Community & Solidarity

Overview

Programs

Our programs offer the Northwestern community a variety of ways to develop teaching skills, enhance student learning, and find community. The following programs were created to build community and solidarity.

Affinity Groups

We offer logistical and programming support for campus partners and individuals who want to build community among instructors with shared identities. We are currently collaborating with the Women’s Center to support their strategic priority to foster belonging for Black women and gender expansive staff and faculty.

If you would like more information or are interested in starting a group, please reach out to Veronica Womack, Associate Director of Inclusive Teaching, at veronica.womack@northwestern.edu.

Please note that individual names of these groups are kept private.

Learning & Teaching Guides

Guides created by or in collaboration with the Searle Center to help educators and learners find community and solidarity.

• Northwestern Principles of Inclusive Teaching (2021)
• Gender Expansive Guidelines for the University Classroom (2024)
• In Brief: Revealing the Hidden Curriculum of Our Courses (2024)
• Supporting First-Generation College Student Success (2023)

Becoming a white Antiracist: A practical guide for educators, leaders, and activists

Brookfield, S. D., & Hess, M. E., 2021

Teaching Race: How to Help Students Unmask and Challenge Racism

Brookfield, S. D., 2018

Multiculturalism on campus: Theory, models, and practices for understanding diversity and creating inclusion

Cuyjet, M. J., Cooper, D. L., Linder, C., & Howard-Hamilton, M. F. (Eds.), 2016

Teaching about race and racism in the college classroom : notes from a white professor

Kernahan, C., 2019

Culturally sustaining pedagogies: Teaching and learning for justice in a changing world

Paris, D., & Alim, H. S. (Eds.), 2017

Further Resources

Our current recommendations for both foundational and cutting-edge content related to community and solidarity.

• Pour-Khorshid, F. (2018). Cultivating sacred spaces: A racial affinity group approach to support critical educators of color. Teaching Education, 29(4), 318-329.
• Monahan‐Kreishman, M., & Ingarfield, L. (2018). Creating campus communities of care: Supporting sexual violence survivors. New Directions for Student Services, 2018(161), 71-81.
• Mosley, D. V., Neville, H. A., Chavez‐Dueñas, N. Y., Adames, H. Y., Lewis, J. A., & French, B. H. (2020). Radical hope in revolting times: Proposing a culturally relevant psychological framework. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 14(1), e12512.
• Rosenthal, L. (2016). Incorporating intersectionality into psychology: An opportunity to promote social justice and equity. American Psychologist, 71(6), 474.
• Spade, D. (2020). Mutual aid: Building solidarity during this crisis (and the next). Verso Books.
• Toporek, R. L. (2018). Strength, solidarity, strategy and sustainability: A counseling psychologist’s guide to social action. The European Journal of Counseling Psychology, 7(1), 90-110.
• Wilkins-Yel, K. G., Gumbiner, L. M., Grimes, J. L., & Li, P. J. (2020). Advancing social justice training through a difficult dialogue initiative: Reflections from facilitators and participants. The Counseling Psychologist, 48(6), 852-882.

Awards & Grants

Northwestern University recognizes educators and researchers doing innovative work. The following list includes opportunities which we believe dovetail with work related to community and solidarity.

• Shujaa Award
• Provost Award for Exemplary Faculty Service

Calendar of Events

Below are all of our upcoming events related to community and solidarity.

Contact Us

Reach out to us at teach@northwestern.edu.