On Sunday, October 30, 2022 the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education (ODIME) in partnership and collaboration with the Black Student Union (BSU), African Student Association (ASA), African Percussion and Dance Ensemble (ADE), Hailey Anderson '23, BSU President Florkenthia Jolibois '23 and community members: Pastor Esau Vance, Stacey Luster, and Christon Carney met for a new program called, “We are the Collective”. Participants communed for a time of rest in the celebration of the varied diasporic threads that meet at the intersection(s) of Black identity.
As one of the many programs offered during WPI's celebration of LGBTQIAP+ History Month 2022, this program reminded students the body brings together multiple identities, those of which all deserve inclusion. In partnership with ODIME, affinity organizations, and community partners, we shared in music, food, rest, and testimony drawing attention to the labor of the body as well as honoring the spiritual practice of rest. Elder Mayase Sikazwe, a new religion adviser for students, closed the program offering all who attended a blessing of rest.
The Collegiate Religious Center (CRC) provides a space to WPI students, faculty, staff, and community members for the purpose of religious exploration, devotions, worship, prayer, education, administration, and fellowship. Our team of Campus Chaplains serve as spiritual advisors for students, and can offer support and guidance irrespective of students' primary religious traditions. As spiritual advisors to the WPI community, Campus Chaplains counteract the inequality of varied expression(s) of religion, spirituality, and any form of meaning-making practice and support student meaning-making expression to tend with systems of oppression as well as any other stressors. This center includes several reservable spaces to suit both spiritual and non-spiritual needs, including a Multifaith Meeting Space, Islamic Prayer Room, and Multifaith Worship Space.
The Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education (ODIME) promotes and oversees all student facing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) learning experiences, programs, services, trainings, and initiatives for WPI.