Imago Dei: reflecting on one year
Photo by Senior Reporter Annie Youther
Imago Dei, a student-led movement based on curating intentional conversations, celebrated its one-year anniversary last week. Imago Dei began as inspiration shared between three students — Kat Lange, Dhuranique “Dhu” Ferguson and David Williams — who saw the need for change and an opportunity for Lee to grow. The movement has now grown into a resource and video series, striving to help others be seen as “imago dei,” Latin for the “image of God.”
“We like to say that we are a bridge on campus because we don’t see ourselves as fitting in with just one diversity group or club,” said Ferguson, a graduate student in the marriage and family therapy program. “We like to say that we are a hub, because even though we grew out of the Office for Racial and Ethnic Relations, we don’t just talk about racial relations, but anything hard.”
Imago Dei’s main way of communicating is through videos, both on Instagram and Youtube. The page has had 13 videos uploaded over the past year on various topics such as grief, mental health, how to be an ally, lament and consent.
Imago Dei recently posted a poem written by junior public relations major Kayla Smith and junior nursing major Jayln Poynter, describing Imago Dei over the past year:
“From out of these broken spaces, seeds of reconciliation have been planted. Yet, even in the depth of this soil, can you sense what God is stirring? A coming together of what should be, stretching wider and deeper … pressing, making space for the pain this world is experiencing,” an excerpt of the poem states.
Photo by Senior Reporter Annie Youther
Apart from social media posts, Imago Dei has hosted and been a part of multiple events over the past year, including a chapel with Dr. Mark Walker: the “Imago Dei Experience.” This consisted of themed rooms on racial reconciliation, allyship, mental health, culture and awareness and Imago Dei Live: Our Uncomfortable Conversations. The events attempt to bring people closer together in unity and encourage the idea that all people are the “imago dei.”
“In a year, we have not shut up, and we have seen change come,” said Lange, a graduate student in the MBA program. “It’s not only been a perspective change for others, but also myself. This has helped me grow closer to seeing everyone as a reflection of God and giving people the respect and human dignity that everyone deserves.”
Starting the movement and continuing it over the last year has not been easy for the student leaders. Imago Dei members strive to overcome their fears of the movement not being received well.
“Dealing with people is hard,” said Ferguson. “We deal with so many different people, personalities and relationships. The hardest thing for me is that we don’t always know how things will be received. That is definitely how we felt in the first few months. But, we have to get past our own fears and worries.”
The members combatted this anxiety with their belief of the movement being bigger than themselves.
“One of the hardest things for me was trying to let go of what I was trying to do and just give it all to God,” said Lange. “It was surrendering in humility, and I just had to tell God that He needs to take this and just let us be a vessel.”
Now, Imago Dei has grown from the original three college students and their sponsor, Director of Racial and Ethnic Relations Gloria Scott Richmond, to hundreds of followers on social media, students joining the Imago Dei team of hosts, event coordinators and PR specialists.
“Don’t be afraid to engage in conversations,” Ferguson encouraged. “Continue to have an open mind and listen with empathetic hearts and respectful ears. Remember that before you can see anyone else made in the image of God, you need to be able to see yourself in the image of God.”
Anyone is welcome to volunteer or be a part of Imago Dei by joining the newsletter and email list at imagodeileeu@gmail.com.
