Throughout all of our programs and services, the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center is committed to promoting equity, building community and a sense of belonging, and supporting opportunity among our students. 

Social Engagement

The BAIC provides a variety of student engagement opportunities throughout the academic year including the Bowman Mixer, LGBTQ+ dinners, Lavender Graduation, and Cultural and Affinity-based Clubs and Organizations.

Academic Programs

The BAIC strives to support students as they embark on their academic life through programs including, the Summer Tuition Remission, Community Advocacy and Research Engagement Program, and Dialogues on Race.

Leadership Experiences

The BAIC offers students leadership development opportunities through programs that encourage dialogue and reflection including the Bowman Advocates for Inclusive Culture, Pride Peers, Racial Identity Development Experience (RIDE) Retreat, and the Spectrum Retreat.

Support Services

The BAIC provides students with support programs and resources including Academic Mentorship Opportunities, Discussion Groups, and Resource Guides to help them navigate challenges during their time at BC.

Spiritual Programs

The BAIC collaborates with Campus Partners including Mission and Ministry to offer students opportunities to pause, reflect, and explore their faith.

Learn More About Our Programs


 

Explore our programs & services

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AHANA Summit
<h3>AHANA Summit</h3> <p>Join the BAIC for a retreat designed specifically for AHANA students! The goal of the AHANA Summit is to continue to build community among AHANA students, highlight resources on campus, and allow each student to share his or her unique story.</p>
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Alfred Feliciano and Valerie Lewis Award
<h3>Alfred Feliciano and Valerie Lewis Award<br> </h3> <p>To the student who made extraordinary contributions to further the&nbsp; ideals of the AHANA (African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native&nbsp; American) acronym, and who provided leadership to help the Boston College community actualize the AHANA concept. Awarded by the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center.<br> </p>
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Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
<h3>Asian Pacific American Heritage Month</h3> <p>The APAHM celebration at Boston College is dedicated to teaching every one that the APIs are not outsiders or “sojourners.” Further, their history in America should not be read as an “add-on” to American history. Instead, it is a large piece of American history. Without the APIs in United States, the America as we know it today will not be the same.</p> <p><a href="/content/bc-web/offices/student-affairs/sites/ahana/programs-services/asian-pacific-american-heritage-month.html"><span class="btn btn-default btn-maroon">Learn More</span></a><br> </p>
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Benjamin E. Mays Mentoring Program
<h3>Benjamin E. Mayes&nbsp; Mentoring Program<br> </h3> <p>The purpose of the Benjamin Elijah Mays Mentoring Program at Boston College is to assist undergraduate students in building solid foundations.&nbsp;The underlying objective of the program is to inspire students to strive toward excellence and to give them a steady advocate while they navigate through college. Students can benefit from the encouragement, sound advice, and ongoing support from those who have succeeded in reaching their goals. Students are able to better define educational, career and life goals with such resources at hand, particularly through obstacles they may face.</p> <p><a href="/content/bc-web/offices/student-affairs/sites/ahana/programs-services/benjamin-e--mays-mentoring-program.html"><span class="btn btn-default btn-maroon">Learn More</span></a><br> </p>
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Black History Month
<h3><span style=" font-weight: normal; ">Black History Month  </span></h3> <p>Not excluding any other time of the year, February hones in on the opportunity to celebrate a rich and diverse culture, tradition, the history, and acknowledge the important contributions of black people. Black history month is an opportune time to educate the general public, to raise awareness about the unique challenges black people have faced both historically and in the present, and to celebrate how far we’ve come and where we are going.</p>
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Bowman Advocates for Inclusive Culture
<h3>The Bowman Advocates for Inclusive Culture<br> </h3> <p>Bowman Advocates for Inclusive Culture are student leaders who strive to support and empower the undergraduate student body in building a more inclusive Boston College community through cross-cultural dialogue.</p> <p><a href="/content/bc-web/offices/student-affairs/sites/ahana/programs-services/bowman-advocates-for-inclusive-culture.html"><span class="btn btn-default btn-maroon">Learn More</span></a><br> </p>
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Community Advocacy and Research Engagement Program
<h3>Community Advocacy and Research Engagement Program </h3> <p>This is a two-semester program that offers leadership, research, and public&nbsp; <br> policy training for students interested in working with Latino, Asian American, Native American, and/or African and African Diaspora communities in Massachusetts. In the Fall, students will participate in a seminar to study the process of community-based research and its methodologies, and begin to design a research proposal for an&nbsp; independent study with a faculty advisor for the Spring semester research project.&nbsp; </p> <p><a href="/content/bc-web/offices/student-affairs/sites/ahana/programs-services/community-advocacy-and-research-engagement-program.html">Learn More</a><br> </p>
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Hispanic Heritage Month
<h3><span style=" font-weight: normal; ">Hispanic Heritage Month</span></h3> <p>Hispanic Heritage Month officially begins on September 15,  the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico declared its independence on September 16, and Chile on September 18.</p> <p>The celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month educates both students and the community alike about Hispanic culture, language, and history. Boston College’s Hispanic Heritage Month events are free and open to all students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and the greater Boston community.</p> <p> </p>
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Karen Campbell Severin Book Award
<h3>Karen Campbell Severin CSOM '80</h3> <p>Each fall and spring semester, the Karen Campbell Severin Book Award helps students by providing them with assistance to obtain their textbooks. Please note this is not a cash award. &nbsp;Applications will be reviewed by a committee overseen by the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center.</p> <p><a href="/content/bc-web/offices/student-affairs/sites/ahana/programs-services/karen-campbell-severin-book-award.html"><span class="btn btn-default btn-maroon">Learn More</span></a><br> </p>
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Lavender Graduation
<p>Lavender Graduation is a celebration that recognizes LGBTQ&#43; students of all backgrounds and acknowledges their contributions to the University. Graduating LGBTQ&#43; seniors and graduate students are recognized for their leadership, successes, and overall commitment and contributions to the LGTBQ&#43; community. Through such recognition, LGBTQ&#43; students may leave Boston College with a positive final experience, filling them with pride both in themselves, and in their college experiences.</p>
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Native American Heritage Month
<h3><span style=" font-weight: normal; ">About Native American Heritage Month</span></h3> <p>Native American Heritage Month is obesrved in the United States during the month of November.  In 1990, President George Bush declared the first National American Indian Heritage Month on August 3rd. </p>
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Nursing Outreach
<p> Accentuate Your Nursing Experience Through Community<br /> <br /> The Nursing Outreach Program was started by Ms. Joana Maynard, senior<br /> associate director of the Office of BAIC, in 2010 to support nursing <br /> students academically and socially by fostering mentorship.<br /> This program creates a space for AHANA/Multicultural/OTE (AMO) CSON <br /> students to gather for peer support and interactions with BC-AMO nursing<br /> professionals at least twice per semester.</p>
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Pride Peers Mentoring
<h3>Pride Peers</h3> <p>Pride Peers is a mentoring program that pairs LGBTQ+ first year students and new transfer students (or any student interested) with upper-class LGBTQ+ peers and creates spaces to bond and reflect on sexuality and gender identity.&nbsp;If you are interested in having a mentor, fill out this&nbsp;online form.&nbsp;We will start our full program in September but we are happy to connect incoming first year/transfer students to an upper class Mentor over the summer so that you already have a connection before you come to campus!Upper class LGBTQ+ students, if you are interested in becoming a mentor, fill out this&nbsp;online form.We will outreach to mentors over the summer and schedule interviews and training prior to the start of the fall semester.&nbsp; </p> <p>If you have any questions please email: <a href="mailto:ira.kirschner@bc.edu">ira.kirschner@bc.edu</a></p>
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Prism Discussion Group
<p>Prism is a group for all LGBTQ&#43; and questioning students. Facilitated by queer and trans graduate students. Starting Fall 2023; Date, time, and location TBD. <br /> <br /> Email <a href="mailto:spectrum&#64;bc.edu">spectrum&#64;bc.edu</a> with questions.<br /> </p>
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QBIPOC Discussion Group
<p>QBIPOC is a discussion group for queer, Black, Indigenous, and people of color providing support, discussion, and community. Facilitated by QBIPOC graduate students. Starting Fall 2023; Date, time, and location TBD.</p> <p>Email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:spectrum@bc.edu">spectrum@bc.edu</a>&nbsp;with questions.<br> </p>
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RIDE Retreat
<p> <br /> Racial Identity Development Experience (RIDE)</p> <h3>What is the RIDE?</h3> <p>The Racial Identity Development Experience (R.I.D.E), a weekend <br /> retreat that provides a safe space for undergraduate students to <br /> consider and discuss experiences of race and identity. On this retreat, <br /> participants will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue,<br /> reflect on their own personal experiences, and learn from other <br /> students. <br /> The impact of the RIDE cannot be overstated, and is probably best <br /> expressed by past R.I.D.E participants. In post-evaluation surveys, <br /> participants have described the retreat as “an amazing, formative <br /> experience that taught me how far I have come and how far I have to go,”<br /> “a life-changing experience” “I finally feel like I belong,” “surpassed<br /> my expectations because I learned so much more than I ever could have <br /> anticipated,” and “the highlight of my BC career so far!”</p> <h3><br /> How can you help students learn more about the RIDE?</h3> <p>Invite us to pitch the retreat to your classroom or  organization! We can keep our pitch as succinct as 1 minute or as detailed as 5 minutes, and allow time for question &amp; answer.Share our flyer and program description with your listservs!Nominate students you know to lead or attend this retreat! To nominate a student, email bowmancenter&#64;bc.edu.</p> <p> We will follow up with the student to let them know about the <br /> nomination and give them all of the information they need to know to <br /> apply and/or register.</p> <p>For professors only: Offer extra credit for students who attend the <br /> retreat! If you identify with the mission of our office and/or the <br /> R.I.D.E retreat, or if the program may enhance your student’s learning <br /> experience inside the classroom, consider incentivizing the retreat with<br /> extra credit. If you do, please let us know so that we can confirm your<br /> students’ participation with you!</p> <p><br /> Learning Outcomes<br /> As a result of participating in the RIDE, students will be able to:<br /> Recognize how they have been socialized to see race and identify areas where <br /> racial differences have been reinforced Articulate awareness of own <br /> racial identity and express whyDemonstrate comfort-ability talking about<br /> race and identityDevelop one way to discuss racial identity in the <br /> future</p>
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Senior Toast
<p>Following Commencement ceremonies, the BAIC hosts a toast to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduating seniors with food and company!<br> </p>
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Spectrum Retreat
<h3>Spectrum Retreat</h3> <p>Spectrum is a confidential, free weekend away for LGBTQ students. In this welcoming environment, participants will be encouraged to engage in conversation and reflection about their personal identities and to discern who they are and who they are called to be at Boston College and beyond.</p> <p><a href="/content/bc-web/offices/student-affairs/sites/ahana/programs-services/spectrum-retreat.html"><span class="btn btn-default btn-maroon">Learn More</span></a><br /> </p>
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Transcend Discussion Group
<h3>Transcend</h3> <p>Transcend is a group for trans, nonbinary, agender, and genderfluid students as well as students who want a space to talk about exploring their gender identity. Starting Fall 2023; Date, time, and location TBD.</p> <p>Facilitated by nonbinary and trans graduate students. Email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:spectrum@bc.edu">spectrum@bc.edu</a>&nbsp;with questions.</p>
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Tuition Reimbursement Programs
<h3>Tuition Reimbursement Programs<br> </h3> <p>The purpose of the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center (BAIC) Tuition Reimbursement programs is to aid in the retention of students by providing resources to support those experiencing academic difficulty the opportunity to improve their status at Boston College.</p> <p><a href="/content/bc-web/offices/student-affairs/sites/ahana/programs-services/tuition-reimbursement-programs.html"><span class="btn btn-default btn-maroon">Learn more</span></a><br> </p>
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