The Brandeis Pluralism Alliance (BPA) will soon be closing its applications for spring grants, which will be given to students or faculty who need funding for projects that involve identity, pluralism and unity.
According to the BPA webpage, the organization’s goals include encouraging students to question identity and community, create alliances between campus groups that address pluralism, allow two or more clubs to collaborate on a project and providing “funds for creative new pluralism and unity programming involving students and faculty.” This goal refers to the BPA’s grants, which have been awarded at the beginning of each semester since Fall 2005.
According to Steering Committee member Grace Hong ’16, the BPA “encourages students to think of and approach their events with a more pluralistic mindset, in a way that is enriching both for students that plan the events and students that attend such events.”
Grants are typically up to $400 and can be used for a variety of programming, from seminars, workshops, performances, publications or service projects. The only condition is that the program must foster the ideas of pluralism and unity. This refers to projects that celebrate diverse or minority cultures, engage in community service or use art to incite social change. Such issues will hopefully inspire discussion between clubs and between students who engage in the events. There are 15 current grant recipients who were awarded for the Fall 2015 semester.
The winners span a wide range of organizations, cultures and goals. One recipient was Hsiang-Ling Hsiao ’18 for the Brandeis TSA Night Market, in which the Taiwanese Student Association (TSA) recreated “the atmosphere of the famous night markets in Taiwan.” This well-attended event featured multiple stations in which clubs served a variety of food. Some participating clubs included the Brandeis Chinese Cultural Connection, Southeast Asia Club and Japanese Student Association to help bring “that adrenaline-pumping street feel to Brandeis’ campus.”
Another Fall 2015 recipient was LaShawn Simmons ’18, who created the Ebony Axis Zine Publication in partnership with both the Brandeis Pluralism Alliance and the Creativity, the Arts and Social Transformation Program. Ebony Axis was created to showcase the poetry and narratives of black women on campus, from students and faculty to alumnae. A coffeehouse was also hosted in Chum’s as a safe space where participants could encourage dialogue and empowerment. Ebony Axis intended to show “that the journeys and lives of black women on this campus are unique and should be vocalized beyond the single axis framework that keeps their narratives obscure.”
Other Fall 2015 recipients included James Conlon ’16 for the Brandeis Dance Marathon, which raised money for Boston Children’s Hospital through a day of dance performances, slam poetry and raffles. Uday Jain ’17 also received a grant for MELA, the annual South Asian cultural show that features traditional and modern dance, music and spoken word performances. The Brandeis Pluralism Alliance also funded a juried Art Exhibition during ’DEIS Impact last spring called “BPArt: Pluralism and the Arts.” The event featured artwork related to pluralism, unity and social justice.
The BPA is currently accepting applications for its Spring 2016 grants. Once applications have closed, the Steering Committee, which is comprised of seven faculty and staff members and six students, will meet to determine the recipients. Winners will consult with the BPA about planning, publicity and implementation of their projects.
The BPA Spring 2016 application is due on Jan. 24 and is available online.
