Students of Color Conference

Mission

The mission of the Students of Color Conference is to harness and include the power and wisdom of historically marginalized and traditionally non-dominant communities, specifically students who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color, by introducing students to concepts and structure’s that will strengthen their identity development, awareness of others, social justice/social activism and personal development. 

The Students of Color Conference provides dynamic programming that allows students to explore and be within each of what Dr. Tara J Yosso calls their Culture Capitals:  

• Aspirational capital - The ability to sustain future hopes, regardless of real and perceived barriers.
• Linguistic capital - The intellectual and social skills attained through communication experiences in more than one language and/or style.
• Familial capital - Knowledge about one's culture that is developed among family members.
• Social capital - Networks of community resources that are used in BIPOC communities to try and overcome oppression.
• Navigational capital - Skills that help students maneuver through institutions with dominant cultural norms.
• Resistance capital - Knowledge and skills developed through behavior that challenges inequality. 

Cultural wealth is defined as: “an array of knowledge, skills, strengths and experiences that are learned and shared by people of color and marginalized groups; the values and behaviors that are nurtured through culture work together to create a way of knowing and being” (Yosso, 2005).