New program provides ‘outlet’ for Black women on campus

Genesis Porter, like many freshmen, was unsure of what to expect when she started her higher education journey at California State University, Bakersfield this semester.

Porter, who is neurodivergent, was concerned about failing her classes and whether she would find a place where she fit in. She soon found that place, however - a new program that launched this fall called Sisters Achieving Nobility, Knowledge, Opportunity, Freedom and Access(SANKOFA) Scholars, which provides resources and support for Black women on campus.

"I thought I was going to feel a little out of place, but they're really welcoming," Porter said. "This program was a nice way of getting acclimated to the school. It's really nice to be surrounded by people who are in the same situation I am in."

The goal of the program is to help students navigate academic and personal challenges so that they feel connected to CSUB and therefore more likely to reach graduation. More than 20 students are participating in the SANKOFA Scholars.

"Sankofa" is a principle derived from the people of Ghana that one should remember the past to make positive progress in the future.

"It's really about ensuring they're connected to the campus. We want to see how we can support them on this journey while they're here," said Director of Special Programs and Student Retention Initiatives Natasha Harris. "As a campus, we've been able to recruit Black students, but we have difficulty retaining them. So how do we keep them connected to the university so they can get to graduation?"

The core of the program is a first-year seminar course, led by Ethnic Studies Department Chair Dr. Tracey Salisbury, that is tailored to the SANKOFA Scholars. Most of the students in the program are taking the course and will be taking Introduction to Ethnic Studies next semester.

"I'm over the moon to be teaching the first-year experience class. It is deeply important to me as a faculty member because no such class existed when I was a student," Dr. Salisbury said. "This class is a highlight of my career. It's been very rejuvenating for me."

In addition to the class, the program also provides mentorship. The students have had the opportunity to connect with many of the Black women who are faculty and staff on campus. SANKOFA Scholars also features workshops with on-campus and community leaders aimed at educating students about the resources and services that are available to them.

"We want to connect them with community leaders, women who are influential and powerful within the Black community," Harris said.

While programming makes up the bulk of students' interaction with SANKOFA Scholars, it also aims to provide at least two events or activities per month that students can participate in, such as wellness check-ins, conferences, skating and movie nights.

Anytime we can get them out on campus and involved in campus programming is a good thing," Harris said.

This first year of SANKOFA Scholars is being funded through the California State University system's new Black Student Success initiative. The system allocated $175,000 to CSUB last year to fund efforts aimed at providing support for Black students.

"I'm very proud to see the CSU system take charge and see the commitment to our Black students, that they see them as just as important as any other student," Harris said. "I truly am thankful to our chancellor for giving our campus a chance to really focus in on our Black students."

Harris said the idea for a program focused on serving Black women on campus had been discussed for years as a companion to the Excel Scholars program, which supports male students of color. However, it wasn't until the dedicated funding came in from the state that CSUB was able to move forward with it.

"We didn't see anything to support our Black women on campus," she said. "The girls were lacking that support, that community and connection. That's really why we ventured out to create SANKOFA Scholars - to give the young ladies on this campus the support system that they need but also that sisterly bond."

Harris believes the students in SANKOFA Scholars have already formed that bond within just the first few months of the program.

"I see a lot of change in the young ladies from when we met them for the first time to now," she said. "The girls have really pulled together. They are out of their shells. What I hope they will get out of this is for them to see they have the ability to succeed. That we're going to care for them as much as we can."

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