Student Empowerment Workshop Program

As part of our commitment to fostering inclusive leadership and social impact, the Diversity Peer Education (DPE) training series offers a progressive learning journey that deepens self-awareness, expands social justice understanding, and strengthens the skills needed to engage across differences. Designed and facilitated by our dedicated staff, each session builds on the last and must be completed in sequence. Trainings are approximately two hours each and feature interactive dialogue, reflective exercises, and practical skill-building.

DPE Level One: Building Cultural Competency

This foundational training invites participants to explore their personal identities, cultural influences, and lived experiences. Through engaging activities and dialogue, participants will begin to assess their current level of cultural competency and develop a deeper understanding of themselves and others in a diverse community.

DPE Level Two: Exploring Social Justice Foundations

In this session, participants will expand their understanding of identity through the lenses of power, privilege, and intersectionality. Using collaborative exercises and reflective discussion, the training encourages critical thinking and dialogue to uncover how systems may influence or shape our experiences and perspectives. 

DPE Level Three: Navigating Bias and Microaggressions

This advanced session equips participants with the awareness and tools to recognize, understand, and respond to bias and microaggressions. Through real-world scenarios and skill-building activities, participants will strengthen their ability to communicate effectively and inclusively within diverse environments.

Is an intergroup dialogue program housed within the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Based on a nationally recognized model, it is designed to foster honest, student-centered conversations. Common Ground brings together St. John’s University students—both virtually and in person—to explore social identities, share lived experiences, and engage with socially relevant topics that impact their communities and the broader world. 

What Makes Common Ground Dialogues Unique?

 Peer-Led and Purpose-Driven

Each dialogue is co-facilitated by trained undergraduate Student Leaders who have completed extensive preparation in intergroup dialogue, active listening, and inclusive facilitation practices. Rooted in the Intergroup Dialogue (IGD) framework, these conversations are created for students, by students.

Dialogues That Build Understanding and Connection

At the heart of Common Ground is the belief that meaningful learning occurs when individuals share their stories, listen deeply, and engage across lines of difference. Each session focuses on identity, the ways our social experiences are shaped by broader systems, and timely societal issues—encouraging participants to reflect on their own experiences while honoring the diverse perspectives of others.

Exploration Through Hot Topics

Participants examine pressing and often complex societal issues through the lens of identity, culture, and justice. These dialogues provide a space to unpack how larger systems influence personal experiences and community dynamics, helping students cultivate greater self-awareness and a stronger commitment to creating inclusive, respectful environments.

The Breaking Down Barriers Series is a developmental, workshop series designed to foster inclusive leadership, cross-cultural understanding, and respectful engagement across lines of difference. Hosted by the Student Empowerment Workshop program, the series provides students with tools to navigate diverse environments, explore identity, and deepen their capacity for empathy and ethical leadership.

Rooted in Intercultural Development Theory (IDT), the series supports students in building the self-awareness, cultural fluency, and communication skills needed to work effectively across diverse perspectives and experiences. Rather than prescribing any specific ideology, Breaking Down Barriers offers a structured and reflective learning environment where participants are encouraged to:

• Explore their own values, identities, and assumptions
• Engage in constructive dialogue with peers
• Learn research-based strategies for inclusive decision-making and community-building

St. John's recognizes and celebrates the intrinsic worth of all individuals. 

The Safe Zone Program was revamped during the 2020-21 academic year by Spectrum leaders and SEW leaders from the Queens and Staten Island, NY, campuses. Safe Zone remains a university collaboration of students, administrators, faculty, and staff .  This program would not be as successful without key support by members of Spectrum Student Organization, Wellness, the Office of the Dean of Students, the Office of Equity & Inclusion, the Office of the Provost, and other key divisions. 

The primary mission of St. John's University's Safe Zone Program is to create a means through which we can consistently support members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and other community members (LGBTQ+) in their growth and development, while honoring and celebrating the holistic experiences of the individual. 

To achieve this, the Safe Zone Program seeks to:

• Educate community members in a broad model that may surface inner biases and/or conflict preventing folx from offering authentic support to students.
• Heighten awareness of current issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community at St. John's University
• Recognize the needs and identities of LGBTQ+ folx, inclusive of all Gender & Sexual Minorities, in university-wide programming
• Partner with individuals who desire to be active allies and to expand their understanding of the rich, nuanced, and lived experiences of the LGBTQ+ community
• Build the network of trainers/facilitators who seek to provide brave spaces, education, support, information, and connection.

Safe Zone offers 3-levels before participants can be Safe Zone Certified. Once participants are certified, they can sign up to become Safe Zone Facilitators by taking the 3-Hour Safe Zone Train the Trainer workshop. Any current St. John's University student, faculty, staff, or administrator is certified can request to attend train the trainer sessions.

Safe Zone Training/Workshop Offerings

Level 1: "Get Used to It: Gender, Sexuality & Love"

Level 2: "Pride Applied: Intersecting Identities and Effective Allyship"

Level 3: "Allyship: More Than a Buzzword"

Train the Trainer: "Step Up or Move Back!"

Safe Zone workshops are offered on the Queens, NY campus as well as virtually. Students, faculty, staff, or administrators interested in becoming a St. John's University Safe Zone Certified ally or trainer may sign up, below. 

Safe Zone Participant Sign-Up/RSVP

The Bell Hooks Book Club is dedicated to fostering critical dialogue and understanding around issues related to social justice through the exploration of diverse literature. Our purpose is to create an inclusive and engaging space where members can critically examine systemic inequalities, celebrate diverse voices, and develop actionable insights. By reading and discussing a curated selection of books that address various dimensions of social justice—such as race, gender, class, and human rights—we aim to deepen our awareness, inspire meaningful change, and promote collective growth and advocacy on our University campus and beyond.      

The Student Empowerment Wardrobe is a student-centered initiative designed to foster an inclusive, supportive, and dignified campus environment by providing free, high-quality clothing, footwear, and essential hygienic items to students who may be in need.

By supporting students who may be experiencing financial hardship or other barriers, Spark Wardrobe empowers them to engage fully and confidently in their educational journey. This initiative not only promotes student well-being and comfort, but also reflects the core values of the SEW program and the Catholic Vincentian Mission of St. John’s University—which calls us to uphold the dignity of every person, serve those in need, and advance community building in all that we do.

Through this resource, students are equipped to show up as their full selves and thrive both on campus and beyond—creating a stronger, more connected, and more just community for all.

The Community Relief Campaigns are semester-long service and awareness initiatives led by the Student Empowerment Workshop (SEW) program at St. John’s University. Each semester, we identify a community in urgent need—locally or globally—and mobilize students, faculty, and staff to take meaningful action through education, advocacy, and direct relief efforts.

Rooted in our commitment to social justice, compassion, and global citizenship, these campaigns serve a dual purpose:

• To uplift vulnerable communities through tangible support
• To educate and engage our campus community on pressing humanitarian issues

This semester, our efforts are centered on the Democratic Republic of Congo, where women and children face ongoing crises due to conflict, poverty, and displacement. Our campaign will focus on:

• Providing food and essential clothing through donation drives and partner organizations
• Hosting educational events and discussions to raise awareness about the root causes of the crisis
• Fundraising to support on-the-ground relief organizations