Why Sankofa?

1
Our Journeys with Persons of Color
2
Fall 2003 Application for Celebration of
Diversity Awards
Winter 2004 Minority Mentoring Program Proposal
Fall 2004 Spirituality Needs Survey and UMC
Sankofa Ecumenical Interfaith Programs
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Africana Spirituality Committee
2004-2005 Spirituality Needs Survey
Single Focus
2006 -2007 African American Spirituality Committee
2007 Africana Spirituality Steering Committee
Multifaceted
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Mission

• The Africana Spirituality Steering Committee
  makes the giftedness of the Africana spiritual
  traditions visible to the University of
  Indianapolis.  To that end, we seek to help the
  university community discover, engage and share
  in those traditions, recognize our common
  humanity and celebrate our uniqueness.
  

5
Programs
Sankofa Mentoring Community
African American Sages Display
Honoring African American Sages
Voices of Worship
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African American Sage Display
Honoring African American Sages

• 2005-2008 5 celebrations with 7 honorees
• Largest audiences were for Sage Fr. Boniface
  Hardin, OSB and Sage Regina LaRoche with students

• Celebrated unveiling in April 2009

7
Sankofa Mentoring Community
Voices of Worship Choir

• RSO dissolved in 2003
• 2004-2005 choir revived in the Music Department
• Membership remains between 10-20

• May 2007 Kick-off with 25 U.G. and SAL students
• 2007-2008 Approx. 108 students participated in
  various activities
• 2008-2009 Approximately 103 students
  participated in various activities

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Sankofa in Action
Encourage, educate, affirm, and empower Africana
students.

• Meet Greets
• Mentoring Relationships
• Brown Bags or Forums
• Cultural Events
• Professional Opportunities
• Academic and Social Support
• Educational and Spiritual Pilgrimages

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Benchmarks Africana Students

• Who attend events related to the work of Africana
  Spirituality Committee
• Who are actively engaged with the planning of
  Africana Spirituality Committee programming
• Who become involved with events of the Office of
  Ecumenical and Interfaith Programs

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Steering Committee Departments
Ecumenical Interfaith Programs
Music Department
School for Adult Learnering
Academic Success Center
Students SAL BSA ASA
Human Resources
Career Services
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Student Retention Data
Percentage
Academic Year
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Dreams

• Create an ethnic/racial identity curriculum for
  all student populations
• Have a welcoming campus culture that is
  student-defined
• Increase student engagement
• Increase retention and graduation rates