Published by the Black Staff & Faculty Organization at UC Berkeley.

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February 2021 Newsletter
 

Dear BSFO Family,

While we wish that we could celebrate Black History Month together in-person this year, we are grateful for everyone’s health and safety and are SO excited for the amazing BHM programming happening on campus and with BSFO cohorts throughout the UC! We are working to make sure we highlight all the events going on this month, and please let us know if there is an event, announcement, or concern you would like to lift up by emailing us and we will be happy to connect with you.

Cheers to a prosperous February!
BSFO Executive Board
January BSFO Friday Tap in: Thank you!

BSFO thanks those who held space with us last month to reflect on such a full season. We shared some amazing reflections, tears, laughs, and thoughts on the year ahead; we APPRECIATE you and look forward to future tap-ins!
 
Get to know the 2020-2021 BSFO Executive Board!

Whether you are new to BSFO, or have been with us for a while, we wanted to share a bit more about who we are as Berkeley staff and BSFO leadership. Click here or on an image below for a brief bio.
From left: Chair, Tyrone Wise; Past Chair, Rebecca Ulrich; Co-Vice Chair & Membership and Social Committee Chair, Ashlee Baylis; Co-Vice Chair & Communications Chair, Kristian Dawson
 
BSFO Celebrations
Congratulations to Femi Ogundele, elevated to Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management & Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, effective Feb 1
“Femi has made many consequential contributions in his time here to campus-wide admissions and diversity efforts, including serving on the steering committee and as co-chair of one of the working groups on the Undergraduate Diversity Initiative Task Force, co-chairing a working group of the Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Task Force, revamping processes within undergraduate admissions to ensure fairness and integrity, and overseeing the team responsible last year for building the most diverse class of incoming undergraduates in 30 years.” Read more >>
 
Welcome to Faye Snowden, Manager of the Technology Program Office under the Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus IT and CIO
“Faye Snowden joined the Technology Program Office in November of 2020 after 21 years in higher education at the University of the Pacific where she served in various information technology leadership and senior project management roles. During her career, Faye has designed, implemented, and managed help desks in higher education and private industry, transformed failing teams, developed a portfolio management office, and led projects and programs to replace legacy IT voice, network infrastructure, and enterprise systems.” Read more >>
Faye is also a published author of multiple works of fiction, find more information here and a recent interview here.
 
Welcome to Kairi Williams, UC Berkeley’s new Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Administration and Compliance (RAC), effective Feb 1
“Kairi joins us from Drexel University, where he has served as Associate Vice Provost for Research Operations and Compliance in the Office of Research & Innovation. As AVP, Kairi held overall responsibility for research integrity and compliance at the University, overseeing a diverse portfolio of compliance functions, as well as finance and administration and shared services for the Office of Research & Innovation. ” Read more >>
Events & Announcements
 
Join Cal BAA for a Conversation with Cynthia Marshall, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks

The Cal Black Alumni Association (BAA) cordially invites you to our first BAA Speakers Series event of the year, which takes place on Wednesday, February 3rd, from 5-7pm (PST).
We will be joined by a very special guest speaker—Cynthia Marshall, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks and Cal Alumna (Class of 1981).

Read more and RSVP here.
 
Black History Month events by the Black Students at Goldman School of Public Policy (BiPP). 
Week 1: Black Health and Wellness, Thursday 2/4 at 12pm PST, moderated by Denzel Tongue. This event brings together health policy experts and practitioners for an in depth discussion on how the response to COVID-19 has impacted Black communities and how to shift policy to bring health equity to our healthcare system. You can check out the full speaker bios and Zoom links here. 
 
The Department of African American Studies 
at University of California, Berkeley 
is pleased to announce  

Critical Conversations, Spring 2021 Speaker Series
 

For more information visit 
africam.berkeley.edu 
 
Updated Black Resource Guide Including Upcoming BHM Programs from our partners in AASD
from AASD Director, Takiyah Jackson, M.Ed No photo description available.

Dear Black Community Members,

Welcome Black!  African American Student Development is excited to share our updated Black Resource Guide with you.  Please see all the wonderful programs that we have to offer starting tomorrow with SoulCare Monday at noon.

Also, pre-register now and don’t miss out on our very own Melissa Charles leading the event, “In Conversation with Tarana Burke”.
 

Black History Month Programming from our BSFO Colleagues throughout the UC

Including events from UC Santa Barbara, UCOP, UCLA, UCSF, UC Davis, and more.
Find a full list here

 
Events are open to public. Feel free to share widely with your networks.
 
Researching your family tree can be a fascinating journey. For Americans of African descent, that journey can contain many twists, turns, and challenges, as the documents and family stories that stitch generations together may not have been recorded in the first place or even actively suppressed. Nonetheless, the strength and beauty of Black family heritage shines down through the generations.

Join speakers Alvis Ward Jr. and Felicia Addison, both of the African-American Genealogical Society of Northern California (AAGSNC) for a fascinating primer on the particular joys and challenges of researching African-American family histories. This program is in honor of the 2021 Black History Month theme, The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity.

Register for this Zoom presentation at bit.ly/AfAmGenealogy2021 
 
UndocuBlack Spaces: A Community of Love is the first gathering taking place Saturday, February 20, 2021 from 1:00 – 3:30pm.
from BSFO member and EOP Assistant Director, B. Yuki Burton, M.Ed.

In collaboration with the Black Alliance for Just Immigration and the Haitian Bridge Alliance, California State University, Dominguez Hills is happy to introduce UndocuBlack Spaces! UndocuBlack Spaces will be a series of virtual gatherings for undocumented Black students across various academic levels to engage, learn, and build community. At the same time, we will host spaces for allies and advocates to learn more about the UndocuBlack community and take action towards equity and love.  
 
UndocuBlack Spaces: A Community of Love is the first gathering taking place Saturday, February 20, 2021 from 1:00 – 3:30pm. Registration is mandatory to receive the zoom information. Click here to register. 
 
Berkeley Jobs
View open jobs at https://jobs.berkeley.edu/
Undergraduate Advisor (4575U) 14664– College of Environmental Design

Head of Metadata Services– Berkeley Library 

Director of The Bancroft Library and Associate University Librarian for Special Collections – Berkeley Library
Featured Jobs

Systems Architecture, Infrastructure & Security Manager
Public Education Specialist (UCB employees only)
Events and Communications Associate
Executive Search Advisor

 
 
What’s Happening NOW- Black History Month at Berkeley
Special Event | February 3 | 6-7 p.m. |  Virtual

Cal Football Signing Day Virtual Event

More details here.
 
Lecture | February 4 | 12-1:30 p.m. |  Zoom Webinar

Race, Community Engagement and Time-based Art: Chris Johnson
More details here.
 
Seminar | February 12 | 3:10-4 p.m. |  Zoom Webinar

Equity and Justice in CEE Seminar Series: Veronica Eady
More details here.
 
Special Event | February 18 | 6-7 p.m. |  Virtual

Cal Women’s Basketball Virtual Hoops Party
More details here.
 
Series | February 17 | 12-1:30 p.m. |  Online – Zoom Webinar

UC Black Administrators Council (UCBAC) Leadership Reflection Series: Chief Diversity Officers
More details here.
 
Panel Discussion | February 18 | 4-5 p.m. |  Online – Zoom Webinar

Afro-Latinx Feminisms in the URL and IRL Spheres (Virtual Radical Kinship Series)
More details here.
 
Lecture | February 25 | 10-11 a.m. |  UC Botanical Garden

Black Lives, Botany, and the Path to Decolonization
More details here.
 

Be Well At Work Spring Events

It is the start of the 2021 Spring semester and for many a new beginning and a more hopeful future. When you look back on this past year, practice some self-compassion by recognizing your adaptability, resiliency, and efforts to re-imagining your work, home life and ways to support your own well-being.

Through it all, whether you joined a support group for caregivers, practiced more mindfulness, improved your sleep habits, or explored a new recipe; Be Well at Work supported you on the journey and will remain committed to cultivating and sustaining your well-being.
 
Are you new to BSFO?

Welcome! We look forward to meeting you soon, and if you are interested in viewing some of our archived newsletters and messages, click below.
January 2021 (1)

December 2020 (3) | December 2020 (2) | December (1) | November (2)| November 2020 (1) | October 2020 | September 2020 | August 2020 (2) | August 2020 (1)

July 2020 (3) | July 2020 (2) | July 2020 (1) | June 2020 (7) | June 2020 (6) | June 2020 (5) | June 2020 (4)  | June 2020 (3)  | June 2020 (2) | June 2020 (1) 

May 2020 (2) | May 2020 (1) | April 2020 | March 2020 | February 2020 (3)| February 2020 (2) | February 2020 (1) | January 2020
Do YOU have an article, note, affirmation, etc. that wish to share with BSFO members? Please email us!

 

Berkeley Information Security Office Best Practices for Telecommuting Securely
CLICK HERE
UC Berkeley Basic Needs Center 
COVID-19 LIVING GUIDE 

CLICK HERE
Berkeley Campus COVID-19 Information Hub

CLICK HERE
COVID-19 Resources for UCB Student Services Staff

CLICK HERE
 
BSFO is part of the Coalition of Ethnic Staff Organizations (CESO). CESO is made up of leadership from staff organizations that support underrepresented ethnic identities on campus and also includes the groups,   Alianza, APASA, and NASC. Learn more about Berkeley’s many staff organizations by visiting  https://stafforg.berkeley.edu/.