Loyola University Chicago

In partnership with the Department of Residence Life, the Office of First Year Experience and the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Student Diversity & Multicultural Affairs (DSDMA) bring you The People’s Institute. Under the leadership of Risё Nelson Burrow and Sharon Chia Claros, along with Graduate Assistants, Andrea Mondragón and Nichole Smith, The People’s Institute intentionally brings together students from various cultures and backgrounds to promote academic excellence, dynamic leadership skills, and cultural competency that prepare our students to live their lives marked by purposeful action, pursuit of the common good, and the drive to continually work towards a just and humane world.

The People’s Institute consists of STARS (Students Together Are Reaching Success) Mentors and Mentees, Social Justice Advocates (SJAs), LUCES (Loyola University Chicago Empowering Sisterhood) St. Josephine Bakhita Scholars, Men’s Project Scholars; and the Social Justice Living Learning Community (LLC) Resident Assistant, Peer Advisors, and residents.

Vision
By 2014 The People’s Institute will be a nationally recognized program and service that emboldens, enriches, and engages our students through intentional and inter-cultural community building.

Challenge
The People’s Institute aims to address a perceived lack of inter-cultural interaction that serves as the gateway to Dynamic Leadership, Cultural Competency, and Action towards Social Justice.
 
Objectives

• To foster and build dynamic leadership and cultural competency skills to act towards social justice
• Refine the STARS program, Social Justice LLC, Social Justice Advocates, LUCES, and Men’s Project by:
       1. honoring academic excellence
       2. valuing diversity in the U.S. and in the global world
       3. using transformative education to nurture faith, spirituality, well being and integrity of the 
           whole person
       4. encouraging students to live a purpose driven life 
• Continued collaborative research and assessment of The People’s Institute to improve the initiative

Activities

• The People’s Institute Student Leader Training
• The People’s Institute Summer Transition Conference
• The People’s Institute Fall Retreat
• Inter-group relation dialogues throughout the year that start off with dialogues about identity development, leading up to dialogues about systems of oppression
• Peer Mentorship
• Discover Chicago Series
• The People’s Institute Winter Recharge & Social Justice Training
• The People’s Institute End of the Year Celebration
• Attendance of DSDMA’s programs such as: Heritage Months, Social Justice Dinner/Dialogue, etc.
  

Applications
Applications for The People's Institute 2010-11 are now available. Download one now or pick one up at Mertz Hall, Room 200. Completed applications are due to Andrea Mondragón by Monday, February 8 at 4:30PM in Mertz Hall Room 200 or via email.  Letters of recommendation are due by Wednesday, February 10 at 4:30PM.


Returning People's Institute Participant Application
 
New People's Institute Participant Application

Back to SDMA Main Page