The BIPOC Experience

Programs

Cultural/Month Celebrations

The AFC holds special weeks of celebrations for each cultural heritage month. We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Dia De Los Muertos in fall semester, Lunar New Year and MLK Day during J Term, Black History month, Arab American Heritage Month, Events are hosted individually by the AFC and in conjunction with students orgs, academic departments, individual student leaders or other interested faculty and staff. The events focus on a celebration of cultures that includes moments of historical learning; sharing traditional meals as individual events or as dining hall takeovers; showcasing cultural clothing, dances, music and celebrations; holding affinity spaces for those who share identities; and bringing communities together as a whole to honor each other.

Community Meals

What began as a small gathering to bring faculty, staff and students of color together has now become a tradition and staple of the center’s yearly programs. Once each semester (Fall, J Term, Spring) the AFC staff partners with the Center for the Comparative Study of Race and Ethnicity (CCSRE) to provide a “BIPOC community meal.” This meal is often cooked collaboratively by faculty and staff from different cultures or catered through BIPOC-owned restaurants and catering services around Middlebury and surrounding cities or towns in Vermont. All faculty, staff and students of color are welcome and join us at the AFC kitchen and main lounge for these lunches. Everyone can connect and catch up over great food!

Women of Color Brunches

Each semester (Fall and Spring), the AFC hosts a Women of Color Brunch for students, faculty and staff who identify as BIPOC women. The brunches are themed and decorated to match. There is a full breakfast buffet including baked treats, and activities and fun takeaways to match the theme. Attendees are encouraged to bring along their children and students are welcome to bring non-middlebury student guests who are also women of color. 

Men of Color Dinners

Men of color dinners are intended to create a relaxing and fun space for men of color on campus. The dinners are themed and decorated with food, games and other group activities. These are held in Fall and Spring semester.

Multicultural Graduation

Multicultural graduation celebrates the achievements of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and International students each year. It is a formal gathering where graduates can share their triumphs and achievements as they prepare to matriculate, and receive stoles to wear at graduation that are representative of their cultural identity. The celebration includes a reception, keynote, space for graduates to share their future plans, and community connections with BIPOC faculty and staff. The event is hosted in collaboration with the Black Studies Department.

Services

Salon AFC

For many years and through generations of BIPOC students at Middlebury, finding adequate hair care was a challenge. Student concerns raised conversations among administration and staff, culminating with initial short-term solutions to hair care in the form of hair pop-up efforts. Now, with a permanent salon space, students can find what is needed to do their own hair, each other’s hair, and have access to a rotation of professional stylists, braiders, and barbers monthly. This space is a testament not only to the hard work, student focus, and commitment to equity that defines who we are at the AFC, but also to the care and devotion of everyone involved.

Individual Use Of The Salon

Students are now able to utilize the salon space by filling out the access form and getting the code to the door. Students are required to read through the entire agreement and fill out all required information in the form. It will not submit with any section missing a response. Salon use by individual students will continue on a trial basis. Pending there is no incidence of misuse of the space, access will continue on a permanent basis.

Request here, at go/afcsalon/ or at direct link https://forms.gle/CwBE1WEhYGij4FoA6  

Professional Appointments

A stylist, braider and barber will be in once monthly on specific dates to offer professional hair care services. Appointments can only be booked on those specific days. The site will tell you the estimated cost of your services, descriptions of the service, and information on the stylist, barber and braider including pictures of their work. Booking will be open generally as that is how the site functions, but those hours are applicable ONLY when the stylists are here. Please do not book on any random date. The booking site has a “2024-25 Schedule” page which you should consult to find the proper dates for booking each professional.

Book Online  at go/afchair/ or visit the direct link salonafcmidd.square.site