it all started with a question…

The inception of our journey can be traced back to a thought-provoking question raised on Facebook on April 14, 2016. The inquiry delved into the current state of fraternities and sororities affiliated with the National Pan-Hellenic Council on UNF's campus, aiming to identify means of revitalizing interest in these organizations. As conversations unfolded, diverse discussions emerged, giving rise to various groups. Ultimately, it was concluded that the waning interest in the NPHC was directly linked to the inadequate recognition of minority-based organizations within UNF as a whole. On April 16, 2016, a collective of alumni officially established what would later become the UNF Black Alumni Association.

With a clear focus on financial contributions and direct personal involvement, we, as minority alumni of UNF, have undertaken the responsibility of engaging the current minority population to discern their needs and ensure their fulfillment. Furthermore, we have strived to address our individual concerns as alumni to the alumni association and university leadership, advocating for the recognition of minority alumni's past contributions to the university and acknowledging their present endeavors that positively impact society.

Our solution emerged as a weekend dedicated to fostering social connections and networking opportunities between minority alumni, particularly African American alumni, and the minority student population. This endeavor aimed to address the aforementioned concerns comprehensively, thus giving birth to the UNF Black Alumni Weekend. Since its inception through that Facebook post in 2016, the UNF Black Alumni Weekend has experienced remarkable growth. It has evolved into a committee comprising numerous members and subcommittees, hosting a series of events, thus transcending its initial role as merely a weekend gathering.

Driven by a resolute sense of accountability to the 1,100 black and brown alumni we represent, it became evident that our weekend gathering needed to transform into an association. On May 4, 2018, the UNF Black Alumni Weekend officially transitioned into an event organized by the Black Alumni Association, marked by the inaugural Black Alumni General Body meeting in the fall of 2018.

With the 2019 Black Alumni Weekend setting unprecedented attendance records, the BAA embarked on the implementation of numerous community service programs, extending throughout 2019 and into 2020. None of these achievements would have been possible without the unwavering support of the UNF Alumni Association and its director, Jennifer Perkins, who emerged as one of the BAA's most ardent advocates during her tenure with the UNF Alumni Association.

As is true for many, the years 2020 and 2021 have presented extraordinary challenges for the world at large. When BAA Founder, Jonathan Johnson, captured a photograph in February 2020 (see below), little did he know that a global lockdown would ensue, ultimately leading to the cancellation of the 5th-year anniversary of Black Alumni Weekend in 2021. Fortunately, with the advent of vaccines, were able to resume programming in the fall of 2021, and Black Alumni Weekend made its triumphant return as Black Alumni Week in 2022!