Belonging Resource: Belonging as the Groundwork for Flourishing

Belonging is deeply human. That is the heart of belonging work: the recognition that when we see campus members fully, affirm who they are, and create conditions for them to flourish, we fulfill the fundamental promise of higher education.

This week’s resource invites us to look at the arts as a lens for understanding the connection between belonging and the capacity to rise and flourish.

“Still I Rise” is a poem by author and activist Maya Angelou that gives voice to the universal desire to be recognized, affirmed, and allowed to rise fully into one’s identity.

As you read, consider the following questions to help reflect:

• What does proactive affirmation look like in practice?
• In what ways do our practices help campus members rise rather than shrink?
• How might we celebrate resilience in ways that reinforce belonging rather than placing additional burdens on those who display it?