ABSTRACT
Men of color in the United States face significantly more barriers in education and the workforce than almost any other demographic group. Educational spaces and institutional structures, particularly those at predominantly White institutions, have long created unique challenges for undergraduate men of color as they seek places where they can feel a sense of belonging. These obstacles create conditions that can negatively impact students’ academic and psychosocial outcomes. The Brotherhood Initiative (BI) at the University of Washington is a cross-unit, collaborative effort that draws on design-based research practices to create networks of community and support for men of color across campus. A core premise of the BI theory of action is that sense of belonging is a primary condition for success that increases the likelihood that men of color will attain their educational goals. This chapter will first explain how sense of belonging is critical to the success of undergraduate men of color. It will then illustrate how specific academic and co-curricular strategies can cultivate and expand their sense of belonging.
