Let’s Talk About SpelHouse And How HBCU Homecomings Are Truly A Community Affair – Blavity
There’s no experience like an HBCU homecoming, and the annual SpelHouse event at Spelman College and Morehouse College was not one to miss!
From the beginning, historically Black colleges and universities have been known to foster creativity, unlock more profound knowledge, and provide a safe space for students who were othered because of the color of their skin. Today, that spirit remains among approximately 107 HBCUs across the nation. It’s a community that cannot be duplicated.
The significance of the HBCU homecoming.
More than just a time for partying and catching up with folks you haven’t seen since college, HBCU homecomings have a way of strengthening community, preserving legacy, and showcasing Black culture and excellence like never before.
For example, many Howard University students or graduates can recall attending their first homecoming with a parent, aunt, or any family member who proudly calls the institution their alma mater. This speaks to how the event reunites generations while also building and maintaining strong bonds.
Homecomings also serve as an economic engine and an empowerment hub. Respective cities that are home to the colleges and universities that alumni, current students, and advocates descend upon see a tick in tourism, and Black-owned businesses in the area are known to see an increase in patrons.
A community affair
Since launching its endowment funds in 2021, Diageo has distributed just about half a million dollars each year, based on the interest earned in the funds. The company has also extended its relationship with 28 schools and campuses through the Learning Skills for Life program, accessible to a small number of the schools, while also supporting alumni galas and fundraisers.
The goal is to remain connected to the HBCUs and the alumni who consume the company’s brands, which is why the brand took it’s Show Your Spirit campaign back on the road, holding various events leading up to homecoming tailgates at North Carolina A&T University, which dubbed their annual event as the Greatest Homecoming On Earth (GHOE), Howard University, also known as ‘The Mecca,’ and SpelHouse, the joint celebration between Spelman College and Morehouse College.
“Homecoming at an HBCU is the epitome of our core purpose at Diageo, which is celebrating life every day, everywhere, with everyone,” Danielle Robinson, Ph.D., head of community engagement & partnerships and Learning Skills for Life programs, told Blavity in an exclusive interview.
“We look at all students,” she continued. “Getting them to understand that there is a career path and an industry that is open and, you know, looking for people that look like us,” adding, “A lot of industries are declining, but hospitality is continuing to grow, so making sure that our program is accessible and available.”
As Diageo centers its commitment to specifically HBCUs, Robinson shared a word of advice on how this cultivates Black entrepreneurs but also advances economic mobility.
“Corporations can partner with the universities by doing, you know, outside and approach, you know, coming in and helping them with their curriculum, a curriculum that will enable students to be ready to come into their corporate offices and do work that they are prepared for,” she concluded. “They have the right tools. They’ve been exposed to the right software and technology that is currently being used in corporate, coming on campuses as visiting professors, and then also looking at infrastructure projects on campus that align with, you know, their business metrics and purposes they’re trying to achieve.”
The post Let’s Talk About SpelHouse And How HBCU Homecomings Are Truly A Community Affair appeared first on Blavity.
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