Lifting Up & Reaching Out
2017: A Year in Review
By Michelle Harton SM ’83, BAMIT Chair
“The struggle continues, and we are up to the challenge.”
It has been the pleasure of the Black Alumni/ae of MIT (BAMIT) Board to serve our membership, our communities, and the world in 2017. We have been very busy this year — and 2018 will be no different. Whether we are working personally, locally, nationally, or globally, the struggle continues.
Resting on our laurels is not an option; we are up to the challenge.
I. BAMIT COMMITTEE UPDATES
We begin this year’s annual Year in Review by highlighting some of the major challenges and successes of BAMIT’s committees.
Admissions Committee
Committee Co-Chairs: Me’lani Joseph ’92 & Elaine Harris ’78
Every year the Admissions Committee solicits alumni support to call the newly admitted Black prospective MIT students. In the past, prospective students “opted-in” for alumni contact. But during the 2016–17 cycle, the MIT Admissions Office asked BAMIT to reach out to all of their Black admitted students.
Over 70 BAMIT volunteers made calls to 152 Black admitted students, our greatest alumni engagement of the past three years. Our BAMIT alums spoke with 48 admitted students who eventually decided to matriculate into MIT.
This year’s MIT class had the highest enrollment of Black women in the history of MIT, with 41 admitted Black women who accepted MIT’s offer of admission. It also boasted the second highest enrollment of total Black students, with that figure at 102 Black students accepting MIT’s offer. (In 2014, 104 Black students enrolled at MIT.)
The Admissions Committee’s efforts have been recognized by the MIT Admissions Office, and discussions are ongoing to identify additional ways that BAMIT can support both future admissions efforts and a smooth transition to freshman life for the admitted students. There has also been some discussion of BAMIT contacting the parents of admitted students.
Special recognition goes to Albert Tervalon ’65, who took the lead in matching BAMIT volunteers to admitted Black MIT students.
The Admissions Committee also met with Stu Schmill, Director of Admissions, and is working to increase the number of engaged BAMIT members as BAMIT builds up our database of potential alumni callers. We are also continuing to keep the recent alumni callers engaged in the process.
The Admissions Committee is asking for BAMIT members to support with admit calls in the spring of 2018. Your volunteer work will occur after MIT letters have gone out to admitted students in February and April of 2018.
If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out this form. Additionally, you can contact Albert Tervalon ’65 by email at a.tervalon@att.net with any questions or concerns.
Advocacy Committee
Committee Chair: Robert Love ‘10
The Advocacy Committee continued shepherding BAMIT’s interests around diversity and inclusion by continuing to have representation (Robert Love ’10) at the MIT Staff Alignment Group meetings, where all recommendations by students, MIT staff, and BAMIT members are reviewed for implementation.
The Advocacy Committee supported our work on the BAMIT Hacking Discrimination Ideathon: Disrupting Racism With Tech, which was recognized by the MIT Alumni Association at the annual MIT Alumni Leadership Conference (ALC) — see below.
The Committee also began working on creating a data dashboard to monitor progress in key areas of interest to BAMIT. We are continuing to explore ways to support diversity and inclusion efforts at MIT, building upon the momentum of recent initiatives.
Governance Committee
Committee Chair: Albert Tervalon ‘65
The Governance Committee updated and revised the BAMIT By-Laws.
After the BAMIT Board elections in August 2017, the Governance Committee also designed and implemented a Board Orientation for new Board members.
Outreach and Engagement Committee
Committee Chair: Gerald Baron ‘85
The Outreach and Engagement Committee continues to:
- Improve the overall well-being of Black MIT students by serving as a bridge between students and BAMIT to help them address the pressures and stresses of Black life at MIT and provide perspectives of life after MIT;
- Investigate avenues of outreach and engagement that will improve the Black experience at MIT; and
- Serve as a unifying force across MIT Black student organizations, Institute offices supporting Black students, and Black faculty.
This year, the BAMIT Outreach and Engagement Committee has been supporting student planning efforts towards the Black Students’ Union 50th Anniversary Celebration (BSU 50), slated for April of 2018 — see below.
Resource Development and Fundraising Committee
Committee Chair: Berdell Knowles ‘94
The Resource Development and Fundraising Committee has continued to develop and promote BAMIT’s innovative partnership with Accenture. Accenture, one of the world’s largest independent providers of technology service, seeks to identify high-potential candidates for positions.
Through BAMIT’s exclusive portal, BAMIT members can submit applications or referrals for career opportunities across a number of Accenture business areas and technical disciplines. Join BAMIT today to take advantage of this amazing opportunity.
Grow your career. Apply or refer a friend today! Click here to visit the portal.
Communications Committee
Committee Chair: Etienne Toussaint ’07
The BAMIT Communications Committee continues to support BAMIT as it seeks to leverage various social media and online platforms to share the work of the organization. The Communications Committee was instrumental in designing and rolling out BAMIT’s new website in 2016. Additionally, the year 2017 saw the continued development of BAMIT’s online storytelling platform — the BAMIT Review.
The committee is currently brainstorming the development of an Instagram account to further member engagement. BAMIT members are also encouraged to plug into the existing network on BAMIT’s private Facebook page and follow BAMIT’s LinkedIn Account. Getting connected is the first step to getting involved.
BAMIT is also soliciting new writers for the BAMIT Review, our digital publication of stories and experiences of the Black alumni and Black student body of MIT.
Please contact Etienne Toussaint ’07 at etienne.toussaint@gmail.com if you are interested in becoming a writer and sharing your story.
II. BAMIT EVENTS
MIT Alumni Leadership Conference Weekend
BAMIT has been working diligently to showcase our expansive work and highlight our commitment to empowering the next generation of Black leaders, innovators, and dreamers at MIT and beyond.
This year, we were widely visible at the MIT Alumni Leadership Conference (ALC) — held on campus September 15-16, 2017 — with BAMIT members being asked to participate in the conference program. Additonally, BAMIT’s innovative work on diversity and inclusion at MIT inspired a dedicated ALC session on the issues.
ALC Panel: Innovating Inclusion
In early 2017, BAMIT members organized the Hacking Discrimination event at MIT, which asserted that “solutions to complex problems related to bias, discrimination, and racism require thoughtful use of technology and an integrated, cross-disciplinary effort from the community.”
Alumni and staff shared innovations in social justice efforts by the MIT community, including on-campus actions, responses to current issues, and scientific efforts in furthering equality and access to resources. The “Hacking Discrimination” presentation can be found here.
Speakers: Elaine Harris ’78; Roger Levy, Associate Professor, MIT Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences; Leo Anthony Celi SM ’09; Danielle Olson ’14; Moana Bentin, Community Manager, Affinity Groups, MIT Alumni Association
[To read more about hacking events planned for March of 2018, scroll down to II. Save the Dates: Hack for Inclusion.]
ALC Panel: Board Games
Speakers provided insider tips for clubs and group boards, including on-boarding, off-boarding, and the process of transitioning volunteers. Under the topic of “effective activities for on-boarding”, BAMIT Chair Michelle Harton SM ’83 was asked to share “True Colors,” an exercise that has become part of BAMIT’s annual Board orientation.
Speakers: Michelle Harton SM ’83; John Cooley ’05, ’07, ENG ’10, PhD ’11; Jim Pollock ’77; Joyce Wang ’12.
Alumni Recognition: Volunteer Leadership Awards
Thanks to the BAMIT Nominations Committee, the following BAMIT members were honored at the ALC Banquet held by the MIT Alumni Association on the evening of Friday, 14 September 2017.
James S. Banks ‘76 — Bronze Beaver Award, “the highest honor the [MIT Alumni] Association can bestow upon any alumni volunteer”
Michelle Harton SM ’83 — Harold E. Lobdell ’17 Distinguished Service Award in recognition of “service to the Alumni Association and MIT that is of significant depth over a sustained period”
Yolanda “Jinx” Hinton ‘77 — George B. Morgan ’20 Award, in recognition of “ongoing excellence in all aspects of Educational Council activity”
BAMIT Annual Meeting
At our Annual Meeting we gave an update on the status of BAMIT and shared the 2017 BAMIT Annual Report.
Photos by Ernest Cohen ’64 of the meeting can be found here.
Annual Black Family Gathering
BAMIT members met with Black students in the BSU Lounge to share a meal and talk about life at MIT. The Annual Black Family Gathering is an informal event where we can learn about what Black life is like these days and what we can do to support MIT students and staff.
Photos by Ernest Cohen ’64 of the meeting can be found here.
Black Graduate Celebration
Team Lead: Marc Graham ’95, SM ’97, PhD ’06
On April 17, we held our annual Black Graduate Celebration (BGC). This year’s theme was “V/I: The Resistance”.
BAMIT distributed Kente stoles to nearly 50 graduates. We were also honored to have our BAMIT legends assist in presenting the stoles: Wesley L. Harris; James H. Williams, Jr. ’67, SM ’68; Ernie Cohen ’64; Kristala Jones Prather ’94; and Linda Sharpe ‘69.
The evening included a keynote by Honorable Judge Dr. Leslye Miller Fraser ’78, SM ’80 (Course X). Using keen mother wit and her professional experiences in engineering and law, Dr. Fraser shared rules for finding balance and success in one’s life. Her message was filled with a profound wisdom that touched students, graduates, newly admitted Black students, and everyone else present.
This year we added a new component to the BGC by asking three students to share their reflections on their time at MIT and any wisdom gleaned from their experiences. Representing the Black Students’ Union (BSU) were Itoro Atakpa ’17 (Course IIA) and Ebenezer Kwate ’17 (Course VI-II); representing the Black Graduate Students’ Union (BGSA) was Ronald Martin ’17 (Course IV: Art, Culture & Technology; graduate fellow with the MIT Black History Project). These students did a fabulous job sharing their experiences at the Institute and insights on what comes next after MIT.
Special thanks goes to MIT President Rafael Reif for providing a letter celebrating our graduates; to Judy Cole, Executive Vice President of the MIT Alumni Association; and to Vice President Kirk Kolenbrander for providing remarks.
In addition, a special thanks to Marc Graham ’95, SM ’97, PhD ’06 of BAMIT for his extraordinary organizing efforts; to the MIT Alumni Association team that supported the event, especially our liaison Moana Bentin; and to all the dedicated volunteers who helped make the 2017 Black Graduate Celebration a success.
Clinton Blackburn ’08 captured lively images of the event, which you can view on his website.
Ebony Affair
The Ebony Affair, held on the evening of April 18, was organized by students and co-sponsored by BAMIT. The keynote speaker was Valerie Jarrett, former Senior Advisor to President Obama and great-granddaughter of MIT’s first black graduate, Robert R. Taylor (MIT Class of 1892).
Valerie Jarrett shared her remarkable story. From her days growing up in Iran and arrival to America, to her stint in Chicago working for Mayor Harold Washington and hiring Michelle Robinson (Obama). Jarrett also reflected on her time as Senior Advisor to President Obama and the work they were able to accomplish in spite of so many obstacles.
Persevering and staying focused on the goal, while working for the betterment of our nation —Jarrett’s message gave students and all present words to live by.
Also present at the Ebony Affair were BAMIT legends Kenneth Armstead SB/SM ’78, SM ’82 (BAMIT’s first president), Rosita Parker ’75, SM ’76 (BAMIT’s first treasurer and current Board member), and Linda Sharpe ’69 (one of the founders of the Black Students’ Union).
In her remarks that evening, Linda Sharpe detailed the history of the Black Students’ Union and MIT. Armstead, Parker, and Sharpe —these three great people continue to make long-lasting contributions to BAMIT and to MIT, having built organizations that years later are still viable and vibrant, and will continue to be so.
III. SAVE THE DATES
Black Students’ Union 50th Anniversary Reunion
We are excited to announce the 50th anniversary reunion of the Black Students’ Union at MIT. There are many activities that are being planned for 2018 in Cambridge, MA to celebrate this momentous occasion.
Have you ever served as a BSU Co-Chair, or do you know someone who was a BSU Co-Chair during their time at MIT? BAMIT and the MIT BSU are developing a “MIT BSU Co-Chair” panel discussion for 2018. We are currently recruiting previous BSU Co-Chairs to participate and share their perspective on the evolution of the MIT BSU through the years.
Some possible topics of discussion include: What were the hot issues of your time; How were they addressed by the student body; What has changed for the Black community at MIT; What has remained the same?
If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Gerry Baron ’85 at gerry_baron@alum.mit.edu. We will keep you informed as plans develop.
SAVE THE DATES:
February 24, 2018
Kick-Off Panel Discussion on STEM activities
Concert by Marcus Thompson (Institute Professor and inaugural 1995 Robert R. Taylor Professor of Music)
This event will mark the 50th anniversary of violist Marcus Thompson’s debut recital.
April 20–22, 2018
Ebony Affair & Black Graduate Celebration (BGC)
Please direct all questions about the 2018 Ebony Affair & BGC to Anthony Rolland ‘19 at rolland@mit.edu.
November 1–4, 2018
Crowning Event
A capstone “crowning” event is being planned for November 2018 to round out the year of events dedicated to celebrating the legacy of the MIT BSU.
Hack for Inclusion
SAVE THE DATES:
March 9–10, 2018
Organizers from last year’s Breaking the Mold and Hacking Discrimination events, including MIT Sloan students, are partnering to create a hackathon event to combat unconscious bias, and have a greater impact on students, businesses and communities.
The event organizers are looking for people from all disciplines and backgrounds — students, academics, professionals, entrepreneurs, and community members. No hackathon experience required! So mark your calendars and come out to help build solutions.
Ready to hack? Learn more at www.mitbreakingthemold.com
As you see, we have been very busy — 2018 will be no different and numerous challenges remain. Whether nationally or locally, what needs to be done increases with every “tweet”. But I am encouraged. The struggle continues, and we are up to the challenge.
The race for Senator in Alabama, for instance, was an important one. We are reminded of what can happen when we remain determined to make a difference. I recently asked several relatives who live in Alabama, “What is going on down there?”(Being from Tennessee, I also understand that “down there” extends beyond Alabama.)
On that Tuesday, my mother-in- law, who is 92 years young, got up and called her friends to see who needed a ride to the polls. So, at 92, she was taking people to vote. And look how the elections turned out, a vote in favor of morals and justice. At any age, at any stage of life, never give up, never give in. My faith says, “God is able.”
It has been the pleasure of our Board to serve you this year. Thank you for your continued support. We can because you do. We pray for you to have wonderful holidays, enjoy time with family and friends, and wish you continued success in the new year.
To quote Charles Dicken’s Tiny Tim, “God bless us, Every One.”
Caring deeply for you and yours, most sincerely,
Michelle Harton SM '83
BAMIT National Chairperson
Michelle Harton SM ’83 earned a Bachelor of Science from Tennessee State University and an SMEE from MIT, both in Electrical Engineering. She also holds a Masters in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University. After over 25 years in Speech Telephony research at Motorola, Harton became a dedicated math educator in the Chicago Public Schools. She is co-founder of the Math Academy for African-American students. Her honors include: a 2001 Motorola CEO for Volunteerism Award; a 2007 MIT MLK Leadership Award — won alongside her husband and fellow MIT alum Austin Harton ’78, SM ’79, PhD ’88 — and a 2017 MIT Alumni Association Harold E. Lobdell ’17 Distinguished Service Award. The Hartons are also proud parents of MIT alumnae Renee Harton ’07 (Course VIII: Physics) and Marie Harton ’10 (Course V: Chemistry).
