Ithaca College

Four Ithaca College students traveled to New Haven, Connecticut as registered participants of the Black Solidarity Conference held on the campus of Yale University. Sponsored by the Office of Student Engagement and Multicultural Affairs, Anissa Ash '18, Brandon Paul '17, Arlana Shikongo '17, and Efosa Erhunmwunse '18 represented IC among the 50+ institutions and 700+ participants. 

The Annual Black Solidarity Conference at Yale seeks to bring undergraduates of all colors together to discuss issues pertaining to the African Diaspora. Through discussions, panels, networking, and social gatherings, over 700 students from across the country analyze issues affecting our community and explore solutions to undertake at their respective college campuses. The Conference is student run and hosted annually by the BSC Executive Board. In the past, the Conference has hosted Drs. Michael Eric Dyson, Angela Davis, Nikki Giovanni, and Cornel West as Keynote Speakers as well as J. Cole, Big Sean, Vic Mensa, and Phony Ppl as Concert Performers. 

The 2016 BSC was held February 11th-14th and through its theme, "The Miseducation", aimed to engage participants in a space designed to rectify the loss that has been inherited. This theme highlighted the ways in which Black histories have often been misconstrued, falsely constructed, and ignored in the US. The Common message was one of hope to "Change History as We Know It" through the celebration of untold Black histories and successes in every sphere. By inheriting true histories, the goal becomes uniting through communal knowing to build futures together.

In the following weeks these four students will be presenting to the Ithaca College community based on their experiences and knowledge gained at the BSC. More information will provided.