The Praxis Academy is a program designer to empower, enrich, engage and retain first and second-year African American male students at Loyola Marymount University through personal development, identity development, career development and storytelling. Learn more about the Praxis Academy.
Personal Goals
Learning Outcomes
- Identify and embrace talents and gifts contributing to a more confident and defined sense of self
- Develop a keen understanding of social and emotional learning competencies and their effects on society
Community
- Cultivate a sense of personal leadership through education and training
- Explore the history of people of African descent
- Develop a network of professional contacts
- Enhance understanding of Ignatian values as a foundational tool for students’ overall development
African American
- Cultivate a sense of scholarship and research
- Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of the human experience and embody the ideals of interculturalism
- Become engaged and active as an LMU Lion and university citizen
Networking Benefits
- Mentorship by black faculty/staff
- Career development support
Identity Development
- Alumni networking opportunities with the African American Alumni Association
- Small cohort model to ensure personal support and development
- Service Learning opportunity through students’ composition and implementation of a community impact project
The Praxis Response
“I’ve began a self-analysis that I’ve wanted to start for a long time now. I’ve been digging deeper and realizing who I am (more than just the obvious) and who I want to be. The story of self-assignment has really made me think about the stage I’m in. I’m realizing that life is not constant, Things always change. People always change. I am always changing. Praxis Academy is a brotherhood, in which there are no filters. There is only trust in the Praxis Academy. It is not an organization for the little-minded or judgmental. Praxis Academy is a group of young distinguished African American males bettering their community and changing all stereotypes. The Praxis Academy refuses to have any man that plans on being just another statistic. The Praxis Academy leads.”
“I’ve learned what career path I’m heading towards and how I’m going to not just help myself but help those around me. I want to see a greater representation of black males not just on campus but also in programs across campus because our representation is lacking. I’m still learning though and this will be an ongoing process.”
“I’ve learned this far, being a member of the Praxis Academy that leadership, brotherhood and education is essential not only to the individual but to the community.”
“The Praxis Academy has made me realize that I have everything I need to be successful. It has empowered me and made me hungry. I feel even more compelled to make not only my family proud, but my entire race. Praxis has made me realize that my dreams aren’t big enough I haven’t realized my complete identity, but Praxis Academy has definitely played a role in the start of me wanting to know who I am, my goals and dreams. I have realized that if I don’t know who I am and what I want, I don’t know where I’m going.”
“I have learned that I am a person of passion. This will help me be an inspiration every day to the people around me.”
“I have the mindset to not just go to class, but to connect, network and take full advantage of my opportunities.”