Vision:

CRS participants become “informed citizens and thoughtful [Christ-centered] leaders” who actively contribute to making “communities and families in which we live more just, equitable, and happy” (FHSS mission statement).

Mission:

Experiential learning opportunities--centered on the four aims of a BYU education and contextualized within a cultural/ethnic/racial paradigm—will provide valuable perspective on the “balanced development of the whole person”.

Learning Outcomes:

Spiritually Strengthening: one major purpose of the CRS is to develop Christ-centered leaders “who value and respect every person as a child of God” and who “work tirelessly to build bridges of understanding” “even when we strongly disagree” (FHSS D&I statement). Such Christ-centered leaders help “build zion” (SC Christ-centered leadership document), as they seek to “eliminate any prejudice, racism, sexism, [ect.]”, starting with themselves and including biases against themselves (FHSS D&I statement). The over-arching spiritual goal is to help students face spiritual struggles relating to their experience as people of color with faith in Christ that results in life-long conversion to Him.

Intellectually Enlarging: Drawing upon specific scholarship of the people and places being studied (history, anthropology, psychology, biology) and their various cultural traditions, students will learn about the unique strengths and challenges of the diverse people within the racial/ethnic group being studied. Such intellectual enlargement will help students think critically, write clearly, and communicate effectively (BYU AIMS) about and for the future (education, nutrition, employment, family life) of individuals, families, and nations that make up the specific cultural/ethnic/racial group. The in-person interactions in these various CRS locations will make for truly inspiring learning (Worthen, 2016).

Character Building: To help students develop character traits that approximate those found in the Savior Jesus Christ (BYU AIMS), this CRS will focus on building “unity in [the] principles of equity, charity, collaboration, and inclusiveness” (FHSS D&I statement) through a period of “period of intensive learning in a stimulating setting” (BYU mission). The intense interpersonal interactions that always accompany this type of experiential learning will provide many opportunities to encounter historical atrocities, socio-political conditions, and people (past and present) that have and do contribute to suffering and hardships for people of color. Learning how to process these experiences in a way that promotes Christlike attributes and intra/interpersonal strength is central to the purpose of the CRS.

Lifelong Service and Learning: Through the CRS we seek to build Christ-centered leaders who inspire and equip individuals to lead people as Jesus Christ does (SC Vision) by learning how and cultivating their ability to express love, invite accountability, and honor agency while working with all of God’s children in a variety of settings across a lifetime (SC Christ-centered leadership document). This service, particularly among their own people, can contribute to lower attrition and higher graduation rates on campus, stronger families and communities, and greater conversion among the specific cultural/ethnic/racial group. A major purpose of the CRS is to provide a setting where students can work through the confusion and pain related to socio-cultural trauma in a way that helps build Christ-centered leaders in families, communities, and church-settings.