YBAA Bay Area: Artist Talk at MoAD with Jasmine Ross (YC '25)
Join the Yale Black Alumni Association for an intimate artist talk with Yale alum Jasmine Ross (YC '25) and Key Jo Lee (MA '13), Curator at the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD), moderated by Eraina Ferguson (MAR '10).
The conversation will center on Beauty Plus — New Haven's second Black-owned beauty supply store, which stood as a pillar of community for over 31 years. The talk will explore Jasmine's fine-art documentary practice, her collaboration with Key Jo Lee, and the importance of preserving cultural legacy — reflecting on the histories, aesthetics, and communal spaces that shape Black life. Beauty Plus is on view through May 31st.
Light bites will be provided. While hosted by the Yale community, this event is free and open to all.
Join YBAA Boston for Prison Book Program
Join the Boston Chapter for an evening of fulfilling book requests from incarcerated individuals from around the country. For people in prison — who lack internet access and often cannot rely on poorly-staffed or inaccessible facility libraries — books are one of the only avenues to learn, imagine, study, and grow. Loved ones on the outside cannot send books directly; they must be ordered from approved vendors at full retail price, putting them out of reach for most. This event helps close that gap.
Join Chicago for Yale Day of Service & "Give Her Her Flowers"
The Chicago Chapter has two upcoming opportunities to gather in service and celebration:
Yale Day of Service — Habitat for Humanity Chicago ReStore
Join YBAA Chicago for a day of service with Habitat for Humanity Chicago's ReStore. Proceeds from the ReStore fund Habitat for Humanity Chicago's work to build homes, encourage homeownership, and help neighborhoods thrive. Projects may include merchandise staging and arranging, warehouse organizing, cleaning, or donation assembly. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old; anyone under 16 must have a chaperone who is at least 21.
Give Her Her Flowers — A YBAA & HBAS Celebration of Black Women
You're invited to Give Her Her Flowers, a joint YBAA and HBAS event in celebration of Black women. Join us for a relaxed, flower-making experience at Black-owned floral design firm Fleurish Chicago, in the historic Bronzeville community. Attendees will create hand-tied bouquets for a special woman in their lives (or themselves!) while enjoying a meaningful, celebratory experience. Light refreshments will be served. Open to all YBAA Chicago community members who identify as women; guests are welcome (same ticket price).
Join Houston for YDOS Community Gardening in Third Ward
Join the Third Ward Cultural District, Harlem River Farms, and the Yale Black Alumni Association for a hands-on volunteer experience to maintain and improve a community garden in Houston's Third Ward — helping to support and grow food in the Alabama Gardens.
No experience needed. Volunteers will be guided and matched with tasks such as seed starting, weeding, and planting based on comfort level. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes you don't mind getting dirty. Drop in any time and stay as long as you're able.
YBAA LA Save the Dates: Juneteenth Mixer, Theater Night & Summer Send-Off
YBAA-LA has three exciting community gatherings on the calendar. Please save the dates:
YBAA-LA Juneteenth Mixer
A casual summer gathering and a chance to connect with other Black Yale alumni in Los Angeles — a warm, welcoming event for longtime members, newer alumni, and anyone looking to build more community here in LA. Food and drinks will be provided, and families are welcome with a kid-friendly area and snacks for younger guests. YBAA-LA is grateful to YBAA National for helping support this event.
YBAA-LA Theater Night — Primary Trust with Center Theatre Group
YBAA-LA is hosting a theater outing to see *Primary Trust* with Center Theatre Group. Additional details will be shared soon, including timing, ticket information, and any gathering plans before or after the performance.
YBAA-LA Summer Send-Off
Save the date for YBAA-LA's annual Summer Send-Off welcoming incoming Yale students and their families. A casual morning gathering with light breakfast items, similar to last year's event. Yale will contact admitted students directly, and RSVP details will be shared with the alumni community once available.
DMV Recap: YDOS & "The Future of the National Capital Region"
The DMV Chapter has been busy this spring with two events:
Yale Day of Service Recap — Upward Bound Scholars Meet & Greet
On Saturday, May 2, the DMV Chapter hosted the Upward Bound Scholars Meet & Greet with Yale Alumni at Howard University's Locke Hall. The program opened with a panel featuring alumni representatives from three Yale Special Interest Groups — the Yale Black Alumni Association, the Yale Latino Alumni Network, and Yale 1stGen Alumni — followed by an open meet and greet where Upward Bound students and their parents connected directly with Yale alumni.
"The Future of the National Capital Region: Black Women Leading the Way" Recap
YBAA DMV members were proudly represented at the co-sponsored Political Profile Series with the Monumental Men's Network and other partners on April 29th. In honor of International Black Women's History Month, YBAA partnered on this panel discussion titled "The Future of the National Capital Region: Black Women Leading the Way," featuring Black women trailblazers in public policy, politics, and entrepreneurship.
Pictured: Ffyona Patel, Yale School of Public Health (multicolored dress); James Cogman, Yale School of Divinity; Lindsey Brewer, Yale Law and School of the Environment (black and white dress).
YBAA France First Meet-Up Recap
The unofficial YBAA France chapter held its first meet-up back in February! Members enjoyed great conversation about their days at Yale and what brought them to Paris, and the night ended with a mini tour by Brea to a former cabaret where Josephine Baker performed. We're happy to welcome any YBAA members coming through Paris — reach out to us via the YBAA France WhatsApp group.
Pictured: Brea (YC '16), Dominique (YC '25), Misan (YC '25), Michaela (YSE '21), and Andrew (YC '94, YSM '98).