BSFO celebrates Juneteenth week with fascinating speakers and a dance class
June 10, 2025 •
June 19 is Juneteenth, the United States and California holiday commemorating the end of slavery in our country. The UCOP Black Staff and Faculty Organization has once again planned an engaging roster of events to celebrate and connect with UCOP staff. All colleagues are welcome to attend!
Althenia Rodney, founder and executive director of Juneteenth NYC
History of Juneteenth
June 16, 12 – 1 p.m. (PT)
Virtual event: Zoom link for Juneteenth history
Join Althenia Rodney, founder and executive director of Juneteenth NYC, for a special virtual presentation about the history of Juneteenth. Juneteenth NYC celebrates African American heritage and honors the legacy of Juneteenth by creating inclusive spaces that highlight African Americans’ rich history and promote cultural pride. Through empowering events, it connects communities across the globe, supports the economic growth of Black-owned businesses and inspires future generations to take pride in their identity.
History of Black Fraternities and Sororities Panel
June 17, 12 – 1 p.m. (PT)
Virtual event: Zoom link for Black Greek panel
Black Greek-letter organizations serve their communities through civic engagement and voter registration efforts, literacy and professional development programs, volunteerism and more. Join colleagues Dena Bullard, Johari Leaks and Frederic Roots II, along with Tirrell Muhammad, for an inside look at the experiences of Black fraternity and sorority members.
Acclaimed diver Kamau Sadiki
Diving With a Purpose
June 18, 12 – 1 p.m. (PT)
Virtual event: Zoom link for Black maritime archeology
Preserving Black history is a foundational tenet of Diving with a Purpose (DWP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of submerged heritage resources by providing education, training, certification and field experience to adults and youth in the fields of maritime archaeology and ocean conservation. Join DWP board of directors member and lead instructor Kamau Sadiki to learn more about the organization’s work in protecting, documenting and interpreting African slave trade shipwrecks and the maritime history and culture of African Americans. Kamau’s high-profile dives included the discovery of the slave ship “Clotilda” in the Mobile River in Alabama — the last slave ship to bring captured Africans into the USA — and the documentation of the slave shipwreck “Sâo José Paquete de Africa” in Cape Town, South Africa, the first slave ship documented in which captured Africans were aboard during the wrecking event.
Tiye Garrett, founder of Kuumba LLC
West African Dance Class
June 24, 12 – 1 p.m. (PT)
Oakland: Fifth Floor Rooftop Garden
Join BSFO and Tiye Garrett of Kuumba LLC for an energetic West African dance class. Founded in 2022, Kuumba LLC’s mission is to spread joy and creativity through vibrant rhythms and movements. Experience the spirit of creativity and community with every step and beat!
In addition to the events above, BSFO has organized local volunteer outreach events on June 10 and 14, during which members and colleagues will provide meals at St. Vincent de Paul in Oakland.
For questions about these events, contact Joyce.Price@ucop.edu, Roni.Wilson@ucop.edu or BSFO-UCOP@ucop.edu. You can also download a Juneteenth events flyer (PDF).
Tags: Althenia Rodney, Black Greek organizations, BSFO, Juneteenth, Kamau Sadiki, Tiye Garrett
