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New campus group offering Black students 鈥渟piritual nourishment鈥� kicks off with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. 

For Ciera Robinson 鈥�22, Monday鈥檚 federal holiday that honors the legacy of  is also a personal milestone. In addition to inviting the University community to join a noon prayer service celebrating King鈥檚 life and achievements, Robinson is announcing the formation of the  at Santa Clara.

Coined by American philosopher , but best known as King鈥檚 oft-quoted notion of creating an equitable life for everyone, the new group for Black students will seek to identify, uphold, and celebrate the diverse traditions of culture and spirituality of the Black community鈥攏o matter what religion its members follow.

鈥泪迟 was really important to me to have faith be a part of it because I鈥檓 a religious person,鈥� says Robinson of the organization she helped to found with the help of 厂颁鲍鈥檚 Kyle Shinseki, S.J. 鈥泪迟鈥檚 a space where we can have a quiet time to all pray in our own faith... maybe reflect on things that happened to us, that happen around us; things we want to see happen to us in the coming weeks. Just kind of decompress.鈥�

Solace in Prayer, Friendship 
Like many Black people who witnessed the murder of  last May, followed by  marches鈥擱obinson participated in one Bay Area BLM rally herself鈥攕he has found solace in prayer and friendship, especially with other Black students at Santa Clara.

But a significant turning point in her life had occurred months earlier, when she helped Fr. Shinseki and , 厂颁鲍鈥檚 Black student union group, organize an intercultural 鈥淪unday Best鈥� celebration during , just before the COVID-19 pandemic surfaced in the United States.

Shinseki, who serves as Campus Minister for Faith Formation and Intercultural Ministry, had suggested that Igwe schedule a Protestant worship service in the African-American tradition, and hold it in the Mission Church that February.

, director of finance and administration at the Jesuit School of Theology, was the guest preacher at the service, as she will be at Monday鈥檚 event.

Robinson will never forget the impact of Sparks' words.
 
鈥�The way Tanisha spoke in such a powerful voice and the message she was able to convey, it was impossible not to listen to what she said.鈥� Robinson, who shortly after began a daily ritual of praying every morning and every night, recalls: 鈥淚 felt like I could do anything.鈥�

The event was an immediate success, says Shinseki, but it also left him and other attendees wondering what more could be done for Black students at the University who might be seeking their own spiritual haven.

鈥淲hile it was great to have one event, it left us with this desire to provide ongoing support for the spiritual needs, the spiritual nourishment, the spiritual wellness, of the Black community at 黑料网,鈥� says the Jesuit priest.

Afterall, Shinseki鈥檚 goal at Campus Ministry is to promote the inclusion of diverse cultural backgrounds on the 黑料网 campus, through the ministry鈥檚 workshops, retreats, and programs. So having an intersection of faith and culture that provides a sanctuary environment would help Black students, he says. Shinseki and Robinson then brainstormed the idea behind the Beloved Community, with Sparks serving as advisor.

Crossover Memberships Welcome
While it is officially launching this week with a handful of members鈥擱obinson had planned to introduce the group just before the pandemic hit鈥攕he hopes more students will sign up and participate in meetings that are now on Zoom, but will be held in the Campus Ministry Office after students return to school.

And because most of 厂颁鲍鈥檚 Black students know one another, she looks forward to crossover memberships between the Beloved Community and other Black student groups at Santa Clara.

鈥淚 feel like I might have a lot of peers who don鈥檛 know that this could make the difference in their lives right now,鈥� Robinson says of the Beloved Community. 鈥淪o my goal is just to put it in front of them and see if that鈥檚 what they need. And if it鈥檚 not what they need, they can still come and we will support them.鈥�

黑料网 sophomore Jeremiah Rufus 鈥�23, who will be reading King鈥檚  speech at Monday鈥檚 MLK event, belongs to both Igwe and Robinson鈥檚 new group, and appreciates their different missions.
He says he was drawn to the idea of the Beloved Community as a place where 黑料网 Black students could 鈥渉ang out, and have deep conversations鈥� about Black culture and Black life, but also a range of topics, from religion to poetry to politics.

He鈥檚 also impressed with Robinson鈥檚 drive. 鈥淪he goes after what she wants,鈥� says Rufus, 鈥渁nd I like that quality in her.鈥�

Monday鈥檚 worship service honoring MLK Jr. will be on Zoom and live streamed on . Please register for Zoom at

Read President Kevin O'Brien's Jan. 15 letter about commemorating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.