An Incredible Year
Since being established in 2023, the Village of Belonging has quickly become a gathering space for the Northeastern community. We are delighted to share with you some updates on the activities we have undertaken in the last year, the funds we have raised, and our plans as we look forward.
If you have not done so already, we encourage you to help us grow online. Share the link below with your networks and help more people discover the Village of Belonging!
In the first full year of the Village of Belonging's existence, we held 25 events across the globe. The Village formed an intersection for current Northeastern students, alumni, parents, and supporters. We saw you at Homecoming, open houses, special celebrations held by our cultural centers, and graduation ceremonies where we could help to foster a deeper connection. We also found you all across Northeastern's global network, hosting events in Boston, Seattle, Oakland, Miami, New York City, Arlington, and on the Vineyard in addition to a Welcome Reception in Ghana. We connected with hundreds of alumni in person and over 500 people have joined the Village through our website. Thank you for being a part of this new community.
A message from the Village of Belonging Founder
Jennifer D. Barrymore, Vice President of Advancement Resources
Stay Connected
We recently created a Village of Belonging LinkedIn page which is growing rapidly and allows members to build networks with one another and stay connected with the Village as we expand our events and experiences. If you have not yet connected with us on LinkedIn, we encourage you to do so now. It’s one of the best ways to stay in touch with the many varied activities offered across Northeastern’s global network.
Collective Impact
Village members have made a significant and meaningful philanthropic impact across Northeastern. Through their generosity, 165 gifts have been made to funds that elevate and enhance our community. We are so grateful for the contributions raised and interest developed so far, and we are confident that the community created through the Village of Belonging will continue to transform Northeastern for many years to come. Below, you can see how much has been raised to three specific funds to date, and learn more about how supporting these funds will make a difference across Northeastern's global network.
Village of Belonging Fund
$3,300 raised
Bridge Scholars Fund
$4,000 raised
Ghana Dialogue Fund
$25,000 raised
Village of Belonging Fund
The Village of Belonging Fund directly supports the activities and goals of the Village as we work to bring members of our community together. All support raised makes our events possible, allows us to connect with more Northeastern alumni, and grows the Village. By making a gift to the Village of Belonging Fund, you provide support for the programming and initiatives of the Village. The fund will provide resources for speaker fees, travel and lodging for students, faculty, and staff to attend Village events.
We want the Village of Belonging to encourage our diverse student body and offer them a network of support. In this vein, the Village of Belonging Fund can also provide assistance to students facing emergency situations and provide support for Northeastern’s cultural centers, where so many students find connection and community on campus.
Bridge Scholars Program Fund
The Village of Belonging seeks to connect and uplift members of the Northeastern community from all backgrounds, including our underserved, first-generation students in The Bridge Scholars Program. The Bridge Scholars Program endeavors to give first-generation students the support they need to successfully enroll at Northeastern and to make their educational dreams come true.
Summer Bridge is a week long program that gives students a taste of what life is like as a Northeastern undergraduate student. They learn about the academic experience, connect with valuable resources, and meet new friends so they can start their collegiate journey off successfully. Summer Bridge, which supports students in all Northeastern colleges, is completely free for students.
"The Summer Bridge Program was instrumental in my journey at Northeastern, providing me with the community and resources I needed to thrive as a first-generation African American college student. It allowed me to connect with peers who shared similar backgrounds and challenges and gave me the foundation to approach my studies and campus life confidently, achieving my own version of success. The Summer Bridge Program recognizes the unique, inadequate positioning of underserved groups on campus, which is essential because, without a robust support system built on community and resources, the effects of deeply rooted challenges persist, impacting those in marginalized positions."
-Jonathan Bush, D'Amore-McKim School of Business, Class of 2027
Your gift to the Summer Bridge Scholars Program provides an opportunity for engagement and pre-enrollment support to first-year, U.S.-based underserved students, including those who are first-generation, are from under-resourced schools, or have a lower socioeconomic status.
Support the Bridge Scholars Program Fund
John D. O'Bryant Ghana Dialogue Fund
Northeastern wants to bring meaningful connections to all members of the Village. To that end, we have devised an opportunity for students that will allow them to experience a profound international experience with enhancements offered through interactions with donors and on-campus partners.
In the summer of 2026, a special Dialogue of Civilizations will bring students to the country of Ghana with Professor Vanessa Johnson, who has previously led several highly successful immersive student experiences in the country. Gifts to this fund will directly support Professor Johnson's goal of having a diverse community partake in this unique experience. The Ghana Dialogue Fund will provide several dozen students with the funding they require to make their participation possible. This student cohort will be prepared for their Dialogue through special programming provided by the John D. O'Bryant African American Institute, and we are excited for donors to this fund to have the opportunity to meet with this outstanding group.
By making a gift to the John D. O’Bryant Ghana Dialogue Fund, you can provide financial support for students to participate in the Ghana Dialogue. This fund will provide resources to ensure members of the African American Institute’s Legacy and Ujima Global Leaders and Torch Scholars can engage in this one-of-a-kind opportunity.
Show Your Support
There are a number of ways you can join our community and make an impact. You can join the Village of Belonging, follow our LinkedIn page, or make a gift. Additionally, you can purchase a t-shirt and demonstrate your pride in being a member of the Village of Belonging every day!
Thank You
It takes purpose and effort to create a diverse and connected community. I am proud that Northeastern University has created the Village of Belonging as a space to focus on those ideals. The Village serves as a gathering place for students, alumni, and friends to connect, energize, and unite. I am proud to be the Founder of the Village of Belonging and to serve as a member alongside you. Thank you for joining me on this journey.
Jennifer D. Barrymore, MBA
Vice President of Advancement Resources
Northeastern University