���ϳԹ� has been cited for its efforts to diversify its student body and faculty in a recent book that examined the populations of 150 Christian colleges and universities across the country.

The book, Diversity Matters: Race, Ethnicity and the Future of Christian Higher Education, cited North Park’s specific mission to “use Chicago as a classroom, a strategic effort to connect with the faith communities” in the city.

Diversity Matters, edited by Karen A. Longman, features North Park as a case study. The book notes that ���ϳԹ� promotes its city-centered, intercultural academics by requiring faculty candidates to demonstrate how they would use Chicago as a classroom.

The book finds that the percentage of nonwhite students attending schools that are part of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities had increased by about 10 percentage points between 2004 and 2014. However, most of that growth was at urban-centered universities such as North Park. Such schools tend to be more inclusive.

“It should be noted that despite the media’s painting of evangelicals with a broad brush, the tent of Christian views is quite broad,” Longman said in an interview with Inside Higher Ed.

For instance, Longman noted, 68 percent of evangelical Christians support a legal path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Earlier this year, North Park’s then-president, David Parkyn, joined 600 public and private colleges and university presidents in signing a letter supporting its DACA [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] students.

Longman noted that many Christian universities, North Park included, are naturally inclined to see social justice issues as a Biblical imperative.

“Because of their mission and theological heritage, [Christian colleges] emphasize the practice of social justice and are intrinsically motivated to work for racial harmony and interethnic healing,” Longman said.

Story by Deanna Crosby, a politics & government major, senior senator, student assistant to the vice president for Student Engagement, and founder of the Social Justice Living Learning Community. 

It has been said that once you know some things, you can’t unknow them. And with that statement comes the story of how North Park’s Social Justice Living-Learning Community (SJLLC) came about. In February of 2017, I went on the Sankofa experience with University Ministries, and those of us on the trip were shaken to our core. Some of us knew that racism and white privilege existed but felt that it didn’t have an effect on us, some believed that racism and segregation ended long ago, and some didn’t know what to think. I spent a good amount of time during Sankofa reflecting on my experiences as a straight, white female with white privilege. The question that continuously went through my mind was, “what can I do with what I have?” I approached Jackie Strapp, Director of Diversity and Dr. Barrington Price, Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement with the idea of creating an intentional space where people can “talk across the aisle” and effectively communicate in a cross-cultural environment.

The SJLLC sits at 5017 N. Spaulding Ave, one of North Park’s houses. Seven students live in this residence representing various ethnic and racial backgrounds, including West African, African American, Hispanic, and White. Each student brings their story and experiences with them and engages in monthly dialogues relating to topics including but not limited to LGBTQ awareness & affirmation, mass incarceration, white privilege, and conflict transformation. Once a month, we gather around the table to have our “Kitchen Convo” with one special guest and discuss that month’s topic. Speakers include Kim Edstrom Schiller, Health and Wellness Education and Title IX coordinator; Hannah Barbosa, academic advisor and Academic Services coordinator for the School of Professional Studies; Dr. Helen Hudges, associate professor of music; Dr. Barrignton Price, assistant vice president for Student Engagement; Dr. Michelle Clifton-Soderstrom, professor of theology and ethics and Dr. Michael Emerson, provost of ���ϳԹ�.

The purpose of having these conversations is to break down barriers and stigmas around these topics. So often we are faced with challenging situations but lack the skills to effectively communicate across the board. By breaking bread with these speakers and the individuals in the house, and using storytelling as a means of connecting, we will be able to engage in cross-cultural dialogue and actually listen to understand; not listen to respond. The SJLLC is not politically driven. It is not a place to demonize, harass, nor point fingers. It’s a place where individuals can gather with differing opinions, share a meal, and be with one another while simultaneously tearing down walls and shattering the stigmas around these topics.