Dear Community,
As one of the strongest African American Studies departments in the country and the home of the first Ph.D. program in African Diaspora Studies, African American Studies at UC Berkeley is widely considered one of the most prestigious sites of intellectual engagement with the knowledge of Black people in the United States and around the world. But we are more than an academic department. We are a community that holds the next generation of scholars in Black Studies. From mentorship and professional development programs to the collective care of the sixth floor, we provide our students with the support and tools they need to be changemakers in the world.
With our peer departments around the country under threat of being dismantled, and Black Studies as a discipline under attack from the highest levels of government, now more than ever we must come together to affirm our commitment to the work that we do, and to the students we serve.
This Big Give, we need your help to ensure the next generation of students in African American Studies have what they need to succeed.
Big Give is an annual 24-hour giving campaign for UC Berkeley departments and programs. Starting today, March 11th, at 9:00 pm PT and ending on March 12th at 9 pm PT, your gifts during this period will directly support our student-centered programming and academics, including:
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Black Graduation, a 50+ year tradition hosted by the Department that is the highlight of many students' careers at Berkeley.
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The VèVè A. Clark Institute for Engaged Scholars of African American Studies, a mentorship program for scholars of African American Studies celebrating its 15th anniversary this year.
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The African Languages Program, a vital series of courses on Swahili, Igbo, and Amharic that connect students with African cultures and expand language offerings for the campus.
We are excited to announce that this Big Give your gifts will be doubled up to $1,500, thanks to generous matching opportunities from Jennifer Madden Ragland and Paul Reisz '82. Don't miss this opportunity to have your impact doubled! Your support allows our community to thrive.
With excitement and gratitude,
Ula Y. Taylor
H. Michael and Jeanne Williams Professor and Department Chair, African American Studies 1960 Chair of Undergraduate Education University of California, Berkeley