About
Mission and Values
The African Diaspora Initiative (ADI), founded, in 2020, as a Multicultural Student Services (MSS) program, seeks to serve as an African centered home away from home and oasis for students of diverse African and Black identities.
We strive to enact UVU's core value of exceptional care through culturally responsive holistic student development and well-being. We view cultural representation as an essential aspect to wellness which has implications for each of the six areas outlined by the wellness wheel (intellectual, emotional, physical, spiritual, social, and nutritional).
Our work is also rooted in African principles and philosophies such as ubuntu (South African/Nguni Bantu term for interdependence and recognition of humanity) and the nguzo saba (the seven principles of Kwanzaa developed by Dr. Maulana Karenga). We also recognize our historical and social collaborations with other BIPOC communities.
Our programming involves African centered celebrations, networking, DEI (diversity equity and inclusion), and leadership development. We seek to ground our work in African and African diaspora realities, philosophies, practice, and language.
Symbols and Language
Utah Valley University's mascot is the wolverine which represents endurance, toughness, and perseverance.
We strive to find African symbols, concepts, and language which relate to core UVU values.
AYA
"Aya (eye–yah) is part of adinkra—visual symbols linked to the (former) Gyaman kingdom (Côte d’Ivoire) and Ashanti culture (Ghana). The word Aya is derived from the Twi language, and is translated to “fern”. Aya is a symbol of endurance, resourcefulness, and defiance against oppression (Kojo Arthur, 2017)"
UVUmilivu (oh-vu-me-lee-vu)
A Swahili term for patience, endurance, and tolerance.
Aya and uvumilivu are African words/concepts which relate the UVU wolverine spirit of endurance, toughness, and perseverance.
Benefit to the University as a Whole
The African Diaspora Initiative contributes significantly to the "come as you are" approach of UVU. Our work is consciously centered in best of African history, culture, and tradition which express the values of dedication, vision, hard work, collectivism, and positive affirmation.