Black Women Matter Initiative
The Black Women Matter Initiative consists of a weekend retreat for undergraduate Black women, a support group for graduate and undergraduate Black women, and a mentorship program for first year and sophomore Black women. Students can choose to participate in one or all of the programs. All programs provide a sense of community, an opportunity for healing, and a time for celebrating Black Women who are a part of Boston College.
Retreat: October 13-15, 2023
Black Women Matter Retreat
The retreat aims to build community and cultivate a sense of belonging, discuss challenges and successes of navigating BC, foster health and wellness, and to connect students with professional staff and alumnae who have been successful in navigating predominately white spaces. Ultimately, we aim to have students leave feeling affirmed, validated, and empowered to acknowledge their experiences and to celebrate their identities!
Black Women Mentorship Program
The Black Women Matter Mentorship Program provides a space for retreat participants to continue on their journey of community building and developing a sense of belonging while meeting in small sisterhood groups twice a month. Groups are led by undergraduate juniors and seniors. Additional program components include program wide events featuring faculty, staff, and alumnae speakers.
Black Women Matter: A Support Group
The Black Women Matter: A Support Group is a confidential, drop-in space for Black Women to come together. Collaboratively offered by the Women’s Center and University Counseling Services, we collectively listen, share our experiences, and draw insight to better cope with the challenges of today. As a group we can offer strategies for managing stress, healing from racial trauma, recognizing the duality of strength and vulnerability, all while celebrating resiliency. When groups meet, we encourage you to join us to build community, honor our identities, and further increase health and wellness!
Be sure to check our social media for additional information.
Black Women Matter Retreat
Students who participate in the Black Women Matter Retreat will:
- Establish a sense of safety and as a result, be willing to explore the challenges associated with being a Black woman at BC.
- Examine the experience/feelings associated with being “othered,” invisible, or hyper-visible on a predominately white campus.
- Create a support network of peers and mentors by deepening connections through shared storytelling.
- Develop a strategy for navigating the campus climate of a PWI as a Black woman.