The AAFSA E-Board would like to share the following CETL workshop with our community.
The Current Landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at UConn and in Higher Education
September 24, 1:00-2:00
Online
Presenters:
Jeffrey Hines, Chief Diversity Officer
Jonelle Reynolds, Director of Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives
Participants will be updated as to current DEIJ initiatives at UConn. Additional, participants will be updated as to current national pushes to dismantle DEIJ in higher education and discuss the implications of this push to dismantle DIEJ.
We invite you to check out the 2024 Black Star Film Festival, August 1 - August 4, 2024. The festival will be held in person in Philadelphia and virtually.
World Premier of *The Whites of Our Eyes" on August 4th, a short documentary film that follows Dr. Yaba Blay as she returns to her familial homeland of Ghana to explore the relationships between beauty, bodies, and b/Blackness. In addition to recreating the groundbreaking Clark Doll Test among school children, the film follows a young hustler as he prepares for his community's annual harvest festival by bleaching his skin. Amidst the ghost of colonialism and the gods of whiteness, "The Whites of Our Eyes" questions ideas and ideals of beauty in Ghana within the beauty of Ghana.
All individual tickets can be purchased via blackstarfest.org/tickets. The cost is $7.50 per ticket for virtual screenings and $18 for in-person screenings.
You can access your purchased tickets by logging in and navigating to My Schedule or My Account (they will also be emailed to you). Each screening ticket will have a corresponding QR code that can be displayed on those pages. $175 gets patrons access to all virtual screenings.
Most films at the festival will be available to stream online globally unless otherwise noted.
Join members of the Stamford community as they celebrate Juneteenth with a Freedom Day Celebration! The celebration will be held on Saturday, June 15, from 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM at Mill River Park (1010 Washington Blvd., Stamford, CT 06901). NBA All-Star John Starks will serve as the Grand Marshall with entertainment headlined by DJ Clue.
The AAFSA E-board invites you to play Beatz & Bingo! Join us for an afternoon of fun, music, and bingo at Soul Baila Restaurant on Saturday, May 11, from 11:30AM to 3:30PM. Ticket prices include brunch and one drink ($40), or brunch and unlimited mimosas ($60). Adult friends and adult family members of AAFSA are invited to join us as well. Come play Beatz & Bingo with AAFSA on May 11 at Soul Baila Restaurant (735 Wethersfield Ave, Hartford, CT 06114).
The AAFSA E-Board is proud to host a virtual Chair Yoga event on Wednesday, March 13 at 12:00 PM. We will welcome Pia Oliveri, owner anddirector of Wabi-Sabi Yoga and Wellness Center in Windsor Locks, CT. Pia is an RYT 500-hour teacher, a Personal Trainer, Pilates, and Barre instructor. She will work with us on mindfulness, breath work, and chair yoga. This event will be held virtually via WebEx. All you will need to do is sit in your chair and join the virtual meeting!
We hope that you will join us for this mindfulness event on Wednesday, March 13 at 12:00 PM.
The Black Excellence Summit aims to provide a platform for Black UCONN students to come together, share their experiences, engage in discussions about their unique challenges, and empower one another for personal and collective success. This summit will feature keynote speakers, workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities with professors, community members, alumni and industry experts.
Here’s why you should join us:
Gain valuable insights: Explore topics ranging from academic success to personal empowerment, led by industry experts and thought leaders.
Connect with peers: Engage in meaningful discussions, share experiences, and build connections with fellow Black students.
Empower yourself: Equip yourself with the knowledge and tools to thrive personally, academically, and professionally.
Pre-registration is now open, and spaces are filling up fast. To ensure you don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity, secure your spot today by clicking the link below to register:
We can’t wait to see you at the Black Excellence Summit 2024 and celebrate the power of our community together. If you have any questions or need assistance with registration, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Best regards,
2024 Black Excellence Summit Committee
Alicia McKenzie, Director African American Cultural Center
Chinenye Anyanwu, Faculty Director, BSOUL Learning Community
Josh Brown, Faculty Director, Scholars House Learning Community
Wiley Dawson, Assistant Director, Center for Career Development, UConn Hartford
AAFSA invites you to the Black History Month 2024 Stamford Community Vendor Fair! Join community members and vendors from the Stamford area on Saturday, February 17, from 11 am to 4 pm, on the UConn Stamford Campus (1 University Place, Stamford, CT 06901).
***Free parking is available at the UConn Parking Lot 1194 Washington Blvd, Stamford, CT 06901.***
This event is Co-Sponsored by The Black Caucus of the American Library Association – CT Affiliate, The Connecticut State Library, The Ferguson Library, Stamford Kwanzaa Association, The Fairfield County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, UConn Library – Stamford.
The AACC is hosting the upcoming lunch and dialogue, “Pulse Check: You Good Sis? A Pulse Check for Black Women in the Academy.” This event will be held on Thursday, February 15 at 12:00 pm, in the AACC Community Room (SU 407). Please register by using the QR code found on the attached flyer.
The AACC & AAFSA are hosting a Black History Month Faculty & Staff Happy Hour! The happy hour will be held on Friday, February 9th, from 5 PM – 7 PM, at Soul Baila restaurant, located at 735 Wethersfield Avenue, Hartford, CT. There will be a cash bar and food will be provided for free. Faculty and staff members of other UConn cultural organizations are also invited to join us at this event. Join faculty and staff members of the AACC & AAFSA on Friday, February 9 for food and fun!
Please RSVP using the link below or the QR code on the flyer!
The UConn Humanities Institute (UCHI) is hosting a talk by UConn professor of Political Science and Interim Director of Africana Studies, Evelyn Simiens. This talk will feature Prof. Simien’s book project, “The Last Shall Be First: Historic Candidates in U.S. Elections.” The event will be held on Wednesday, February 7 at 3:30 pm in the Homer Babbidge Library, Humanities Institute Conference Room (HBL 4-209). The event will also be live-streamed. If you require accommodation to attend this event, please contact UCHI at uchi@uconn.edu or by phone at (860) 486-9057.
Please click on the link below to register for the event.
