The Umoja Community Forum is hosting its annual celebration for Illinois State University students of African descent and from the African diaspora on Thursday, May 11, at 6 p.m. in Braden Auditorium.
Umoja: Black Graduation Celebration at Illinois State University is a celebration born from the hearts and minds of African American students, faculty, alumni, and staff. The event serves as a symbol of perseverance in recognizing a shared socio-cultural, political, and educational history. Undergraduate and graduate students who are May, August, and December 2023 graduates are eligible to be part of Umoja, the Swahili word for unity.
Tamekia Bailey, director of CAST Student Success Center/CAST Connections, serves as advisor of the Umoja Community Forum. She said the cultural ceremony is a special acknowledgment of African American students’ academic success. “This event is a great way to acknowledge our student’s achievements and celebrate with the many families who help these students to the finish line.”
Learn more about Illinois State’s Umoja history and take a look back at Umoja 2022 as we prepare to celebrate the Class of 2023.
