Black Men Belonging (BMB)

Black male students at Cambridge face unique challenges across the university lifecycle, including underrepresentation, systemic inequality, racial stereotyping, and pressures of hypermasculinity that discourage emotional expression and help-seeking. These institutional and personal factors contribute to disproportionately high risks of poor mental health, social isolation, and limited access to culturally affirming support. Inspired by the sense of community I found in spaces like the Cambridge ACS and Trybe House, I identified a critical gap: in over 800 years, Cambridge had never had a dedicated, formal social and professional network for its Black and mixed-heritage male students.To address this, I founded Black Men Belonging (BMB), designing the initiative as a full social design framework from the ground up. I conducted research with peers, co-created programming, and personally executed the launch despite institutional resistance and lack of funding. The launch demonstrated the concept’s viability and impact, fostering a sense of community, peer support, and belonging. Importantly, the initiative created a replicable blueprint that now lives on through the Cambridge African Caribbean Society’s (ACS) 'BRO2BRO' program, validating the original vision and ensuring lasting influence on Black male student wellbeing. BMB exemplifies how participatory design, cultural insight, and strategic execution can produce enduring social change within historically exclusive institutions.