Community-Building Programs
These initiatives address the needs of communities to effectively help them navigate successfully at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Sister Talk
Sister Talk is designed to increase a sense of belonging, as well as, to give women of color, specifically, Black identified women, the space, tools, and resources to successfully navigate UNC-Chapel Hill. In addition to being a safe landing space for Black women on campus, Sister Talk provides learning and developmental opportunities for a population that is historically underserved.
Sister Talk promotes and enhances self-efficacy, self-awareness, and self-advocacy, among other protective factors for Black women at UNC. This group also aims to strengthen resiliency among this cohort of students, as they exist at an intersection of gender and race which impact their experiences at a predominately white institution (PWI).
Sister Talk is a University-Designated High Impact Program.
To join Sister Talk email: Dr. DeVetta Holman-Copeland at dholman@email.unc.edu
Phone: (919) 962-WELL (9355)
Sister Talk After Dark
Graduate and professional students experience a different academic dynamic, essentially because they are more isolated and operate on a more individualistic paradigm. As older students, oftentimes with families and/or with professional work obligations and children, there are different sets of concerns and emotional burdens.
This group, like Sister Talk, aims to increase a sense of belonging and resiliency, as they exist at an intersection of gender and race which impact their experiences at a predominantly white institution (PWI). This group is the graduate and professional counterpart to Sister Talk.
To join Sister Talk After Dark email: Dr. DeVetta Holman-Copeland at dholman@email.unc.edu
Phone: (919) 962-WELL (9355)
P.E.A.C.E.
P.E.A.C.E. (Processing Emotions And Communicating Effectively): This affinity group was born out of a need for students’ feelings, voices and stories to be shared while identifying mental health resources in a safe, non-judgmental setting. The program aims to bridge the gap between Black students and Mental Health resources by hosting events that teach students how to reconcile past traumas and develop healthy coping mechanisms while moving forward.
To join P.E.A.C.E. email: Dr. DeVetta Holman-Copeland at dholman@email.unc.edu
Phone: (919) 962-WELL (9355)
R.E.A.L. Talk
R.E.A.L. Talk (Resiliency, Education, And Leadership): Provides a space for BIPOC (Black/Indigenous People of Color) and male-identified individuals on UNC’s campus to engage and develop their sense of belonging, personal agency, growth mindset, and tools for honing resiliency and grit.
Graduate and professional male-identified students of color help facilitate this cohort of students while in the process gain leadership skills and develop strong mentoring bonds. No topic is off-limits, rather broaching courageous discourse will aid in participants’ growth, exploration, and self-actualization.
To join R.E.A.L. Talk email: Dr. DeVetta Holman-Copeland at dholman@email.unc.edu
Phone: (919) 962-WELL (9355)