Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall

Inclusive Spaces and Resources

Welcome and Affirming Spaces for All

St. John's University welcomes students and community members from all backgrounds. Recognizing the diversity within our community, the Office of Multicultural Affairs acknowledges that individuals and communities from marginalized backgrounds, both in the U.S. and abroad, may have different experiences compared to those from dominant or privileged backgrounds. As students and community members gather on our metropolitan campuses, our goal is to establish inclusive centers and spaces tailored to these groups. 

Spaces

The Inclusivity Resource Centers (IRC), managed by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, serves as a vital hub dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, and affirming environment for students and guests alike. 

Established to facilitate authentic and informed peer dialogue on matters of equity and inclusion, the IRC offers a wide range of resources that include social justice training workshops, equity-themed events, and collaborative initiatives with internal departments and external partners. These efforts aim to bridge gaps between student experiences, needs, and available services. 

 

IRC Staff

Dr. Sharod Tomlinson
Assistant Vice President for Equity and Inclusion- Student Belonging

Deana Leonce
Coordinator of Resource Centers

Resources

Spectrum 

Spectrum strives to strengthen, foster, and affirm an inclusive, welcoming academic and campus environment for all students regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression for the purpose of upholding our University’s Catholic, Vincentian, and Metropolitan mission.

Spectrum fulfills students’ opportunities to further actualize the University’s mission and core values by developing spiritual and personal growth, nurturing awareness and understanding, and embodying the spirit of empathy through a welcoming community that cultivates and reflects the values of human dignity, diversity, compassion, and inclusiveness.

In acknowledging these opportunities, Spectrum sets its foundation upon four pillars: Support, Education, Faith, and Service.

Spectrum Advisors

Sharod Tomlinson Ed.D (he/his)
Assistant Vice President for the Office of Equity and Inclusion-Student Belonging
Sun Yat Sen Memorial Building, Inclusivity Resource Center 
[email protected]
718-990-5530

Candice Roberts Ph.D. (they/them)
Director of LGBTQ+ Center
Associate Professor, Division of Mass Communication
St. John Hall, Room 216
[email protected]
718-990-7983

Antiracism & Racial Literacy Resources

To support the anti-racism efforts happening in our institution, the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) has curated an extensive list of resources geared toward improving the racial literacy of our constituents and community.  As a department, it is important that we continue to shed light on this very real systemic issue that is pervasive in many areas of our lives. It is our hope that consumption of these resources will be helpful in your journey to deepening your understanding of the processes and systems that perpetuate and uphold systems of oppression.  

As we continue the daily journey of being an anti-racist department and campus, we first hold ourselves accountable as we also support peer and community accountability.  To do this, we begin with the competencies of self-awareness and empathy as we work toward better understanding and supporting one another.  

Anti-racism is an ongoing process that requires continuous, proactive engagement, and participation. OMA would like to provide this resource list to supplement the process of unlearning racism, beginning with ourselves, our classrooms and campuses, our families, and our community.  

To supplement your actions in becoming anti-racist, we encourage you to begin with knowledge building through review of this curated list, which includes articles and readings that may be helpful in understanding different perspectives, books featuring notable authors who write about lived experiences through the lens of race and antiracism, videos including TED Talks, clips, movies, and television shows aimed at increasing individual and group awareness. Further, we have provided links inclusive of a “how-to” section for those seeking to take action.  To support the protection of your energy, referred to as self-care, we have also included things to do in the NYC area and a list of mental health resources from internal and external sources.   

This curated list includes several categories to cater to the different needs of our campus community.  This list, while extensive, is not complete. We invite you to contact us to provide any resources you believe are missing or would like to see featured. 

 

Some books may currently be out of stock, we encourage you to consider e-book options: 

Netflix 

  • 13th (Ava DuVernay)  
  • American Son (Kenny Leon) 
  • Dear White People (Justin Simien)  
  • See You Yesterday (Stefon Bristol) 
  • When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) 
  • Seven Seconds (Veena Sud) 
  • They’ve Gotta Have Us (Docuseries) 
  • Malcolm X (Spike Lee) 
  • Who Killed Malcolm X (Rachel Dretzin and Phil Bertelsen) 
  • Time: The Kalief Browder Story (Jenner Furst) 
  • Moonlight (Barry Jenkins) 
  • Self-Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker (Kasi Lemmons) 
  • Becoming (Nadia Hallgren) 
  • Teach Us All (Sonia Lowman) 
  • Trigger Warning with Killer Mike 
  • LA 92 (Daniel Lindsay & T.J. Martin) 
  • The Force (Peter Nicks) 
  • The Innocence Files (Roger Ross Williams) 

Hulu 

  • If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins) 
  • The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr. -- Hulu with Cinemax)  
  • Black-ish (Kenya Barris) 
  • The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (George C. Wolfe) 
  • Whose Streets (Sabaah Folayan) 
  • Crime + Punishment (Stephen Maing) 

Amazon Prime/HBO/Rental 

  • Fruitvale Station (Ryan Coogler) 
  • I Am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin documentary directed by Raoul Peck) 
  • Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) free rental for the month of June 2020 
  • Selma (Ava DuVernay) 
  • The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution  
  • Hidden Figures (Theodore Melfi) 
  • The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) 
  • Loving (Jeff Nichols) 
  • Clemency (Chinonye Chukwu) 
  • Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee) 
  • Belle (Amma Asante) 
  • Black Kkklansman (Spike Lee) 
  • Marshall (Reginald Hudlin) 
  • Hidden Figures (Theodore Melfi) 

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, NYPL 
515 Malcolm X Boulevard (135th St and Malcolm X Blvd) 
New York, NY, 10037 
(917) 275-6975 

https://www.nypl.org/about/locations/schomburg 

Louis Armstrong House Museum 
34-56 107th Street Corona NY 11368 
(718) 478-8274 
http://www.louisarmstronghouse.org/   

Langston Hughes House  
20 E. 127th Street New York, NY 10035 
https://langstonhugheshouse.com/ 

African Burial Ground National Monument  
290 Broadway New York, NY 10007 
(212) 637-2019 
http://www.nps.gov/afbg/index.htm   

Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial, Educational and Cultural Center  
3940 Broadway New York, NY 10032 
http://theshabazzcenter.net/   

Studio Museum in Harlem 
144 W. 125th Street New York, NY 10027 
(212) 864-4500 
http://www.studiomuseum.org/   

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
405 W. 55th Street New York,  NY 10019 
(212) 405-9000 
http://www.alvinailey.org/ 

Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (Mother Zion) 
1st African American church 
140-7 West 137th Street New York, NY 10030 
(212) 234-1544  

Weeksville Heritage Center  
1698 Bergen Street Brooklyn, NY 11213 
http://www.weeksvillesociety.org/   

Shirley Chisolm Circle  
900 Prospect Place Brooklyn, NY 11213 
https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/brower-park/highlights/19703   

Addisleigh Park Historic District  
110-40 177th Street Jamaica, NY 11433   

Black Spectrum Theatre  
177th Street & Baisley Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11434 
http://www.blackspectrum.com/index.html   

Minton’s  
206 W 118th Street New York, NY 10026 
(212) 243-2222 
https://www.mintonsnyc.com/ 

African American Museum of Nassau County  
110 North Franklin Street Hempstead, NY 11550 
(516) 572-0730 
https://www.jjpaamuseum.org/ 

Fraunces Tavern Museum 
54 Pearl Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10004 
(212) 425-1778 
https://www.frauncestavernmuseum.org 

Apollo Theater 
253 W 125th Street New York, NY 10027 
https://www.apollotheater.org/   

Lewis Latimer House 
34-41 137th Street Flushing, NY 11354 
(718) 961-8585 
https://lewislatimerhouse.org   

Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Art 
80 Hanson Place, Brooklyn 11217 (Exterior & Lobby Galleries, Central Gallery) 
Nolan Park House 7A, Governors Island NYC 10004 (House) 
(718) 230-0492 x700 
https://mocada.org 

Sandy Ground Historical Society  
1538 Woodrow Road Staten Island, N.Y. 10309 
(718) 317-5796 
https://sandyground.wordpress.com/

St. John’s University Center for Counseling & Consultation Resource List 
 

Below we have outlined resources for identity-based counseling services. Individual therapists have not been vetted and are simply a reference list for those seeking identity-based counseling services from licensed clinicians. 

Therapy for Black Girls  
Therapy for Black Girls is an online space committed to improving the mental health and wellness of Black women and girls. 
https://therapyforblackgirls.com/ 

Psychology Today African American Therapist Directory https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/african-american 

Psychology Today Latinx Therapist Directory  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/hispanic-and-latino 

Therapy for Latinx  
https://www.therapyforlatinx.com 

Psychology Today Asian Therapist Directory 
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/asian 

Psychology Today Native & Indigenous Therapist Directory https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/native-american 

Psychology Today Middle Eastern Therapist Directory https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/arabic 

Psychology Today Bi/Multiracial Therapist Directory https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/multicultural/ny/new-york  
 
Psychology Today LGBTQIA+ Therapist Directory  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/gay 

Psychology Today Racial Identity Therapists  
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/racial-identity 

Psychology Today Disability Therapist Directory 
Learning 
Cognitive  

Inclusive Therapist Directory – find a therapist for all identities https://www.inclusivetherapists.com 

National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) 
https://www.nyxt.nyc/naminyc/ 
 
NAMI NYC Metro Support Groups 
https://www.naminycmetro.org/support-groups/ 
 
NAMI Queens/Long Island  
https://namiqn.org 
 
NAMI Brooklyn/Staten Island 
http://www.namistatenisland.org/ 

Ourselves, Black 
Information concerning mental health promotion, positive coping and resources related to mental illness and treatment.  
https://ourselvesblack.com/home