Note from the Nominating & Governance Chair
Dear YBAA Community,
We are excited to announce the launch of a dedicated WhatsApp community aimed at enhancing national engagement within the Yale Black Alumni Association (YBAA)! This community will serve as a vibrant platform for members to connect, share ideas, and collaborate on initiatives that matter to our community.
Our primary channel within the community will provide real-time updates on YBAA events, initiatives, and opportunities for involvement. It’s an excellent way to stay informed and engaged with the latest happenings, whether it’s about upcoming meetings, community service projects, or networking opportunities. We recognize there are diverse interests within our membership, and to start, we've created channels for our local chapters and a few specific interests. With increased interest, we will introduce additional WhatsApp channels based on specific themes and interests, allowing participants to engage in topics that truly resonate with them.
Together, we can build a stronger network, share our experiences, and support one another in our personal and professional journeys. The success of this initiative will depend on the level of engagement and enthusiasm from our community. To join the main YBAA WhatsApp channel, please click here.
If you have suggestions for specific interest-based channels or topics you’d like to see, please feel free to share your thoughts. Thank you for being an integral part of the YBAA community. We look forward to your participation and the exciting conversations to come!
Warm Regards,
Carl T. Horton, Jr. Nominating & Governance Chair, YC ‘90
Yale Commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr.
YBAA invites all members to join Yale in its annual MLK Commemoration, celebrating the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year, Yale is hosting Colonel Edna W. Cummings, U.S. Army (Retired) as the keynote speaker.
About the Speaker: Colonel Cummings is a celebrated author and advocate known for championing the Congressional Gold Medal for the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black Women’s Army Corps unit sent overseas during WWII. A distinguished 25-year veteran with service at the Pentagon and NORAD, she co-produced two documentaries on the "Six Triple Eight" and was named the 2024 Person of the Year by the Afro American Newspaper. Her memoir, A Soldier’s Life, was released in May 2025. Visit her website.
This event is presented by the 2026 Yale & New Haven MLK Commemoration Committee, Yale Office of the Secretary and Vice President for University Life, and Yale College Dean’s Office in collaboration with Yale Schwarzman Center.
Boston Chapter Relaunch & Shades of Yale Concert
YBAA Boston relaunched just after Yale–Harvard last year, and we kicked off the New Year with Shades of Yale at their annual concert to support their spring tour. We’re looking forward to our next virtual meet-and-greet and an in-person gathering for Black History Month. Our numbers are steadily growing, and we can’t wait to build connections and create impact in our local community.
Please feel free to email Chapter Lead Nnenna Ukwu ’05 at nnenna.ukwu@aya.yale.edu to check in anytime.
Want to join YBAA Boston's mailing list? Sign up here.
Pictured (Group): Tyler Holloway ’20, Jean-Phillip Brignol ’10, Nnenna Ukwu ’05, Darryl Auguste ’09, Titilayo Ngwenya ’92.
Pictured (Event): YBAA with Shades of Yale at Summer Shack in Boston.
Race, Planning, and Education in the Nation's Capital
Join us for a book talk about the history of Black public education and school architecture in Washington, DC. Yale alumna and author Amber N. Wiley, Ph.D. '03 explores how DC school buildings became a physical realization of Black liberation, agency, and their right to exist as citizens of the United States. Central to the story is the history of Dunbar High School, one of the first public high schools for Black students in the country, and Rev. Walter Fauntroy (BDiv ’58), whose efforts in a community-led vision of urban renewal were inspired by projects he saw while a student in New Haven. The talk will be moderated by Suzanne Anthony '03 followed by a book signing. Refreshments will also be served. To order a hardcover copy of her book, please visit the site.
As an added bonus, ticket holders for this event can also purchase a signed hardcover copy of the book for pickup only. Space is limited, so get your tickets quickly before we fill up! Tickets will not be sold at the door.
Co-sponsored by The Yale Club of Washington DC.
Chicago Restaurant Week Dinner, BHM Colloquium & Recap
Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!
Join YBAA Chicago for dinner at Ina Mae Tavern during Chicago Restaurant Week. Let's connect, enjoy the Mardi Gras season ambience, and savor Ina Mae's New Orleans cuisine curated by Co-Founder and Executive Chef Brian Jupiter, a James Beard Award Semi-finalist.
Black History Month Colloquium
Join YBAA Chicago as we hear from visionary artist and native Chicagoan, Tonika Johnson, who is this year’s featured speaker at the University of Chicago Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation’s Black History Month Colloquium.
About the Speaker: Tonika Johnson is a photographer and social justice artist and has been named a 2025 MacArthur Fellow, one of the nation’s most prestigious honors recognizing creative individuals who demonstrate the ability to impact society in a significant way. A native of the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, Tonika is known for her large-scale, social-justice-oriented work, including the acclaimed Folded Map Project. The project gained national recognition for visualizing Chicago’s segregation by connecting “map twins”—residents living on the same street but miles apart in racially and economically different neighborhoods. She later created Inequity for Sale, an award-winning public art and research project that highlighted the lasting impact of racist land sale contracts that exploited Black homebuyers in the 1950s and ’60s. Learn more about Tonika here.
Recap: Julian Reid Concert
On Wednesday, January 14, several YBAA Chicago members attended the Chicago stop of Julian Davis Reid’s (YC '13) tour for his new album Vocation. The album is deeply personal, dedicated to several loved ones, and the music is gripping and beautiful. (Fun Fact: His mother, fellow Yalie Adonna Reid ‘83, contributed to the track Hush, Somebody’s Callin’ My Name.) The album is available on all streaming platforms now, you can check it out on Spotify here.
YBAA New York Attends Julian Davis Reid's Concert
In January, our featured event was Julian Reid (YC ‘13) in Concert on January 10th. He and his group performed his new jazz album, Vocation. Several YBAA New York members were in attendance for a fantastic show.
We will provide additional details regarding upcoming events in the coming weeks!
YBAA LA Sends Care Packages to Freshmen
Care Packages for Frosh: YBAA-LA sent small care packages to the five freshmen who attended our summer send-off, including a gift card to a local coffee shop and cards signed by numerous alums. As they kick off their spring semester, we want them to know they have a whole community of LA alumni cheering them on. Thank you to all YBAA-LA alumni who signed and to Dean Timeica Bethel for helping to coordinate care package distribution in New Haven!
To join the YBAA-LA newsletter, visit this link.