By: Renae Visico
On Thursday, Sept. 10, the Brooklyn College (BC) Black Latino Male Initiative (BLMI) kicked off the Fall semester by hosting their annual Welcome Day in their office at William James Hall 3309.
The Welcome Day was open to new and returning students, serving as a useful reminder of the benefits a BLMI membership can provide for any interested BC student.
“We have a whole mixed bag of different people, different walks of life here, regardless of how you identify. Our job here is to support you,” said Program Coordinator Shadiq Williams. “Everything that we offer, all of our events and resources, are open to all of you, no matter what.”
The first resource that prospective students were introduced to was the BLMI space itself. Filled with computers, snacks, and cozy communal spaces, the BLMI office is designed to be a warm environment for students to build community with each other.
“Out of all the things that we provide with our program, I think the most important thing is the space,” BLMI Director Christopher Rodriguez told the Vanguard. “Students walk in and they learn from each other, have fun conversations, and they walk out with something new every time.”
Williams described additional team-building and community-focused resources that BLMI offers to its members, including a study abroad scholarship, career advising, and leadership retreats.
“I became a member after the leadership retreat,” senior Andre Miller told the Vanguard. “There was a lot of introspection [that touched on] a lot of men’s mental health. It was very vulnerable.”
The BLMI staff emphasized their dedication to helping members grow not only as intelligent students, but as empowered and empathetic people.
“We want to make sure that in the time that you spend here at Brooklyn College, you’re not leaving with just a degree,” Williams continued. “You’re leaving much more enlightened, informed, and passionate. […] All of the things that are going to make you even stronger in the world outside of college.”
Many new students especially looked forward to making new friends and strengthening their network on campus with fellow students and faculty through BLMI.
“I hope that I’m able to overcome my social anxiety,” said freshman Dylan Korogluyev. “I’d like to meet new people and be more involved in the school campus.”
“I hope that I gain a lot more new connections with other people,” freshman Isabelle Pellew told the Vanguard. “I like the opportunity to talk to the coordinators about your future.”
Welcome Day also introduced the BLMI Peer Mentors for the Fall semester. These mentors are students helping fellow underrepresented students adjust to life at BC.
“My biggest goal is to get to know my mentees. I’m excited because I want to give back to the community,” Peer Mentor Manuel Martinez Valdez told the Vanguard.
Whether it be through hosting workshops, helping mentees figure out class schedules, or just being a listening ear to their experiences, this semester’s Peer Mentors are dedicated to helping underclassmen thrive and feel seen.
“Part of what we have to track is their GPA, making sure they’re on time for classes,” Valdez continued. “I want to make sure they’re successful, and connect them with resources that they need to be successful.”
“We do have a lot of students who drop by the office, and they’re not actually part of the program,” explained Peer Mentor Tamia Turner. “I want to put us more on the market because there’s a lot that we offer. That would help a lot of students who might feel that the office would never be for them.”
The BLMI community’s dedication to inclusivity is reflected in their collaborations with the Immigrant Student Success Office (ISSO), which was also introduced during Welcome Day.
“We are focusing on being present for our students in terms of facilitating a lot of mental health support,” ISSO Director Jesus Perez told the Vanguard. “We want to build this partnership to create these connections [with BLMI & the BC Personal Counseling office] that center students.”
Moving forward, BLMI staff plan to continue improving resources for their members, including their career closet filled with professional clothing for students to wear to interviews.
“A lot of students have a lot of opportunities and interviews lined up that they don’t have professional clothing readily available to show up to,” said Rodriguez. “They miss out on opportunities just for something as little as not having a shirt and tie. So we have that and we’re going to grow that.”
Ultimately, BLMI staff want students to know they are an open resource for community, personal, and professional development.
“Our mission is to recruit, retain, and graduate,” said Perez. “Education happens outside of the classroom as well.”
For more information on BLMI, visit @bcblmi on Instagram or 3309 James Hall.