In the midst of a global pandemic and at a time when America was experiencing perhaps the greatest racial reckoning since the Civil Rights movement of the 60s, alum Jade Poates had an idea that she hoped would help unify her academic peers while also bringing the Black student experience to the forefront. In the summer of 2020, she founded the Global Black Community Club, and her vision for fostering even greater inclusion and the preservation of Black culture at UAGC came to life.
鈥淲e鈥檙e a pretty diverse school, and I thought it would be something that would be great to bring to add diversity and to celebrate people of color,鈥 says Jade.
Jade initially came up with the idea after she received an email inviting her to join one of the university鈥檚 many online student clubs and organizations. Although there are a number of options, she says something was missing for her.
鈥淚 scrolled down and thought, 鈥楾hey all look really cool, but they are not anything that truly speaks to me,鈥欌 Jade says.
That experience prompted her to take action. All students are welcome to propose an idea via email for a student club or organization. After Jade followed all the required steps, the Global Black Community Club became an official student organization at UAGC.
The club鈥檚 mission, she says, is to promote camaraderie, critical thinking, academic excellence, leadership, preservation of Black history, and culture. Its motto: 鈥淓ducation for the people.鈥
The idea for this motto came from what Jade says is similar to other expressions used in African American vernacular, or what she describes as a 鈥渇ancy word for Ebonics.鈥
鈥淟ike when Black people say, 鈥榝or the culture,鈥 I thought it would be cool to use it to incorporate our mission and also make it something people could relate to,鈥 Jade explains.
The club is certainly living up to its motto. Since its inception, it has grown to nearly 700 members and now has a full leadership team that includes faculty advisors and student officers. And, of course, it鈥檚 truly meant to educate all people.
鈥淎nyone that wants to learn more about Black culture, history, and promoting academic excellence is welcome,鈥 she notes.
Read on to learn why you should become a member.
Reasons You Should Join the Global Black Community Club
The Global Black Community Club offers a great opportunity to network with like-minded individuals, gain knowledge, and create connections.
The club is open to anyone affiliated with UAGC who wants to participate and foster a connection amongst its members. During their quarterly meetings, they open the floor to participants, and they discuss any topics that come up, whether it鈥檚 about Black culture, time management, or anything in between.
鈥淚f you want to learn more about other people and their stories and their history and be able to contribute to the overall community of Black American people, especially the students who have similar goals to you, then join our club and you will get a new outlook on this particular group of people.鈥
Participants include academic scholars 鈥 including alumni and doctoral students 鈥 who often share and pass down wisdom on topics including how to stay on top of homework, how to balance school with their personal and professional lives, and more.
鈥淎s an adult online learner, being the sole person responsible for your education, it helps to hear others who have done it, especially from people who may be 10 or 20 classes ahead of you, it encourages you,鈥 Jade says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to have that extra person to lean on, whatever your academic endeavors may be.鈥
The group has a full leadership team in place, and the leaders hope for even more future opportunities to engage with members and further their mission.
The Global Black Community Club joined forces with CHAMPS peer mentoring to network on an even greater scale. CHAMPS hosted the club as a guest so they could spread more awareness and interact with other students outside the club. Additional networking opportunities will begin to emerge as the club matures and grows.
鈥淏eing able to talk to that many people was great because it opened up more ways to connect with even more students,鈥 Jade notes.
The club knows how to have fun, too. From movies to games and book clubs, the group hosts a variety of virtual events that offer members a chance to interact, engage, and connect.
Join the Club
If you鈥檇 like to join or learn more about the Global Black Community club or any other UAGC student organization, take a look at the current list of opportunities and reach out to the group that interests you. You never know 鈥 there may even be a chance for you to participate in a leadership role or even establish your own club!
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Written by Erin Ansley, Senior Content Manager for UAGC.
