Big/Little Sibling Program

The Big/Little Sibling Program is a mentor matching community that is designed to encourage freshmen to take advantage of the large amount of orientation programming, specifically those sponsored by the Black Welcome Week Committee. Each little sibling (freshman) is matched with a big sibling (juniors and seniors). Beyond Welcome Week, the program is designed to enable freshmen to have a smooth transition from high school to college; big siblings expose black freshmen to campus services and resources and acquire tools for academic success. The program is designed to increase membership and involvement in communities of color, specifically those of African descent.

Ujima Retreat

The Ujima Leadership Retreat is part of an ongoing effort to develop a year-long, institutional network for Black student leaders. It has an agenda that is community-oriented and focused on individual development, including leadership and communication styles, mental health and activism. The retreat, scheduled for September 2005, will consist of panelists from several university communities in order to address the leadership gap and issues that affect the Black community on this campus. The series of workshops and facilitated dialogues will contain features that will address identity development, pinpointing the cultural trends that affect our perceptions about working collaboratively. Ujima, in partnership with a concurrently planned Black leadership movement, will provide tangible steps leaders can take to work with their e-boards and general bodies to fulfill their missions, as well as identify and overcome barriers to successful leadership. Date TBA

Culture Show

Scheduled for February 2006 after several years of absence from the University of Michigan, the culture show will touch on the experiences, music and traditions of people of African descent. The committee is currently organizing a narrative and theme for a Black History month presentation (more details to follow).