A Professional Development Immersion Experience
B.L.A.C.K. (Black Leaders Accessing Consciousness through Knowledge) was launched in 2017 as a DO IT! Grant funded program with the John D. O’Bryant African American Institute (JDOAAI). Northeastern students are expected to go out on co-op very early in their professional careers, but some students did not have the networks, background, or experience to develop key relationships with employers that could lead to a fruitful co-op or career opportunity. As it was originally designed the B.L.A.C.K. program is designed to provide students of the African Diaspora with the opportunity to interact with some of Boston’s most prominent Black professionals. After recognizing that many of our Latinx students were already participating in the program because of the multiple identities that they hold, we intentionally expanded the program in 2020 with L.A.T.I.N.X. (Latinx Accessing Their Intellect through Networking and Exchange).
This program includes off-campus site visits, professional development workshops & career planning tailored to the emerging Black and/or Latinx professional interested in acquiring skills to navigate and move up in the workplace. Students visit sites such as State Street, Google, Ellevation Education, Partners Healthcare, the Museum of Fine Arts, and much more!
For questions: diversity@northeastern.edu.
B.L.A.C.K. and L.A.T.I.N.X. is a collaboration between:
The 2022 B.L.A.C.K. & L.A.T.I.N.X. program application is now live!
Past Events
B.L.A.C.K. and L.A.T.I.N.X. Career Expo
Date: Tuesday, October 6th
Time: 4 – 7 PM EST
(Time commitment can vary from 30 min – 3 hours)
Location: Virtual
Join the B.L.A.C.K. (Black Leaders Accessing Consciousness through Knowledge) and L.A.T.I.N.X. (Latinx Accessing Their Intellect through Networking and Exchange) professional immersion experience for an evening of panel discussions, networking opportunities, and information sessions to connect you to hiring opportunities with some of our top employer partners. Learn strategies for navigating the job search as a person of color during COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement. Gain access to job opportunities with employers committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Build your network full of professionals to support you in your career goals!
For Students
The B.L.A.C.K. / L.A.T.I.N.X. Professional Development Immersion Experience.
Our 2020 site hosts include:
- State Street
- Partners HealthCare
- The Museum of Fine Arts – Boston
- Ellevation Education
If you have any questions, please contact diversity@northeastern.edu.
B.L.A.C.K | L.A.T.I.N.X. Husky Treks
Please stay tuned for additional professional development opportunities through the B.L.A.C.K. | L.A.T.I.N.X. Husky Treks.
For Hosts
B.L.A.C.K. / L.A.T.I.N.X. would not exist without the generous contributions of our partners who have provided us with space for site visits, lunch, and engaging speakers. Past and current partners include EY, GE, MIT Media Lab, State Street, Partners HealthCare, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, OneUnited Bank, the MFA, and many more.
Spring Break Site Visit Host
As a site visit host, you give students an opportunity to see what it is like to work at your company. Host organizations engage our students with speakers who share their identities in an open and honest conversation about their career paths, navigating their identities in the workplace, and the resources available at your company. Students visit your company during the Spring Break experience in the first week of March. Depending on the schedule and time of the visit, site hosts often provide food for our students and a tour of your company. As a site host, you will need a space to accommodate at least 25 people, including students and accompanying staff.
Spring Break On-Campus Speaker
On the last day of the Spring Break program, we host speakers from various organizations on campus to participate in discussions around identity in the workplace and also offer the opportunity to lead skill-building sessions. The on-campus portion is an opportunity for students to hear speakers from a variety of disciplines share their knowledge and encourage deeper connections.
Trek Host
New in 2018 are our treks, which is an opportunity for Black and Latinx students to visit your company outside of the Spring Break program. As a trek host, our students will come to you for a few hours on a day and time of your choice to hear from leaders in your organizations who also identify as Black and/or Latinx. Like the site visit hosts, depending on the schedule and time of the visit, hosts often provide lunch or snacks for our students and a tour of the company. As a trek host, you decide how many or few students you can accommodate at one time.
If you are interested in sponsoring B.L.A.C.K. & L.A.T.I.N.X. by hosting a site visit, participating in an on-campus panel, or hosting a trek, please contact diversity@northeastern.edu.
Testimonials
“The B.L.A.C.K/L.A.T.N.I.X. program was indeed a unique experience for me to not only visit remarkable companies, such as the Federal Reserve Bank and Partners Healthcare, but helped me recognize my professional qualities and skills needed to emerge in my desired work environment. Through the program’s professional development workshops and its mission in excelling underrepresented minorities in the workplace, I have gained much more comfortable connections with some of the most remarkable people who have given me such great advice and support. I highly recommend this program to anyone that wants to gain a more personal perspective about how their identity can fit into their future workspaces.”
“B.L.A.C.K. gave me the inspiration to see myself in spaces where I used to doubt that I could be in. The program did a fantastic job at equipping me with the skills and network that I now confidently use to navigate professional spaces. I thoroughly enjoyed the program and would definitely recommend it to anyone that wants to learn more about how their identity fits into different work spaces.”
“The B.L.A.C.K. program was a unique experience. It gave me the opportunity to meet and network with professionals who look like me while learning about career opportunities in industries that I had never considered. I am more than certain that leveraging these connections will serve me well both personally and professionally as I prepare to enter the work force.”
“B.L.A.C.K./L.A.T.I.N.X. made me more aware that the challenges I face are not unique to me and there are people who have not only faced similar challenges but have also conquered them to become their best selves. It was also amazing to meet with people passionate about the next generation and willing to share their stories, unique perspectives on issues, and lessons they learned. Finally, I was able to build my network and improve my networking skills.”
“As a woman, Latina, and international student, I have been struggling to adapt to the work environment in the U.S. The B.L.A.C.K./L.A.T.I.N.X. Program during Spring Break was a very powerful experience. The people I met, the places we visited, and the talks we had the opportunity to listen to, empowered me to keep working on my dreams, to not give up just because I am different, and to embrace being special. I would recommend this opportunity to those who are also struggling to find their place once school is done.”
“The B.L.A.C.K./L.A.T.I.N.X. program was a wonderful opportunity for me to expand my network, visit several companies in diverse industries, and enhance my professional skills. I believe this program has greatly prepared me for not only my first co-op, but it has also prepared me to be a leader in my career. Thank you!”