Black Leadership Initiative (BLI)

Black Leadership Initiative (BLI)


The Black Leadership Initiative (BLI) takes anÌýAfrican-centeredÌýapproach to social work practice. Emphasis is placed on community, collective action,Ìýhealth, and well-being in socio-cultural contexts. BLI students are prepared to apply strength-based, anti-oppressive, anti-racist practices to working effectively with individuals, families, and communities.

BLI Team:
Karen Bullock, chair
Samuel Bradley, co-founder
Lujuana Milton
Whitney Irie
Robert Motley
William Byansi
Ed-Dee Williams

Overview

The Black Leadership Initiative was designed to support, develop, and prepare MSW-level practitioners to address issues facing the Black community. This robust program continues òòò½Ö±²¥SSW's legacy of innovation by providing professional development through a specialized curriculum focused on African-centered approaches to social work practice, which intersect cultural experiences and values rooted in and guided by African-centered pedagogy. We are proud to now have 30 fellows in the BLI. RepresentingÌýfourÌýyears of strong enrollment, our students hail from as far away as Sierra Leone to as close to home asÌýBoston, Brockton, and Dorchester, Massachusetts.

Field Education

Students who participate in the Black Leadership Initiative are placed in a field assignment that supports the integration of practice values that are anti-oppressive, anti-racist, person-centered, and strength-based while engaging students in meaningful leadership development opportunities. There are exciting opportunities for field practicum in and beyond the Greater Boston area—we're working with 600+ partnerships and agencies.

Cohort Specialized Monthly Activities

Specialized monthly meetings for the BLI cohort are designed to create opportunities as a group. The monthly meetings provide specialized training related to field, coursework, and community building. The monthly meetings introduce BLI fellows to professional networks of key publicÌýofficials,Ìýresearchers, scholars,Ìýpractitioners, and administrative executive leaders.

Cohort-BasedÌýLearning and Immersion

Specialized courses are provided as electives to the Boston College community as a whole.ÌýBLI-specific courses center the experiences of the African diaspora, emphasizing social justice approaches that aim to address oppressive practices. Incorporating evidence-based tools, the BLI is an African-centered context for learning about the histories of the Black people, communities in which they live, and systems of historical oppressionÌýsuch as child welfare, criminal justice, employment, education, and healthcare.

Career Opportunities

The BLI equips students with foundational understanding, essential awareness, skills, and transferable knowledge necessary to demonstrate competencies for effectively engaging in areas of ethical and professional practice, human rights and justice, anti-racism and inclusive practice, research, policy, practice assessments, and evaluations. The leadership capacity acquired through the BLI immersive learning willÌýfosterÌýrewarding career opportunities.ÌýÌýÌýÌý

At a Glance

600+

Total number of agencies/partnerships.

Work directly with the community.Ìý

10

Total number of events held annually (6 virtual and 4 in-person).Ìý

Connect with other BLI fellows.Ìý

3

Number of courses that fall under the BLI umbrella.

Explore your classroom options.

27

Current number of BLI alums working in the community.

You're in great company.Ìý

Academic Programs

Black Leadership Initiative

This is a cohort-based program that helps students develop a nuanced understanding of the challenges facing Black communities in Boston and beyond. Space in the program is limited to 20 student fellows each year, allowing students to take many classes with their cohort. The BLI-specific courses center around Afrocentric social work practice and put the Black experience at the forefront of the curriculum.
Ìý

Afrocentric Social Work

This is one of six fields of practice offered at òòò½Ö±²¥SSW. The Afrocentric Social Work field of practice centers on the African Diaspora and Black experiences, inclusive of continental Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Central America, and the United States. Students will learn how to implement and apply Afrocentric perspectives such as Ma’at and Nguzo Saba principles in working with Black clients on micro, mezzo, and macro levels.

Black Leadership Certificate

òòò½Ö±²¥SSW students can earn a certificate in Black Leadership by taking three specific courses—“Re-thinking Diversity,†“Afrocentric Organizations,†and “History of Activism in Black Communities.†In these courses students will learn about anti-Black racism, racial trauma, systemic barriers, and the historical significance of activism and advocacy among Black people and how that has shaped modern-day activism.

Play
Dr. Samuel Bradley

A Cohort Approach to BLI

Students in the BLI experience sequential immersive learning ideally suited for understanding the history and culture of the African diaspora in order to prepare them to address the needs of individuals, families, and communities. The concept of shared humanity lies at the heart of the curriculum and is based on an African philosophy rooted in collectivism.

Latest News

BLI retreat - image of cohort 2022

Annual Student Retreat

The BLI Retreat is an annual event open to current BLI fellows. The retreat occurs over a period of 24 hours in a retreat facility off campus. The purpose of the retreat is to gather with one another to build stronger bonds within the BLI cohort.

During the retreat, fellows are able to engage with òòò½Ö±²¥SSW staff, faculty, and alumni while participating in organized activities meant for getting to know each other, reflecting, and identifying future goals.ÌýÌý

Hear from BLI Students

Ashley Scott

Ashley Scott


Full-time MSW Program/Clinical

Afrocentric Social Work

Ashley Scott


Full-time MSW Program/Clinical

Afrocentric Social Work

"Having the opportunity to be a part of the Black Leadership Initiative at òòò½Ö±²¥ has been one of the most healing experiences I have had throughout my educational journey. For so long, I have tried to find a community that accepts me for who I am, and that uplifts me with the foundation of peace, joy, and harmony. The best thing about being in the BLI is the ability to have a community where we share so many of the same struggles, yet where we are all so different."

Gabrielle Nash

Gabrielle Nash


Full-time MSW Program/ Clinical

Afrocentric Social Work

Gabrielle Nash


Full-time MSW Program/ Clinical

Afrocentric Social Work

"I chose to study at òòò½Ö±²¥SSW because of the Black Leadership Initiative and Leaders for Equity and Justice in the Workplace certificate. There was no other school of social work that offered these unique opportunities, and being able to learn through an Afrocentric Social Work perspective was really valuable to me."

Kaila Atkins

Kaila Atkins


Full-time MSW Program/Clinical

Afrocentric Social Work

Kaila Atkins


Full-time MSW Program/Clinical

Afrocentric Social Work

"I chose òòò½Ö±²¥SSW for the Afrocentric Social Work field of practice and to be a member of the Black Leadership Initiative. Being a part of the inaugural BLI cohort has been a tremendous honor, and I could not imagine my MSW experience without the love and support of this beautiful community."

Why Boston College?

100%

100% of òòò½Ö±²¥SSW students receive some form of scholarship.Ìý

100%

Employment rate within one year of graduation (Class of 2022).Ìý

48%

òòò½Ö±²¥SSW has 48% faculty diversity with 32 full-time faculty members.Ìý

6

Average length of a job search for a graduate is 6 weeks (Class of 2021).

June 7, 2022 -- Samuel L. Bradley, Jr., Assistant Professor of Macro Practice at Boston College's School of Social Work. Photographed at McGuinn Hall.
This isn’t diversity, equity, and inclusion for the sake of lip service. This is diversity, equity, and inclusion for the sake of leadership.
Samuel Bradley, Jr., D.S.W., Associate Professor of the Practice

Frequently Asked Questions

BLI Faculty

Samuel Bradley, Jr.
Samuel Bradley, Jr.
Assistant Professor
BLI Co-founder
X
Samuel Bradley, Jr.

Samuel Bradley, Jr.

Assistant Professor

BLI Co-founder

View Bio

Lujuana Milton
Lujuana Milton
Part-time Faculty
BLI Program Coordinator
X
Lujuana Milton

Lujuana Milton

Part-time Faculty

BLI Program Coordinator

View Bio

Karen Bullock
Karen Bullock
Louise McMahon Ahearn Endowed Professor
X
Karen Bullock

Karen Bullock

Louise McMahon Ahearn Endowed Professor

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William Byansi
William Byansi
Assistant Professor
X
William Byansi

William Byansi

Assistant Professor

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Whitney Irie
Whitney Irie
Assistant Professor
X
Whitney Irie

Whitney Irie

Assistant Professor

View Bio

Robert O. Motley, Jr.
Robert O. Motley, Jr.
Assistant Professor
X
Robert O. Motley, Jr.

Robert O. Motley, Jr.

Assistant Professor

View Bio

Richard Pinderhughes
Richard Pinderhughes
Part-time Faculty
X
Richard Pinderhughes

Richard Pinderhughes

Part-time Faculty

View Bio

Related Areas of Interest

Leaders for Equity and
Justice in the Workplace

This certificate program was designed to prepare master’s students to improve equality in the workplace for women, people of color, and other marginalized employees.ÌýÌýStudents will need to complete three courses to earn the certificate.ÌýOpen to all òòò½Ö±²¥SSW students.Ìý

Work Equity
Ìý

Co-founded by Asst. Professor Samuel Bradley, Jr.
The Work Equity initiative aims to advance equity in the workplace by developing solutions to the root causes of racial, ethnic, and gender discrimination and biases built into the structure of jobs and employment systems.Ìý

Racism-based Violence Injury & Prevention Lab

Founded by Assistant Professor Robert O. Motley Jr.
This lab provides an interdisciplinary intellectual space in which faculty and students can critically examine the intersection of racism, violence, and trauma and its impact on the well-being of Black emerging adults 18 to 29 years of age.Ìý

Ready to help serve Black communities?Ìý

Applications to the full-time and part-time MSW programs are now open.Ìý

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