On Tuesday, Oct. 20, UCOP’s Black Staff and Faculty Organization (BSFO) will host the second listening session in its “We Need to Talk” series (PDF), UC and Anti-Blackness.

Taking place via Zoom from 2-2:45 p.m., this session will give Black-identified staff an opportunity to discuss:

• UC’s efforts to support, uplift, promote and advance Black employees
• Anti-Black experiences we have had at UC
• Possible reasons for the culture of anti-Blackness
• How anti-Blackness has personally affected us —and what we can do about it

The Zoom information for this event will be posted in the BSFO Slack. If you would like to be added to this channel, please contact Ghanya Thomas or Latascha Magness-Cotton.

Save the date for our next session: “Finding Your Voice” will take place on Oct. 28 from 3-3:45 p.m. (PT).

For questions, contact Ola Popoola.

About the “We Need to Talk” series

Facilitated by Ola Popoola, these sessions provide a powerful opportunity for Black-identified staff (those who identify as Black/African-American, or who are of African descent) to connect with peers around personal experiences related to anti-Blackness and systematic racism. In addition to giving an opportunity for participants to share experiences within a supportive group of colleagues, Ola will provide strategies for coping with trauma, community-building and empowerment.

About Ola

In addition to serving as director of reporting and analytics for Institutional Research and Academic Planning at OP, Ola Popoola is the founder of Divine Strategies for Living, where she serves as a keynote speaker, life coach, personal development coach and career coach. As chief encouragement officer, she has provided leadership training, strategic planning services, staff development and executive coaching for a variety of professionals and industries. She holds graduate degrees in information technology and psychology.

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