Mission
We exist to center and elevate the collective Black voice and experience at Butler University.
We strive to lead the disruption and continued dismantling of systemic racism.
We will cultivate the collective Black strengths to build and maintain a more inclusive community.
Origin
The Hub for Black Affairs and Community Engagement was established in 2020 in response to the killing of George Floyd, Jr. to address systemic and institutionalized racism from the vantage point of the Black intellectual tradition. Butler University was founded in 1855 by abolitionist attorney Ovid Butler, who believed higher learning should be open to all, regardless of race, gender, or religious affiliation. The Hub honors and reflects this founding mission and exists today as an institutional command center to address systemic racism and Black oppression in keeping with Butler's broader commitment to creating an intentionally diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning and working environment.
Featured Hub for Black Affairs and Community Engagement Initiatives
Visiting Black Intellectuals Series
This scholar-in residence program showcases the Black community’s cultural life, intellectual traditions and expressions by inviting Black role models to campus to connect with Butler and Indianapolis through public lectures and performances, class visits, and other gatherings over the course of 2-3 days. In connection to this series, there is a community read that accompanies the fall semester Visiting Black Intellectual to prepare incoming students and to coordinate significant community partners in this project.
Fortnightly Literary Book Collection
The Fortnightly Literary Collection, inspired by the Fortnightly Literary Book Club (est.1923), is a dynamic compilation of books by Black authors spanning genres and the diaspora. It promotes accessibility to Black literary works, fosters engagement with cultural and intellectual knowledge, and features themed selections each semester. It is currently housed on the first floor of Irwin Library near the front desk.
MLK Oratorical Contest
In collaboration with Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), we are organizing our annual oratorical contest for IPS students in grades 9-12. This program aims to enhance literacy among IPS students while highlighting mutual values of racial equity and educational access. The contest involves school-based oratory competitions centered around a MLK Jr. legacy-related theme. Butler students, faculty, and staff will assist IPS students in speech preparation for the school-level contest. The finals, mirroring the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest, will be held on Butler's campus. This initiative fosters a meaningful connection between IPS students and Butler, inspiring them to consider Butler for their collegiate experience.
CFV Seminar
This seminar is a partnership between the Center for Faith and Vocation Seminar on Religion and Global Affairs and the Hub for Black Affairs and Community Engagement Visiting Black Intellectual Series. The theme for the year is Black Diaspora: Faith and Expressions and will feature various religious and spiritual traditions of people of African descent in the U.S. context and beyond along with artistic expressions of these traditions.
Community Partnerships:
We have several Butler and Indianapolis community partnerships to support the work we do on campus and ensure our impact extends beyond the Butler bubble.
- Center for Black Literature and Culture
- Indy Women in Food
- Leadership Indianapolis
- Center for Faith and Vocation
- Butler University College of Communications
- Efroymson Diversity Center
- MLK Center Indy
- Black Student Union at Butler University
- CircleCity Storytellers
Hub Physical Space
Key to the healing and empowerment of Black students, faculty, and staff is to have a physical gathering space that presents as familiar, as a sanctuary, and as an entry point for community members on to the wider Butler campus. The daily encounters of being minoritized at a predominantly white institution can be debilitating if you are moving in isolation. There is a dedicated space currently in Jordan Hall complete with three offices (Faculty Director, Student Apprentices, and Project Specialist) along with a public suite space and a workroom (with refrigerator, microwave, coffee machine, and plenty of cabinet space for supplies). This space is in ongoing development and is open for both chance/informal connections and intentional open houses and social events.
