During this year’s Black History Month events, the Black Staff & Faculty Organization (BSFO) will feature a range of current and past events that honor the legacy of African Americans. BSFO’s activities provide opportunities for African-American staff and all UCOP employees to have an honest dialogue around the black experience in America. All current and former UC employees are invited to join us!

BSFO Black History Month Kick-Off Celebration
Date: Monday, Feb. 4
Time: 12 to 1 p.m.
Location: Franklin Lobby 1

Celebrate the beginning of Black History Month with a conversation with UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May. BSFO will also award a deserving UC student with a $1,000 scholarship.

Chancellor May is a dynamic leader who is passionate about helping others succeed. Throughout his career, he has championed diversity in higher education and the workplace, developing and leading programs to attract, mentor and retain underrepresented women and ethnic minorities in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math. In 2015, President Obama honored him with the Presidential Award for Excellence in STEM Mentoring.

BSFO’s Community Partnership Presentations – featuring the Concerned Parents Alliance/College Bound Programs and the Young Gents Society
Date: Thursday, Feb. 7
Time: 12 to 1 p.m.
Location: Franklin Lobby 1

Join BSFO in recognizing two community organizations that mirror UC’s goals of expanding educational access to underresourced families by providing supportive opportunities for education, learning and growth.

• The Concerned Parents Alliance (CPA) is a unique family-oriented academic success program that helps students navigate the educational process to graduate high school and pursue a college education. CPA will be represented by co-founder Darlene Willis, who is also president and CEO of Empowering Parents. Willis holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UC Irvine, as well as a doctorate in organizational psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology.
• The Young Gents Society empowers young men ages 16 to 21 to develop the skills needed to attain an independent, successful life. It will be represented by its founder Kesha Clinkscale along with Brandi Smallwood, principal advisor, and Stacy Jones, Bay Area convener.

Fireside Chat with Provost and Executive Vice President Michael Brown
Date: Monday, Feb. 11
Time: 12 to 1 p.m.
Location: Franklin Lobby 1

Join BSFO for a fireside chat with Michael T. Brown, UC provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. Brown, who is a veteran professor and administrator at UC Santa Barbara as well as a former chair of the UC Academic Senate, is the UC system’s chief academic officer. He leads efforts to further student success, support academic excellence and foster diversity across the 10 campuses. Brown has written extensively on cultural variables underlying career and educational choices, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities and women, as well as on the importance of equity and diversity in freshman admissions.

BSFO Guest Speaker Series featuring Author and Journalist Mary Ellen Butler
Date: Thursday, Feb. 14
Time: 12 to 1 p.m.
Location: Franklin Lobby 1

On Valentine’s Day, join BFSO in welcoming Mary Ellen Butler, former Oakland Tribune journalist and author of “Heart & Soul: The Remarkable Courtship and Marriage of Josh and Virginia Craft Rose.” This nonfiction book is based on the story of Butler’s own parents, as told through the more than 100 letters her father wrote to her mother during their courtship. Its fascinating narrative provides an intimate look into the life and marriage of two prominent African-American Oaklanders in the mid-20^th century – Joshua Rose, the first African-American elected to Oakland public office, and Virginia Craft Rose, named Oakland’s 1982 mother of the year.

Interactive Genealogy Workshop with the African-American Genealogical Society of Northern California (AAGSNC)
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 20
Time: 12 to 1 p.m.
Location: Franklin Lobby 1

Discover your family roots during this interactive lunchtime workshop! The AAGSNC preserves and promotes the study of genealogical and historical records relating to African-American ancestry. It provides a unique approach to education, research skills and support to anyone interested in genealogy. Genealogy family tree forms will be provided in via BSFO’s listserv in advance.

**CANCELED** Self-Care for Black Women, Featuring Psychologist Taisha Caldwell-Harvey, The Black Girl Doctor
Date: Thursday, Feb. 21
Time: 12 to 1 p.m.

For questions regarding any of the above BFSO events, please contact: Latascha.MagnessCotton@ucop.edu or Ghanya.Thomas@ucop.edu

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