SQUAD: Students' Quest for Unity in the African Diaspora
SQUAD (Students' Quest for Unity in the African Diaspora) is a student-led program focused on fostering and celebrating relationships within the African Diaspora. Please note, there is no cost to participate in SQUAD.
About
Learn about the distinct history and community of Black students at Tufts and become familiar with the Tufts' Africana Center and the resources it offers.
Our mission is to create a safe and welcoming environment of unity, collaboration, learning and socializing as students navigate African-diaspora specific challenges on the campus and in their lives. Additionally, participants will explore African-diasporic history, culture, and community in Boston.
You will participate in a multitude of community bonding and service activities and take advantage of opportunities to participate in community service and engagement by:
- Acknowledging and exploring the intersections of ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality and experience within the African-diaspora through personal narratives and historically written Black perspectives/insights.
- Introduction to resources on campus and support systems for the nurturing of inter-community and individual care.
- Fostering connections with non-collegiate organizations in the Medford, Somerville, and greater Boston areas.
- Consciousness building through discussions that encourage curiosity and the examination of society and self.
- Exploration of Boston and establishment of bonds within the community.
Typical Day
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8 - 9 a.m. | Breakfast - Chicken and Waffles |
| 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Off-Campus Experience- previous trips have included Escape the Room, or a visit to the African American Museum |
| 12 - 1 p.m. | Lunch on Tufts Campus with peer leaders |
| 1 - 5 p.m. | Workshop on Tufts Campus- Past topics: Consent, “Blaq Folx is the Future” |
| 5 - 6 p.m. | Dinner in the dining hall with peer leaders |
| 7 - 9 p.m. | Evening activity such as Trivia or Scavenger Hunt |
| 9 - 10:30 p.m. | Reflection and discussion |
Staff
Katrina Moore
Africana Center Director
As director of the Africana Center, Katrina serves as a campus resource and educates the community on emerging issues regarding students of African descent. She is responsible for establishing the Center's vision and advocates on behalf of students in cases of intolerance and/or discrimination. She works closely with students and student organizations to develop effective programs and initiatives to enhance the co-curricular experience of students and build leadership skills. A sought-after campus leader, Katrina participates in committee assignments, both within the division and the broader Tufts community.
Kella Narki Merlain-Moffatt
Africana Center Associate Director
Kella will be responsible for the development and implementation of community engagement programs that uplift students of African descent and their many intersecting identities. Kella will develop goals, strategies, and infrastructure to support and advance programs that promote scholarship and leadership within an affirming campus climate including the SQUAD Pre-Orientation and Peer Leader Programs, First Year Orientation Retreat and Open House events, Black Legacy Month programming, and Black Graduation. She will also work closely with student-facing resources and departments including other identity-based resources, Residential Life and Learning, Student Affairs Office, Counseling and Mental Health Services, Career Center, Global Education, Financial Aid, Tufts University faculty, the CARE office, and other departments within and beyond the DSDI Division.
Mpiira Tabuti
Pre-Orientation Coordinator
Originally from Kampala, Uganda, Mpiira (he/him, Class of 2029) has come to call Tufts home. He is majoring in Computer Science with a planned minor in Economics. On campus, he can often be found hanging out in the Africana Center, grinding out problem sets, or working in the Chemistry Lab as a stockroom and lab assistant.
Kaze Karuretwa
Pre-Orientation Coordinator
Kaze (she/her, Class of 2028) is a sophomore from Kigali, Rwanda, majoring in Economics. On campus, she has been deeply involved with SQUAD, participating her freshman year and serving as a Pear Leader during her sophomore year. She is super excited to return as a coordinator for the program and continue supporting incoming students. Kaze is also involved in several student organizations, like the Pan-Afrikan Alliance. Outside of school, her hobbies include listening to music, spending time with friends, and traveling whenever she gets the chance.
SQUAD
squad@tufts.edu | 617-627-3372 | @tuftssquad
The Pre-O Squad has been fundemental to my personal growth and success within my first year in college. I am grateful to have participated in it as it helped me to grow close and comfortable with the Africana community here on tufts and understand the different resources for black students here at Tufts.
Christian Hoke, Class of 2029
My time in SQUAD was a meaningful and empowering experience that gave me a great introduction to Tufts. I appreciated the opportunity to build community through open and honest conversations, and felt as though I was given a support system. The energy of both the peer leaders and my fellow ìSQUAD-iesî made the experience all the more memorable. Because of SQUAD, I was able to make new connections and step out of my comfort zone, all things that set me up well for my first year in college. Those exeriences are a large part of why I was compelled to become a Peer Leader myself, and why I want to support others in finding their voice the way that SQUAD did for me.
Alliana Icart, Class of 2029
I participated in SQUAD, and what I loved most was the welcoming atmosphere. Coming to a new school in a new state was daunting at first, but the Peer Leaders really made the entire experience so special. I was able to get acclimated to Tufts really easily, and they have always been my biggest support system here on campus.