Story by Deanna Crosby, a politics & government major, senior senator, student assistant to the vice president for Student Engagement, and founder of the Social Justice Living Learning Community.
It has been said that once you know some things, you can’t unknow them. And with that statement comes the story of how North Park’s Social Justice Living-Learning Community (SJLLC) came about. In February of 2017, I went on the Sankofa experience with University Ministries, and those of us on the trip were shaken to our core. Some of us knew that racism and white privilege existed but felt that it didn’t have an effect on us, some believed that racism and segregation ended long ago, and some didn’t know what to think. I spent a good amount of time during Sankofa reflecting on my experiences as a straight, white female with white privilege. The question that continuously went through my mind was, “what can I do with what I have?” I approached Jackie Strapp, Director of Diversity and Dr. Barrington Price, Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement with the idea of creating an intentional space where people can “talk across the aisle” and effectively communicate in a cross-cultural environment.
The SJLLC sits at 5017 N. Spaulding Ave, one of North Park’s houses. Seven students live in this residence representing various ethnic and racial backgrounds, including West African, African American, Hispanic, and White. Each student brings their story and experiences with them and engages in monthly dialogues relating to topics including but not limited to LGBTQ awareness & affirmation, mass incarceration, white privilege, and conflict transformation. Once a month, we gather around the table to have our “Kitchen Convo” with one special guest and discuss that month’s topic. Speakers include Kim Edstrom Schiller, Health and Wellness Education and Title IX coordinator; Hannah Barbosa, academic advisor and Academic Services coordinator for the School of Professional Studies; Dr. Helen Hudges, associate professor of music; Dr. Barrignton Price, assistant vice president for Student Engagement; Dr. Michelle Clifton-Soderstrom, professor of theology and ethics and Dr. Michael Emerson, provost of North Park University.
The purpose of having these conversations is to break down barriers and stigmas around these topics. So often we are faced with challenging situations but lack the skills to effectively communicate across the board. By breaking bread with these speakers and the individuals in the house, and using storytelling as a means of connecting, we will be able to engage in cross-cultural dialogue and actually listen to understand; not listen to respond. The SJLLC is not politically driven. It is not a place to demonize, harass, nor point fingers. It’s a place where individuals can gather with differing opinions, share a meal, and be with one another while simultaneously tearing down walls and shattering the stigmas around these topics.