ForeverFAB: Where it all began...

Me as "Social Activities Director" & former Umoja president Brenda Douyon
(I later served as VP and President in subsequent years)

Anyone who knew me in college, if they knew nothing else about me, would probably know most of my spare time throughout the entire 4 years was primarily devoted to "Umoja". Umoja is Boston University's Black Student Union and from the time I stepped foot onto campus it quickly became home.

One of my greatest successes in the realm of college events was Umoja's 2008 Kwanzaa Dinner, which was held in December of that year in the University's Trustee Ballroom. At the time, no other students were allowed to host events in that location but with the support of our Dean of Students, I made it happen. It was a night of elegance, togetherness, and an overall good time in which we were able to reflect African American tradition through cultured experience. The event featured 150 students, alumni, faculty, and administrators, in addition to African Dancers, the Soulstice Dance Team, Inner Strength Gospel Choir, a soul food dinner, and Dean Elmore as keynote speaker. This one definitely goes down in my records as one of my most noteworthy accomplishments!

For me, having to adjust to a campus that wasn't nearly as diverse as that of my high school was not so difficult a transition as it was a motivating one. I was very quickly captivated by everything Umoja stood for; Unity (lit. Umoja = Unity in Swahili), a sense of belonging on campus, a means of social interaction, a sense of empowerment. These aims helped foster my interest in being that person behind some of the campus' most notable and well-attended events.

[Examples of other Umoja events]

Educational Panel (2011)

Annual Back to School BBQ (2010)

Talent Show (2010)