An Update from the Chapel

AN UPDATE FROM THE CHAPEL

Student Leader Commissioning Service Howard Forever: A Legacy of Resilient and Hopeful Leaders

Coordinated by the Office of the Dean of the Chapel, the Student Leader Commissioning Service was held virtually on Sunday, Sep. 27. This service united the entire Howard University community – administration, faculty, staff, alumni, community members and students – for a time of prayer and encouragement for students in leadership across the University as they accepted the responsibility and entered the legacy of Howard University. President Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA, and Cynthia Evers, Ed.D, interim vice president of student affairs, commissioned student leaders who joined the live event from around the country. Rev. Matthew Watley and Ms. Stefanie Brown James, both Howard alumni, inspired students in a two-part service and ceremony.

This year’s theme exposed how student leaders remain committed to advocacy while tackling both the racial and coronavirus pandemics. More than 60 student organizations were present. The president and vice president of the Howard University Student Association, Rachel Howell and Michael Franklin, responded for all students with thanks and words of hope for the future. The rebroadcast of the service can be viewed on the Rankin Chapel YouTube page.

Howard University Homecoming Day of Service

Saturday, Oct. 10, commenced the Howard University Homecoming season with Virtual Howard University Homecoming Day of Service. This service project was coordinated by the Office of the Dean of the Chapel in partnership with the Office of Student Affairs and united the entire Howard University community through community-focused service.

Howard’s 2020 Homecoming theme “Advocacy!” captured the essence of our institution and speaks to Howard’s long-standing legacy of developing the faith, service and social justice leaders who change the world, despite the changes happening around them. Homecoming Day of Service focused on voter engagement and registration.

More than 1,000 Howard undergraduate students were contacted – including some students who were not yet registered to vote. Students were grateful to hear from Howard students, faculty, staff and alumni who conducted wellness checks, helped students check their voter registration status and ensured that students had the information they needed in order to coordinate a voting plan.

Homecoming Gospel Concert

Bison family and friends gathered their testimonies and joined a celebration of what anchors us, resilient faith. The Homecoming virtual gospel concert featured the premier performing arts ensembles of the University including Afro Blue, the Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel Choir, the Howard University Community Choir, the Beacon Liturgical Dance Ministry and the Showtime Marching Band. It headlined the Howard Gospel Choir of Howard University and a special guest, BET Sunday Best’s Geoffrey Golden. In addition to soulstirring ministry of music and arts, the program included various clips of advocacy work centered on the importance of voting including words from First Lady Michelle Obama and a clip from the Men’s Basketball Team on why Black Lives Matter. This uplifting evening of inspiration and encouragement was presented by the Office of the Dean of the Chapel.

Communal Lament Services

A Communal Lament is a YouTubestreamed program coordinated by The Office of the Dean of the Chapel that offers Howard students a space to share their range of feelings about the continued stress of the pandemic, extrajudicial killings of Black life and attending classes virtually.

During Still Advocating, the third installment of this biweekly series, students from organizations with a history of advocacy at Howard’s campus offered their pain, frustrations, hope through prayers, reflections, music and words of consolation and comfort to uplift members of the Howard community. This program can be viewed on the Rankin Chapel YouTube page.

Virtual Social Justice Tutors

Now, more than ever, advocating for access to educational resources is critical. The Office of the Dean of the Chapel is connecting Howard faculty and staff who have been trained as Virtual Social Justice Tutors with students to support. The Office of the Dean of the Chapel’s Virtual Social Justice Tutors are trained to support students in grades K-12.

To apply and receive more information, email chapel@howard.edu.

The Wellness Collective

Please join the Office of the Dean of the Chapel for the Wellness Collective, an experience for the mind, body, spirit and soul featuring experts in mindfulness, meditation, self-care and spiritual care. Beginning on Oct. 26, the virtual interactive series will take place bi-weekly and is open to the entire Howard University community.

The first guest expert was Dr. Sará Yafah King. She is a UCLA-trained political and learning scientist, neuroscientist, entrepreneur, public speaker and yoga and meditation instructor. Dr. King specializes in researching and teaching about the relationship between mindfulness, community healing and social justice. She presented “Mindful Tips for Coping with Impatience During COVID-19.”

Additional upcoming speakers for the Office of the Dean of the Chapel’s Wellness Collective include Tara Brach, Ph.D., an internationally known teacher of mindfulness, meditation, emotional healing and spiritual awakening. She will present “Introduction to Mindfulness” on Nov. 9, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. Ronald E. Hopson, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, holds a joint appointment in the Howard University School of Divinity and the Department of Psychology. He will present “Managing Anxiety” on Nov. 23, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. Register here to experience the Wellness Collective.