Black Community at Elon

The CREDE aims to provide services and programs that support the collegiate experience of Black/African American students while sharing and educating the rest of the community on the culture of the African Diaspora population in the United States and abroad. The CREDE seeks to meet the needs of our ever-changing student population through advising, outreach, referrals, and collaborative initiatives. We offer a variety of programs that range in focus. Whether it is simply a social, educational, or cultural program. Contact Simone Royal for more information (sroyal2@elon.edu).

Some of the programs/services for Black/African American students include:

Black Table Talk

Black Table Talk is a monthly town hall gathering in the CREDE where we will hold informal discussions around a variety of topics that affect Black/African American students, and students of the African Diaspora; both here on campus and in the larger society. The town halls are a safe space to learn from one another and will help foster a system of support and skills that will help you traverse your time at Elon University and in life beyond.

Black Student Union (BSU)

The Elon University Black Student Union is a student organization whose primary objective is to cultivate a continuous relationship with the administration, Black faculty and staff, and Black students on campus. The BSU’s mission is to engage Black-identified undergraduate students and enrich student life at Elon university culturally, intellectually, and socially; to ensure the full ongoing administrative commitment of fair, equitable policies; and to strengthen and support the bonds of community between Black Elon students and the larger Elon and Burlington communities. See more information about the BSU.

S.M.A.R.T Mentor Program

The Student Mentors Advising Rising Talent program is designed to ease the transition from high school to college, both academically and socially, for first-year and transfer students.  The SMART Program centers on the experiences of the ALANAM community through a Community Cultural Wealth Model. First-year students learn from upper-level classmates who are trained to provide guidance and support to make Elon University a more welcoming environment. See more information about the SMART program.

African Diaspora Living Learning Community (LLC)

The African Diaspora Living Learning Community (AD LLC) provides students with opportunities to explore African, African American, and Black diasporic cultures at Elon and worldwide. The AD LLC is connected with the Center for Race, Ethnicity, & Diversity Education (CREDE) and African and African American Studies Minor at Elon University (AAASE) to support the in-depth exploration of the rich history and multi-dimensional experience of Blackness. Living in this community allows students to dive deeper into their understanding of Blackness through workshops, projects, mentorship, advocacy, and immersive programs. Learn more information about the African Diaspora Living Learning Community.

Phillips-Perry Black Excellence Awards

The Phillips-Perry Black Excellence Awards Banquet started in 1993. At the awards ceremony each spring, black students who have shown excellence in academics and the Elon Experiences are recognized. This banquet serves as an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of the black community and as an incentive for all black students to continue to excel academically. See more information about the Phillips Perry Awards.

Wall of Fame

Created as an opportunity to educate students, faculty, and staff about the major achievements of African American students and organizations that foster African American culture at Elon, the Wall of Fame is the centerpiece of Elon’s African American Resource Room.  The exhibit traces the accomplishments of African Americans at the University from the first black graduate to the first black Greek organization. See more information about the Wall of Fame.