[Music] The Black Achievement Success Engagement Initiative, otherwise known as BASE, has accomplished many feats: partnerships with donors and sponsors alike to advance our students' academic and human potential. In the midst of cultivating an environment of success, we can never truly grasp the impacts BASE has made on the very students we serve. Until now. Our Students and Their Stories How has BASE helped our students build community at USF? Imahni Cheeks, Junior, Sociology, African American Studies: To be fully honest, I had no idea what all college entailed. So hearing about a community that not only was going to be an immersive one where you get to live with all your college peers, but also that you would have faculty and staff be there for you every second of the journey - I think that was so reassuring. DaAujana Florence, Junior, Biology, Neuroscience: We are a diverse campus here at USF, but I do think that there's a smaller Black community in regards to other ethnic groups, so I think it's special that BASE is here and is able to really capture the essence of what it means to be Black. Will Hawkins, Junior, Business Analytics: Coming from a junior college to a four year campus college, they don't compare. It's very different. At a junior college, there's not as much community as often, but coming to a four year, it's a drastic change. Being a part of BASE, helping out with BASE, you will definitely become fully aware of that immediately and you will make long lasting connections that will help with internships, friends on a day-to-day basis, and really enhance your overall college experience. How has BASE helped our students better connect with themselves? Isaiah Raglin, Sophomore, Public Health, Theater: The spaces that BASE creates for Black students on campus to fellowship with each other has made me aware of my own Blackness and trying to help me understand who I am as a Black man and a Black individual on this campus, and beyond in the world in general. Kwasi Acquaye, Senior, Computer Science, Economics: Self-identity was a struggle coming in, but for BASE, they had a lot of collaborations with other clubs at USF, so we had a brothers connection and then ASA and everything. These collaborations helped me find people I could relate with, identify with as well. Ella Jones, Freshman, Undeclared Science, Fine Arts: I've just been able to, especially with the Marshall-Riley Living-Learning Community that I'm a part of this year, that's really made me feel supported and just able to fit in because back home I didn't have that Black space that I felt comfortable to be myself in. So here, it's like a home away from home, I would say. Why is BASE important to you? Alana Carpenter, Freshman, Biology, Chemistry: I feel that BASE is definitely necessary just in providing those resources and that outreach that we aren't getting swept under the rug and that we're actually being heard and seen in all spaces. It provides Black students with an opportunity to not only, like we said, build community, but to also engage with one another, especially with our faculty and advisors. I feel like BASE provides that opportunity to get that one-on-one relationship that most universities don't necessarily do. It's a really really welcoming space, and it's really intentional in reaching out to Black students and making sure that you're okay, making sure that you are on top of your studies, whether whatever you need, BASE is there for you. BASE reinforced a value that I have to always open the same doors that were once opened for me. That's what I live by to this day. That's why I love BASE. BASE makes me feel empowered and supported. BASE makes me feel liberated, blessed, makes me feel seen, makes me feel present, powerful. BASE makes me feel alive. [Music]