here helps students visualize possibilities for themselves that they may not have previously imagined. When I see these new images and stories on the walls I feel uplifted and encouraged about the dreams being built and realized among our students today.”
Minnesota State Equity 2030
“In June 2019, the Minnesota State system set a critical goal to eliminate the educational equity gaps at each of its member colleges and universities by 2030. The goal requires advocacy and leadership with partners and stakeholders across the state.
Minnesota State’s core value is to provide opportunity for all Minnesotans to create a better future for themselves, for their families and for their communities. Equity 2030 seeks to bridge the already significant equity-focused efforts underway within the system and its institutions, creating an intentional statewide culture of equity-minded collaboration and resulting in equitable practices embedded throughout the system of state colleges and universities.
To reach Equity 2030, Minnesota State institutions are adapting and changing systems and cultures to meet the needs of today’s students, rather than expect today’s students to learn or adapt to the systems and culture of yesterday’s higher education.
Realizing these changes will require intentionally prioritizing capacity-building to make change across all levels of Minnesota State and empowering individuals regardless of title or responsibility to examine, explore, and experiment with evidence-based innovation to close attainment gaps.
Upcoming Black History Month Events
Drop-in Group Gathering
Where: CDEI Lounge, Hobson Memorial Union 260
When: February 16, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.,
Virtual Academic Black Table Talk
When: February 17 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Film: The Help
Where: Hagg-Sauer Hall 116
When: February 17 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Black Health and Wellness Panel
Where: Hagg-Sauer Hall 115
When: February 18 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Film: The Help
Where: Hagg-Sauer Hall 116
When: February 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
We Are Living Black History
Where: Zoom – 991 2949 2241 Passcode: 322415
When: February 25, 1:30-3 p.m.
Documentary: The History of Black Music
Where: Crying Wolf Room, Hobson Memorial Union
When: February 25, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Virtual Mental Illness & Movement
Where: Crying Wolf Room, Hobson Memorial Union
When: February 25 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Links
2021-B-063