Impact of THRIVE at a Predominantly White Institution: Building New Legacies & Reclaiming Space

This poster presentation examines how ongoing Racial Affinity Groups (RAGs) for Women Students of Color (WSoC) in college and universities can impact students’ sense of belonging at Predominantly White Institutions (PWI). Through examining THRIVE, women of color empowerment group run through the Diversity and Equity Center (DEC) at Central Washington University (CWU), we explore how RAGs impact students’ support systems and capacity to navigate PWIs. We argue that RAGs contribute to the personal development of WSoC through an increased sense of belonging, community support, and empowerment in a PWI setting. Lastly, we conclude with recommendations for how PWIs could implement RAGs and other practices to support their students. College of Education and Professional Studies Presentation Award Winner