Dear Friends,
Ten years ago, UC Berkeley announced the creation of the African American Initiative, a comprehensive effort to address the underrepresentation and campus climate for Black students, faculty and staff. The founding of the African American Initiative, now known as the African American Thriving Initiatives, was an important step on Berkeley’s journey toward becoming a campus where everyone feels welcome and respected for both their differences and their contributions to the pursuit of excellence.
A decade later, it’s my great joy to celebrate the progress your partnership has made possible through the African American Thriving Initiatives! Your investment has helped build and grow an extensive suite of programs, partnerships, and organizations dedicated to helping students find success and community at Cal. AATI has increased the number of staff dedicated to uplifting our Black students, created a host of new programs to increase belonging, and continues to work closely with a wide array of campus partners to enhance the overall student experience. The African American Initiative Scholarship has been awarded to 199 students, including 28 brilliant scholars who began their journey at Berkeley in 2024. We look forward to welcoming our eighth cohort of AAI scholars to campus this fall, continuing to create a Berkeley community where all students can thrive.
Your dedication plays a critical role in helping Berkeley become a kinder and more diverse campus. I hope you will enjoy reading this report that celebrates what you have helped make possible. On behalf of our entire campus community, thank you for your generous support of the African American Thriving Initiatives.
Sincerely,
Richard Lyons, Chancellor
Building a Better Future Together
Black students, faculty, alumni, and staff have always played a vital role in upholding and advancing UC Berkeley’s excellence. But ten years ago, the number of Black students was disproportionately low—and a campus survey revealed that many Black students, faculty, and staff found the campus environment unwelcoming. Inspired by an urgent set of demands from the Black Student Union, our university announced a coordinated campaign to address Black underrepresentation among students, faculty and staff, and to build a more inclusive and welcoming campus environment.
Thanks to your partnership, this effort, now known as the African American Thriving Initiatives (AATI), has had a profound effect at Berkeley. Working in partnership with an ever-growing network of programs, organizations, and communities, AATI has helped increase the number and percentage of Black students on campus and has made major strides in enhancing student success and well-being.
Celebrating Black Scholars
At the heart of the African American Thriving Initiatives are our distinguished AAI scholars, an exceptional group of brilliant and dedicated students. With your support, and the partnership of the San Francisco Foundation and the Cal Alumni Association, the AAI scholarship has been awarded to 199 students since 2018. This includes the latest cohort of 28 students who began studies at Berkeley in fall 2024.
Our AAI scholars are a diverse group, representing 6 different countries of origin, 15 U.S. states, and 90 different California cities. Their areas of study include 59 distinct majors, with political science, business administration, computer science, and psychology among the top declared majors. Nearly 60 percent of our scholars say receiving the AAI scholarship played a role in their decision to attend Berkeley.
"Being named an African American Initiative Scholar has been instrumental to my success at UC Berkeley. The program’s comprehensive support—ranging from individualized guidance to a deeply rooted sense of community—has laid the groundwork for both my personal and academic success. I am sincerely thankful to the donors whose generosity makes this opportunity possible, and hope that my story as an early graduate serves as a testament to not only the profound impact of their investment, but inspires continued support for future scholars."
Aaliah House, '24, Legal Studies
Building Community from Day One
During their first year on campus, our AAI scholars are involved in the African American Theme Program, where they live in residential community on the Afro Floor, and participate in a year-long academic seminar exploring issues within the global African diaspora. Thanks to you, this program now houses 84 first-year students, providing a nurturing community as they make the transition to the university.
“AATI and its connection to the Afro-Floor housing program has created an invaluable network of Black students that makes this campus feel like home. I rely on the support, camaraderie, and advice of my AATI peers every day as I navigate Berkeley, my professional career, and life.”
Kalyan Piovesan Toussaint, '28, Mechanical Engineering | Theater & Performance Studies
"My time as an AAI scholar shaped my experience at Cal as it helped me find my role as a leader on campus and discover my passion for working with underserved youth. Each time we gathered as a cohort, I felt a sense of belonging and community that was special and inspiring. My own journey began as an undergraduate studying education at Cal. Now I am a 4th grade teacher in LAUSD where I am creating a legacy beyond what I would have ever imagined. I see parts of myself in every student I teach, just like my AAI mentors saw potential in me--and for that, I extend my deepest gratitude for all those who support and believe in AATI's mission and everlasting impact on young Black scholars."
Wesley Veiga, '24, Sociology and Education
A Village of Support
The Village is the term Takiyah Jackson uses to speak of the growing network of campus leaders, programs, and partnerships that equips Black students for success at Berkeley. Thomas Logwood became part of The Village in August 2024, when he joined the team as the Educational Opportunity Program's Black Success Counselor with AATI. Logwood is the first EOP counselor to provide dedicated advising and academic support to the first-year students living on the Afro Floor, as well as the wider student community.
Logwood helps lead the Black Student Retention Project (BSRP), a new effort designed to connect students to essential services that empower continuing academic and personal success at Berkeley. As part of the BSRP leadership team, he works closely with AATI Program Manager Karl Brooks and EOP Academic Success Counselor Tiara Collins.
“It's a pleasure to join this community and be of service to our amazing students. I feel happy to help create a campus culture where students feel confident, supported, and comfortable being their authentic selves.”
Thomas Logwood, EOP Black Success Counselor
Pursuing Academic Excellence
Peer support also plays a key role in academic success at Berkeley. Jasmine Turner, '25 (Public Health) received the AAI scholarship in 2021, and has enjoyed guiding other students as a peer academic counselor with AATI and EOP. “It brings me joy to know that my academic and social advising has helped other students like me to succeed at Cal,” she says. Jasmine has cherished the community and guidance that AATI provided throughout her time at Berkeley: “The African American Thriving Initiatives and AAI scholarship program provide tangible evidence that UC Berkeley values its Black students and seeks to provide a community where their identities are celebrated, appreciated, and respected.”
Second-year student Devan Cogshell works as an EOP peer academic counselor while pursuing a joint degree in education and psychology. He says his experience as a peer counselor has solidified his desire to pursue a path where he can empower young people as a high school counselor after graduating. Devan reflects, “We do our best to support students, to work with them in figuring out academic policies and navigating the challenges of a Berkeley education, and also helping make sure they find community and feel seen and supported.”
Honoring Black History
AATI is proud to sponsor Black Lives at Cal (BLAC) a multi-year initiative celebrating Black history at UC Berkeley. Created in partnership with the Institute for Societal Issues and with support from the Black Studies Collaboratory, the Office of the Chancellor, and other campus groups, BLAC archives and researches Black history at Berkeley, serving as a resource for current Black experience. Guests can register for the Guided Black History Tour of UC Berkeley, or can download a map and listen to BLAC’s self-guided campus tour.
We are also excited to announce a revived partnership between UC Berkeley and two Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Beginning in Fall 2025, the UC Berkeley-HBCU Exchange Program will give four Berkeley undergraduates the opportunity to study for a semester at either Morehouse College or Spelman College, while Berkeley will welcome two students from each school to live on the Afro Floor and experience a semester at Berkeley.
Strengthening Alumni Connections
The Cal Black Alumni Association has long been a critical partner to the African American Thriving Initiatives. AATI is delighted to play a role in expanding Berkeley’s efforts to enhance its continuing connection with Black alumni. Last October, we hosted our 4th Annual Black Homecoming Celebration, which included six events as part of our 2024 Homecoming festivities. These included the Brothas at Berkeley community event (for Black male alumni, students, faculty, and staff), a “State of Black Lives at Cal” presentation, the Black2Cal Community Celebration, the Black2Cal Tailgate followed by the Homecoming football game (with student tickets provided in partnership with Cal Athletics), and a ten-year reunion for the class of 2014.
Creating Lasting Change
“Your support for the African American Thriving Initiatives has helped transform Black life at UC Berkeley in ways we once only imagined. As one of many former leaders of the Black Student Union, returning to campus last year, I was struck by how different the energy feels for Black students at Cal today. AATI is more than a program—it’s a manifestation of what happens when people come together to make lasting change. You have helped build something powerful and enduring. Thank you for believing in the vision of Black excellence and thriving!”
Elias Hinit, '18, Social Welfare, Former Chairman, Black Student Union at UC Berkeley
Your investment in the African American Thriving Initiatives makes a profound difference in the lives of our students and our entire campus community. Thank you for helping UC Berkeley more fully embody its commitment to provide an environment where every student can realize their full potential.