UNC Greensboro: IBelong Seeks Proposals To Build A Stronger Spartan Community

Greensboro NC

19 October, 2021

1:32 PM

Description

Press release from UNC Greensboro: October 19, 2021 Students or faculty members with innovative ideas for building deeper community engagement and connection between fellow Spartans on campus have an opportunity to submit project ideas for $500 grants, out of total of $7,400 The iBelong grant project is calling for project applications, to support projects that help build a sense of belonging among Spartans. This project was created by the Division of Student Affairs for the purpose of understanding the true on-campus student experience and to promote a climate at UNC Greensboro where everyone feels supported and welcomed. Using research from the Culturally Engaging Campus Environments (CECE) survey, which was developed by the National Institute for Transformation and Equity, the iBelong project looks into student demographics for cultural engagement across campus.  Senior biology major and Native American student Association President Sky Kihuwa-Mani was a recipient of the iBelong program last year. As the project lead, she launched "Invisible Students: The disenfranchisement of Native American histories and perspectives in the K-12 education system with Dr. Brittany Hunt." The project was dreamt up as an opportunity for educators in and around UNCG to better understand their own positionality and the ways their teaching does or does not include certain populations of students, specifically Indigenous people. Kihuwa-Mani held an event where educators from across campus and within Guilford County Schools learned how to better serve and include their students. After the event, Spartans felt a greater sense of connection and empathy towards their Indigenous peers. "I think 'Invisible Students' was an excellent opportunity for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous folks in and beyond UNCG to better understand the disenfranchisement of Indigenous people in the K-12 education system," said Kihuwa-Mani. "One notable outcome is that it spurred conversations between several Indigenous leaders who participated virtually to start thinking about avenues for lobbying the NC General Assembly and NC Board of Education to improve educational outcomes for Indigenous youth across the state."  More winners of the iBelong project last year included: Switching Lenses: Engaging New International Students: A Stitch in Time: First-Generation College Students and Belonging: Lloyd International Honors College: Come Talk with GSA: CVRC Book Group: Blue Table Topics: Town Hall: Video Game Reading Group: RecWell Day: CHANCE Program: CVPA: Speed Friending: Hillel: Get to Know Your Art Museum: Proposals are due Oct. 30. For more information on how students and faculty can get involved and submit an idea, visit sa.uncg.edu/ibelong/ Location Mailing Address Telephone This press release was produced by UNC Greensboro. The views expressed here are the author's own.