LUCES is an intergenerational and intersectional community that serves undergraduate and graduate students, staff, faculty, and alumni of Loyola University Chicago to support the experiences as self-identified Womxn* and People of Color (W/POC) at a predominately White institution (PWI). Transfer students are eligible and encouraged to join the LUCES community.

*The LUCES community uses the term ‘Womxn’ to be inclusive of all those that identify along the vast spectrum of womanhood regardless of gender presentation or sexual orientation. (i.e., cisgender & transgender women, gender non-conforming individuals, masculine of centered individuals)

LUCES Mentees will have the opportunity to:

• Be matched with a peer mentor and staff or faculty mentor throughout their first year at Loyola. All mentors are past mentees of LUCES and/or staff and faculty with a significant institutional knowledge and understanding of resources.

• Engage in 1:1 monthly meetings with their mentors to build community and identify supports and resources, and engage in identity development.

• Participate in monthly engagements with the LUCES community centering identity development, social justice based dialogues, resources and supports, as well as topics of interest related to the student experience.

• Attend the annual overnight off-campus LUCES Retreat.

• Be eligible to participate in the Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) Program in the spring semester and engage in activities to enhance transformative leadership skills.

• Be a part of the greater CDI community!

Students who self-identify with the following backgrounds are eligible to join LUCES:

• Person of color (i.e., African American/Black, Arab American, Asian/ American, Latino/a/x, Middle Eastern, Native American, Pacific Islander, or Multiracial students)

• Womxn (i.e., cisgender & transgender women, gender non-conforming individuals, masculine of centered individuals)

There is no fee to join the LUCES program. For questions, please email Whitney Kwamin at wkwamin@luc.edu.