St. Norbert College
Growing up in Nigeria, Dr. Bola Delano-Oriaran was immersed in the African proverb that it takes a village to raise a child.
When colleges and K-12 schools switched to an all-virtual format in March 2020, Delano-Oriaran, an associate professor of education and director of the student-teaching abroad program at St. Norbert College, put that maxim to work by creating a one-on-one tutoring program linking her education students at St. Norbert with families seeking help for their children.
“When schools closed, families had their lives disrupted and were not equipped with the expertise to know how to teach their children,” she says. “I saw starting the program as a way that helped both my students and the greater community.”
Delano-Oriaran put out a call to families asking if they needed support or a tutor to help their children with their virtual learning. “Once we put out that call, it went national and we wound up serving families in more than 20 states across the country,” she says.
And it wasn’t just St. Norbert students involved. After learning about the program, other colleges and universities jumped on board including the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Green Bay, UW-Milwaukee, Lawrence University, Ripon College and the University of North Georgia. In total, about 330 college students provided online instruction to more than 500 K-12 students.
“Dr. Delano-Oriaran doesn’t just talk the talk, she walks the walk. Her personal, professional and community involvement speaks to her dedication and willingness to make the world around her a better place.”
— Mike Counter, St. Norbert College
“When we started with this program, we started with only future teachers — education majors — but then we received calls from students in other programs who wanted to help, so we brought them on board, too,” Delano-Oriaran says.
“It takes a village to educate children. It takes a village for communities and families to thrive,” she continues. “I’ve lived my life based on that proverb and that’s how I continue to live my life, because I truly believe that.”
Delano-Oriaran extends that philo-sophy beyond her work on campus. She is the founder or co-founder of numerous initiatives, including African Heritage Inc., the African Heritage Emerging Student Leaders Institute and Umoja, a Black heritage program for transracial families with Black children.
With her students, Delano-Oriaran stresses the importance of acceptance and diversity. She wants them to use culturally responsive practices in the classroom.
“I am a believer that all of us have gifts, and I believe that our creator gives us those gifts for the betterment of society,” she says. “In my case, I’m very passionate about advocating for Black and brown children. I’m also very passionate about engaging communities to do better so that people of color can have access to equitable opportunities.”
Delano-Oriaran encourages her students to participate in teaching abroad programs and work with students in the Green Bay Area Public School District, where minorities make up the majority of students.
“When I listen to (my students) and learn about how they’ve developed cross-cultural relationships, that brings me so much joy,” she says. “I’m committed to global diversity and engaging people in having respectful relationships with people who are different from them. I believe that once each and every one of us starts to engage in those authentic relationships, the world will be a better place.”
