Black Student Success Initiative’s study-away program takes students to D.C.

students in front of capitol building

Fresno State’s Black Student Success Initiative (BSSI) recently hosted a week-long study-away program in Washington, D.C., where 23 students had the opportunity to immerse themselves in new surroundings and learn more in-depth about Black culture and history. 

For some students, this was their first time traveling outside of the Central Valley. 

Aledria Oatis, who will soon be graduating with her Masters in criminology, said, “Every day was a new first for me. I had never flown on a plane and had never traveled outside of California during my adult life. Every single thing about the D.C. trip was exciting and eye-opening. For one week, I got to live a life that could soon be my reality if accepted into Howard University’s Ph.D. Sociology program next year.”

Over the course of the week, students studied the Civil Rights Movement, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and political and grassroots organizations, participating in informational tours at  the Frederick Douglass House, the African American Civil War Memorial, the Capitol Building, Howard University and  the National Museum of African American History & Culture. 

Oatis said, “For me, the African American museum made me feel a lot of different emotions, from anger to sadness to happiness to pride. While I was there, I [connected with] other students [participating in the program] and we all were feeling those same feelings.”

While bonding with each other through their studies, students also worked side-by-side to give back to the D.C. community. They volunteered at DC Central Kitchen, a nonprofit “central kitchen” that takes wasted food materials and turns it into balanced meals for shelters and other nonprofit organizations while training unemployed individuals in the culinary arts. 

study away program at DC Central Kitchen

Dauryn Muhammad, a business major, said, “It was fun and awesome getting to work together, packaging up food ready to be served to homeless people with the people I now consider my school family. A lot of new experiences and memories made, they’re priceless to me.”

Two tour guides led the program participants through the city over the course of the week. And four staff members from across the division chaperoned, each getting to work closely with a small group of students. 

Sade Johnson, director of the Black Student Success Initiative, said, “Organizing this trip was a labor of love because it is not a part of our regular job duties, but we were passionate about the exposure and impact this would have on Fresno State students. Their reflections and dialogue made it all worth it. We all grew closer because we got to travel together, experience firsts together, and look out for each other in a different space.”

Learn more about the Black Student Success Initiative at https://studentaffairs.fresnostate.edu/bssi/index.html. 

by MARISA MATA

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