SBAN Events
On Sept. 14, 2018, Zoe Whitley ’01 celebrated “Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power” with fellow alumni and President Valerie Smith.
SBAN is committed to extending network connections beyond Swarthmore's campus. Volunteers coordinate receptions around local alumni lectures or cultural offerings, regional College events, as well as ongoing social, cultural, and intellectual gatherings.
Interested in hosting an event? Let us know by contacting alumni@swarthmore.edu.
Upcoming Events
Saturday, October 29, 2022 | 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Meet and Greet: Life and Career After Graduation
Please join SBAN members for a reception and informal conversation with current black students. SBAN members will share their insights and experiences and entertain questions on a range of topics from education and career decisions to other life choices.
Past Events
SBAN Virtual 5k: April 29–May 1
This is an opportunity to lace up, get out (stretch first!) and run, jog, walk, or move 3.1 miles. Through this event, we want to recognize the kick-off of Mental Health Awareness Month and celebrate Black folks exercising, moving our bodies, and staying well. This is a perfect opportunity for us to see how far and wide our community goes, especially after a trying two years.
2022
- Feb. 28 - SBAN Conversations: Dance, Performance, and Social Justice
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Monday, Feb. 28
8 to 9 p.m. Eastern“Dance, Performance, and Social Justice” was a conversation between choreographer, dancer, and scholar C. Kemal Nance ’92, Ph.D., and choreographer, scholar, and drag entertainer Twan Claiborne ’07. Nance and Claiborne discussed their connection through Umfundalai dance studies at Swarthmore and their continued exploration of performance as a vehicle for self-expression, community mentorship, and empowerment. We highlighted Nance's recent dance documentary, Deez Nuts! Black Bodies Dancing Defiance, and Claiborne's edutainment drag persona, Kenya Keepup.
2021
- May 28 - House Music Dance Party: Throwback Style feat. DJ T-Mixx '87 (Virtual BCC)
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What: House Music Dance Party: Throwback Style!
When: Friday, May 28, 7:30 pm -9:30 pm ET
Where: Zoom Virtual (includes a “take-a-break” chat room)
Why: Because you need that House Music Fix!
Who: DJ T-Mixx (Class of ’87) - April 30 - Virtual BCC
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Friday, April 30
- April 26 - SBAN Conversations: Black Storytelling in Art & Culture (recorded)
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Monday, April 26
8-9:30 p.m. EDTBlack Storytelling in Arts & Culture is a panel conversation among Black Swarthmore alums who are using their professions to study and share meaningful narratives through film, television, autobiography, and scholarship. They will discuss how they approach their work, the role community plays in their craft, and the importance of telling Black stories.
Hosted by Hernease Davis '04. Featuring Brandy Monk-Payton '07, Clayvon Harris '88, Dawn Porter '88, and Tayarisha Poe '12.
- April 22 - SBAN YA Panel: Navigating Career Paths & Adulting as a Black Swattie
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Heard from a panel of young Black alumni who have begun establishing themselves in their careers on how to market yourself to potential employers, conquer networking, leverage your Swarthmore degree, and the decisions they learned (not) to make in their first few years of adulting!
This event was for alumni from classes 2014-2020 and graduating seniors.
Hosted by Chinyere Odim '17 and Taylor Tucker '20. Panelists included Akure Imes '14 (Education), Al Brooks '16 (Law), Anise Charles '17 (Investments/Foundations), Lindsey Norward '18 (Humanities/Communications), and Ryan Greenlaw '15 (Nonprofits).
- March 30 - Virtual BCC Kickoff
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We're keeping the good vibes going with our first "Virtual BCC", a monthly casual happy hour to catch up with fellow alum. Bring your beverage of choice for music, Black trivia and conversations by decade.
- March 20 - Virtual SBAN Town Hall (recorded)
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SBAN's new co-chairs, Tim Harrison '87 and Nicole O'Dell Odim '88, and the rest of the executive committee introduced themselves, spoke about the future of SBAN, and shared some of our plans for the rest of the year. We used this opportunity to connect with each other and to welcome your ideas and input as we continue to evolve into an organization that uplifts, supports, and celebrates you and the entire Black Swarthmore community. Following the Q&A we broke into breakout rooms by decade.
2020
- June - Alumni Weekend
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While we weren't able to meet in person, many thanks to SBAN's Reunion Planning Committee for organizing a slate of panels and parties!
- March 22 - NMAAHC (Washington, D.C.) - cancelled due to COVID-19
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In collaboration with the Alumni Council, group tickets were secured for a tour and faculty-led discussion through the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Originally scheduled for March 22, 2020 and canceled due to the pandemic.
- March 7 - "Soul of Nation: Art In the Age of Black Power" (San Francisco, CA)
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In collaboration with the Alumni Council, alumni and friends enjoyed a tour of "Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power," curated by Zoe Whitley '01 at the de Young museum. The docent-led tour was cancelled due to the beginning of the pandemic.
2019
- Dec. 16 - Screening of Gideon's Army and panel discussion (New York City, NY)
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SBAN hosted an all-alumni event in New York City focused on prison legal reform. After screening the 2013 documentary Gideon’s Army by filmmaker Dawn Porter ’88, a panel of experts moderated by Professor Keith Reeves ’88 discussed issues of educational access, the importance of voting and language choices, and how to support people who have been incarcerated.
Featured panelists:
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Dr. Keith Reeves '88, moderator
- Dawn Porter '88, filmmaker
- Erin Corbett '99, CEO & founder of Second Chance Education Alliance
- Jarrell Davis, founder of Justice Ambassadors Youth Council Program
- Lucy Lang '03, executive director of the Institute for Innovation in Prosecution at John Jay College
- Seth Steed '01, managing attorney of the Criminal Defense Practice at Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem
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- June 1 - Alumni Weekend
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SASS 50th Anniversary Commemoration
2–3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 1
SBAN cosponsored event. Selections from Minding Swarthmore film, readings from upcoming book, and panel discussion with SASS founders.Black Alumni Reception
9–11 p.m. on Saturday, June 1
2019 Black Alumni Reception in honor of Alumni Weekend at the Black Cultural Center (Robinson House), including a performance of the original members of the acapella singing group Sophisticated Gents.
2018
- Nov. 11 - UnHinGeD (Washington, D.C.)
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Has Washington got you down? Are you suffering from Beltway Blues? Are you feeling UnHinGED?
Hosted by Timothy Harrison '87. - Sept. 14 - "Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power" (New York City, NY)
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Members of the Swarthmore Community celebrated the opening of "Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power" by Zoe Whitley '01.
- June 26 - Summer in the City (New York City, NY)
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A summer evening in the city at the home of Kip Davis '75, featuring special guest Keith Reeves '88
- March 11 - "Front Room" (Baltimore, Md.)
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"Front Room," an exhibition from Njideka Akunyili Crosby '04 at the Baltimore Museum of Art, followed by optional SBAN brunch. Hosted by Nicole O'Dell Odim '88
- March 7 - Changing Lives, Changing the World (Atlanta, Ga.)
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SBAN pre-reception
