The African American Thriving Initiatives
Inspired by an urgent set of demands posed by Black students in February of 2015, and supported by concerned individuals including students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community members, the African American Thriving Initiatives (AATI) is a comprehensive effort to address the underrepresentation of African American students, faculty, and staff at UC Berkeley, and to improve the climate for those who are here now and all who will join our community in the future.
Today, AATI is sponsored by Vice Chancellor for Equity & Inclusion Dania Matos. The steering committee is co-chaired by Takiyah Jackson, Director, African American Student Development; Olufemi Ogendle, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Enrollment; and supported by Brooke Bodipo-Memba, Executive Director|Student Experience & Diversity Philanthropy, UDAR.
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January 30, 2025
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Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 9:00am
Zellerbach Hall
Univeristy of California, Berkeley
Black Graduation is an annual, campus-wide ceremony that celebrates all Black/African/African American identifying students upon completion of their undergraduate, master’s, Ph.D., J.D., and/or professional degree programs. This joyous event has historical roots and cultural importance dating from the inception of the African American Studies Program in the 1970s and has been a “holy grail” for Black/African/African American students during their Berkeley careers.