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With food, music and a game of Family Feud promoted, the Umoja Community’s Black Excellence Meet and Greet at City College promised to be a great time for attendees.
The Umoja Community is a program that seeks to assist African American students with succeeding in school, as well as support them in transferring to four-year colleges.
Students attending the Feb. 13 event in the MS building were greeted in the lobby with tables of food from Popeye’s, macaroni and cheese and biscuits to enjoy prior to the event’s official start.
Not far from where the food was being served was Umoja Vice President Melvin Emery, greeting attendees as they entered the event.
“The Umoja club is essentially fostering a community for black excellence and retention so students can still stay in school, [and] it offers a learning space with the Student Success Center and learning curriculum,” Emery, a cyber security and defense major, said.
Mathematics professor Dr. Roberto Rubalcaba DJ’d in the main room hosting the event, as attendees quickly filled the available seating.
City College President Ricky Shabazz attended the event and spoke about the value of diversity on campus before giving out books to a select few attendees, and a MacBook laptop for one lucky student in attendance.
Shabazz also welcomed City College alum and former Umoja club president Mariah Jameson to speak briefly to attendees.
This moment proved especially impactful as Jameson was recently elected onto the San Diego City College District’s Board of Trustees this past November, making her the first black woman elected in said position.
“I want you to see yourself in me as I see myself in you,” Jameson said. “Today is about learning. It’s about building a network that celebrates who we are and all the incredible things that we aim to achieve, and will continue to achieve, as black folk.”
A game of Family Feud followed the guest speakers and was hosted by 21-year-old Na’Dia Raines who took on the role of Steve Harvey, complete with a bald cap and mustache.
The questions revolved around black history, such as, “What major historical event marked the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement?”
Students were given shirts and books for participating in the two rounds played, regardless of the game’s results.
In honor of Black History Month, the Umoja club plans on holding several events throughout February, such as an open mic night on Feb. 26, at the Black Box Theatre on campus.
“We also have Black Film Fridays from 6 to 8:30 p.m.,” Emery said. “We’ll have it in [MS] 162.”
