As the premier cultural organization, the Black Student Forum of Boston College is very excited to celebrate our 41st  year at Boston College.  As we continue to forge stronger bonds between current students, faculty, staff, prospective students, and alumni, we will be celebrating the 40th Annual Black Family Weekend, from Thursday April 12, 2012 to Sunday April 15, 2012. We will be honoring our legacy under the theme Black Excellence: Reclaiming, Redefining, Renewing through nine events that highlight the political, educational, and social aspects of the Black community.

Black Student Forum would love to have the participation of every member of the Boston College community as we share our community with yours.

Of particular relevance to you is the “Reclaiming the Black" panel discussion. This event will feature Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, author, activist, and host of the television show Our World with Black Enterprise. Dr. Hill is also a current professor at the Teachers College of Columbia University. He will speak, moderate a panel of young bloggers, and facilitate a discussion on the use of journalism, communications, and new media in the Black community. The discussion will take place on Friday April 13, 2012 from 6pm to 8pm in Higgins Room 300. More information about this event can be found here.

Another event that may be of interest to you is the Black Excellence Gala at which Susan Taylor will speaking. Susan Taylor is an editor, author, and journalist. She is the current editor-in-chief of Essence Magazine. From the Black Talent Program, to the creation of the AHANA acronym, to the OTE Program, Blacks have been central to the success of Boston College and its students. The Black Excellence Gala will be an opportunity to celebrate these successes and contributions to this great university. It will take place on Saturday April 14, 2012 from 7pm to 11:30pm in Murray Function Room (Yawkey Hall). More information about this event can be found here.

The weekend will conclude with the Dr. Donald Brown Luncheon on Sunday April 15, 2012 at 2pm in the Faculty Dining Room. Dr. Donald Brown was the director of the Office of AHANA Student Programs (OASP) from 1978 to 2005. Under his leadership, the name of the office was changed from "Office of Minority Student Programs" to the Office of AHANA Student Programs. He also established the Options Through Education Transitional Summer Program (OTE), the Thea Bowman Scholars Program, and the Benjamin Elijah Mays Mentoring Program, among several others. In tribute to him, the Dr. Donald Brown Award honors a senior who has made exemplary contributions to the AHANA community through leadership, service, and academic development. Dr. Donald Brown himself will be at the luncheon to speak and to present the award to this year’s recipient.

Once again, the Black Student Forum would be honored to have your participation in our 40th Black Family Weekend by attending the events and encouraging your students, colleagues, and families to attend as well. For more information or to RSVP for the events, please email BlackFamilyWeekendRSVP@gmail.com or visit our facebook page here.

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you this weekend.

Best Wishes,

Black Student Forum