Beloved Community

"He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone.' In Black spiritual tradition, the promise that we will not be alone cannot be heard as an affirmation of passivity. It does not mean we can sit around and wait for God to take care of business. We are not alone when we build community together." -bell hooks

The Beloved Community is a faith formation and leadership development fellowship for students who are interested in learning from the experiences of Black communities and the spiritualities of African-descended peoples in and around the city of Chicago. Together they work towards Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s vision of achieving concrete peace and agapic love. The Beloved Community utilizes the theologies, cultures, and histories of Black churches in the United States as a lens for the students’ service.

The program will place students in churches and faith-based not-for-profits in Chicago’s Westside communities and western suburbs. This non-employment-based opportunity (NEBO) engages students for nine hours per week at these fellowship sites and participate in one hour of theological reflection per week. Students are compensated with a generous stipend, and may be eligible for academic credit with departmental approval.

Wondering if you should apply?  If you are an undergraduate or graduate student:

• Who is interested in faith;
• Who is passionate about social justice and equity;
• Who wants to develop and strengthen leadership skills;
• Who works hard to honor commitments;
• Who can dedicate 10 hours a week to all of the above;

Then this program is for you. Connect with Kayla Jackson-Wolff, stop by Mazzuchelli North 298, or view the Beloved Community Information and Online Application for more information or to apply.