Soon-to-be graduate Blackwell appreciative of her ‘power circle’ at the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center

Indiana University senior Lauren Blackwell is conscious of the fact that she’s undergone somewhat of a transformation during her undergraduate experience at Indiana University. Upon her arrival on campus, the Gary, Ind., native found a community within three programs under the umbrella of IU’s Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs (OVPDEMA)—the African American Dance Company, the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, and the Groups Scholars Program.

In her own words, they helped her mature from, “a little freshman who didn’t know anything about life to somebody who’s about to graduate and has a better insight about school and life” over her years in Bloomington.

The second-oldest of eight children in a blended family, Blackwell learned about the dance company from her cousin and 2015 IU graduate Brittany Patikas.

“It was the first Tuesday of my first semester. I’ll never forget it,” recalled Blackwell, a health administration major. “Being a member of the dance company has been life-changing, because we don’t just dance. There’s always a meaning behind it. Professor [Iris] Rosa teaches us about what it means and what’s going on, and she gives us an opportunity to express that and show how we feel about issues, through our movement or even in words, if we have a discussion in class.

“To be able to do that in our own unique way, it means a lot. I’m kind of sad it’s coming to an end, but I’ve had a lot of fun with the dance company.”

Blackwell, who will graduate at the conclusion of the fall semester, will travel with the dance company to Beijing, China, on December 16, the last day of final exams.

“I’m really excited about going to China,” said Blackwell, who went to Jamaica with the dance company for the 2015 Rex Nettleford Arts Conference. “I feel like it was meant for me to go.”

In addition to being a fitting end to her IU experience, the trip will make up for last summer, when Blackwell was slated to participate in a study-abroad program, but was unable due to a bout of pneumonia. That trying time gave her perspective about the people close to her at IU, particularly through the encouragement she received from the community of staff and students at the Neal-Marshall, where Blackwell is a student employee.

“Even though Monica [Johnson, director of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center] was only my boss for maybe a month, when I got sick with pneumonia, she was at the hospital every day. Of course my mom came to see me, but if she wasn’t able to, I still had my co-workers and bosses here that came to support me,” explained Blackwell.

“They always go to my performances with the dance company, too. So if I need to cry about a class that’s about to make me lose my mind, I can come here and they’re definitely going to help me—whether it’s helping me get resources or just telling me to calm down.