On February 18th and 19th, the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) held its inaugural Black Alumni & Student Connect Weekend to celebrate UCSB Black Alumni and the launch of the Office of Black Student Development. In 1968, the Black Student Union (BSU) initiated their demands for an Office of Black Student Development. These demands were re-energized in 2013 and 2019. The 2019 BSU Demands Team tirelessly fought for the Office of Black Student Development to be created. They said it was designed "to support the Black experience at UCSB." The campus community had long awaited an office that creates a place of belonging for the Black community at UCSB, and it is here!

 

In honor of this historic moment on the campus, UCSB Alumni and the dedicated planning committee hosted a series of workshops to provide opportunities for networking, professional development, leadership exposure, and support for growth paths. The weekend also honored Black History Month with a look at the history of the Black students at UCSB.