Social Justice, conceptually, is an understanding that there are populations and systems in place that are being underserved. Social Justice in action are individuals and organizations who use their resources to meet the needs of the environment around them. Over the last few years, the Central Black Student Union (CBSU) has observed the growing discontent of Black students as they experience implicit and explicit racism. They coordinated a campus-wide meeting for concerned students and developed #BeingBlackAtIllinois. This initiative led to the development of a new location for the cultural center, new curriculum recommendations for a U.S. Minorities general education requirement, and increased efforts for the recruitment and retention of Black students. Dialogue continues and this past year CBSU felt the need to widen the platform by hosting a state-wide conference, Being Black at a Predominantly White Institution, for other Black student organizations to mobilize in strategic work to end racial oppression on the respective campuses. The magnitude of this work requires allies, therefore conference sessions specifically focused on the skills of allies to the Black community. This one-day conference welcomed nearly 300 participants who were from seven colleges and universities. Faculty, staff, and administration, including the Provost, were in attendance, eager to dialogue about the changes that must be made to create a more inclusive community. Innovative programs such as the Racial Justice Ally Training and graduate roundtables were also a part of this rich experience. As a result of this conference, the UIUC campus has seen an increase in resources and a definite shift in the climate. Staff expressed their commitment to continue to role-model behaviors and attitudes, and to continue to learn from the student body. The commitment to host this annual conference created another path for University Housing staff, students, and participants to be leaders in diversity.
