27-Oct-09 11:32 AM CST

HBAW 2009 Survey, Photos and More

When the market took a major dive last September, some questioned whether it was appropriate to move forward with our plans to hold Harvard Black Alumni Weekend (HBAW). Americans were losing their homes, their jobs, and a large number of alumni were out of work. We forged ahead, believing that a small number of alums would return to campus, but nothing was guaranteed.

From start to finish, this year’s HBAW was successful beyond our imagination. Powerful, inspiring, and great fun, more than 600 alumni, students and guests gathered on campus to celebrate the legacy of blacks at Harvard, reflect on their Harvard experiences, and help influence the Harvard of the future.

We would like to thank each and every one of you for your support, whether you were able to make it or not. Today, we would like to share with you photos from the Weekend,offer you ways to get more involved in the black alumni community, and provide you with useful contact information for key organizations in our community.

Survey – We want to hear from you!

We encourage you to share your feedback with us by completing a survey online at http://www.hbasonline.org/en/surveys/responses/add.asp?surveyattemptid=129. The survey should take no longer than five minutes and will be extremely helpful to the HBAW committee in planning the next event.

Pictures from the weekend are now available online until November 15, 2009 at

Friday luncheons: http://www.marthapix.com/friday/
Saturday morning: http://www.marthapix.com/morning/
Saturday gala: http://www.marthapix.com/evening/

A transcript of President Faust’s speech is now available online at

http://president.harvard.edu/speeches/faust/090926_blackalum.php

T-Shirts

We still have t-shirts from the weekend for sale. BAW t-shirts cost $25 each or are free with any donation to HBAS over $50. Email hbasboston@yahoo.com with your size request. Note,we have no smalls remaining at this point.

For many, HBAW represented the first visit to Harvard in years. Indeed, most attendees were students in the sometimes difficult years between the establishment of the Afro American Studies Department in 1969 and the ending of apartheid in South Africa in 1994. We are grateful that along with the support of the Harvard Alumni Association and the Office of the President, Harvard Black Alumni Society could provide this re-entry to Harvard. It belongs to all of us.

We hope that the 2009 celebration of our legacy will serve as a catalyst for renewed commitment to participating in HBAS’ future, and leveraging our collective intellect and capabilities toward a course of action for addressing the issues of utmost importance to our community.

Ways to Get More Involved:

· Spread the word. Please encourage friends and colleagues to sign up for HBAS membership at www.hbasonline.org. Membership is completely free and puts you on our e-mail list for information and updates.

· Help with programming for the next Harvard Black Alumni Weekend. If you are interested in becoming a co-Chair for the next HBAW, serving on the planning committee, organizing a panel or a social event, please feel free to reach out to us at hbasboston@yahoo.com.

· Give to the Annual Fund. Each year a number of alumni and friends pledge their commitment to the Harvard Black Alumni Society’s future by making a donation to the HBAS Annual Fund. Alumni donations to the Annual Fund make it possible to: award public service fellowships to undergraduates interested in pursuing careers in the public sector, to host events such as HBAS holiday parties that bring alumni together for fellowship and networking, and to make resources such as the HBAS Guide(s) to Applying to Harvard College, Law School and Business School available to prospective students, parents and high school/college guidance counselors. All donations to HBAS are 100% tax deductible and will be acknowledged online and in our annual newsletter. You can make a contribution to HBAS by clicking on Giving to HBAS on www.hbasonline.org.

· Get Involved in Your Local Chapter. Every year, each local chapter hosts a variety of events, from an annual Holiday Party (December) to panel events for the HBAS membership. If you are interested in joining your local chapters’ executive board or helping to plan an event in your area, please email HBAS Alumni Affairs Chair Lawrence Adjah AB ’06 at adjah@post.harvard.edu .

· Join the Development Committee. We are looking for enthusiastic alumni/ae to help HBAS to continue to raise funds for the next Black Alumni Weekend, the HBAS public service fellowship and local events. The committee will focus on reaching out to both corporate sponsors, specifically luxury goods companies, and alumni. To learn more, email Chris-Tia Donaldson ’02 at cdonalds@post.harvard.edu.

· Join the Public Service Fellowship Committee. Every year, HBAS awards students interested in pursuing internships in the public sector or social enterprise a stipend for summer living expenses. We are looking for enthusiastic alums to get more involved in the selection process and choosing the final candidates for the fellowship. For more information, please email HBAS Student Affairs Chair Kimberly Marshall AB ’03 at hbasboston@yahoo.com.

· Become an Early College Awareness Representative. The Harvard Black Alumni Society and the School’s and Scholarship’s Committee of the Harvard Clubs have launched the Early College Awareness Program (ECA), a new initiative to provide information about the college application and financial aid process to the families of inner-city eighth graders, who will likely become the first in their family to attend college. For more information, email HBAS Recruiting Chair Victoria Shannon AB ’03, JD ‘07 at hbasboston@yahoo.com.

· Help with recruiting. We are always looking for alumni to help interview perspective applicants to the College and to congratulate recent admits on their acceptance to the University. For more information, email HBAS Recruiting Chair Victoria Shannon AB ’03, JD ‘07 at hbasboston@yahoo.com