At 100,000 Strong in the Americas, we are committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in international education, so we invite you to join us in celebrating Black History Month, a time to recognize and honor the contributions of African Americans to our society and culture.
Throughout more than 400 years of American history, African Americans have made incredible achievements and contributions to the United States, as well as throughout the Western Hemisphere. As part of this commemoration, we want to recognize their work by sharing three 100K Strong projects that include the participation of African American/Afro Latino students, faculty, and communities in the region.
Let us all take this opportunity to learn from the past, celebrate the present, and work towards a more inclusive and equitable future for all.
  | “Project Fast-track: A Model for Developing Study Abroad Programs at Saint Augustine’s University” Saint Augustine’s University (U.S.) expanded its existing bidirectional study abroad programs through a partnership with the University of Health Sciences Antigua (Antigua & Barbuda) and Université Episcopale D’Haïiti’s Bishop Tharp Business and Technology Institute (Haiti), which provided collaborative research projects, opportunities in STEM disciplines, and service-learning that focused on the study of the unique attributes of French/Haitian Creole language and culture. Through the project, the partnering institutions devised curriculum, prepared activities, and acquired equipment required for the international research component, providing students with the opportunity to gain enrichment from the cultural and linguistic traditions unique to Haiti. |
  | Stillman College (U.S.) partnered with Instituto SENAI de Inovação em Química Verde (Brazil) to create an interdisciplinary science entrepreneurship course for undergraduate students. The course concluded with a competition for the best marketing plan for a promising solution to a global environmental problem. Utilizing their award-winning research on biodegradable, cellulose-based plastic as a model, student teams learned how to transfer scientifically-sound projects to the business sector. Students traveled to Brazil to interact with leading Green Chemistry researchers, gaining insights into the local context for global issues they had studied. |
  | “Cultural Heroes: An Interdisciplinary Experience in Community Health and Sustainable Development for Social Entrepreneurship in the U.S. and El Salvador” Morgan State University (U.S.) Instituto Especializado de Profesionales de la Salud (El Salvador) successfully established faculty-led study abroad program, incorporating a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) element that was completed before and after the travel period. Throughout the project, students had the opportunity to enhance their leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities, as well as to acquire the skills needed to propose and implement social entrepreneurship initiatives. Engaging in binational teams, students honed their teamwork skills and assessment techniques, all while championing multiculturalism and fostering awareness of second languages. |