Many from the Yale Black alumni community, including former and current leaders of the Yale Black Alumni Association (YBAA), recently returned to campus to reconnect and commemorate the 55th anniversary of the Afro-American Cultural Center at Yale (AFAM, or more affectionately known as The House).
The AFAM55 three-day event, with the theme A House Built to Last: Celebrating Our Past While Planning for a Sustainable Future, encompassed a host of programs and activities, from alumni-student panels and faculty presentations, to special exhibits and tours, to an awards gala that honored several alumni, including acclaimed actress Angela Bassett ’80, ’83 MFA, ’18 DFA and retired Brigadier General Enoch “Woody” Woodhouse II ’52, a World War II veteran and one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen.
For some, returning to campus for the anniversary event was particularly meaningful.
“This was a chance to visit a place that has been my home away from home for over 40 years,” said Sheryl Carter Negash ’82, who served as a co-chair of AFAM55.
“Spending time with friends who I have known since my first year on campus, as well as with friends who I have met in alumni land and with young alumni and current students, fed my soul—I am grateful to be part of this amazing community and am reminded that nothing is impossible when we bring our strengths, gifts, and talents together.”
An active volunteer leader who has been engaged with multiple alumni groups and initiatives since graduation, and the recipient of the Yale Medal, Negash encouraged those attending AFAM55 to consider how their time and talent can contribute to the betterment of Yale and beyond.
“From reflecting on our history and appreciating our present, I hope alumni were able to put their heads together to strategize ways to create a kinder, more just world going forward,” she said. “I hope they take that focus with them and allow the experience to inform their contributions to their communities at home.”
According to Ralph Dawson ’71, who as a Yale undergraduate led the Black Student Alliance at Yale and played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Afro-American Cultural Center and Yale’s African American Studies major, AFAM55 provided the opportunity to reflect on the challenges and opportunities that he encountered during his student days and what the current generation of students are experiencing.
“Being here recharged my internal batteries and my belief that we as a people and the nation as a whole can overcome the tremendous obstacles that we now face,” he said. “It is a reminder that progress is often two steps forward followed by steps backward or sideways, a reminder that we have been subjected to worse, and survived.”
Dawson urged students to make the most of their time at Yale.
“The college years are the time when they can absorb and expose themselves to the widest variety of things that may not be available later in life,” he said. “I believe that the most valuable aspect of Yale, though, lies in interacting with other students from everywhere, every race, and every socio-economic background—these interactions are what prepare you to be effective leaders in the nation and world of the future.”
Accordingly, he urged alumni to be mindful of using their gifts and talents to serve society and assist those following in their footsteps.
“I hope they saw who we have become individually and collectively, and the potential contributions that we are poised to make in the future. They should have emerged with a well-founded confidence that Yale continues to produce outstanding leaders, and that they should encourage talented people to choose to come to Yale.”
C’Ardiss “CC” Gardner Gleser ’08, who served on the inaugural board of YBAA and later as the national president, along with senior leadership positions in other alumni groups and initiatives, shared the special meaning that returning to Yale for AFAM55 held for her.
“It reinvigorated my sense of purpose and connection to Yale, highlighting the enduring impact of our shared experiences and aspirations,” she said. “It was a vibrant reminder of the rich cultural and communal ties that bind us.”
Gardner Gleser echoed the ongoing need for members of the Black alumni community to come together and support one another, including future alumni.
“Meeting so many passionate alumni from different generations reinforced my commitment to stay involved and support initiatives that enhance our network and help current students,” she said. “I hope everyone will engage more deeply with Yale and each other, fostering new collaborations and friendships.”
Likewise, she encouraged students not to wait to reach out to those who came before them.
“Engage with alumni whenever possible! We are resources who can offer guidance, opportunities, and insights that are not readily available in classrooms—make the most of events like AFAM55 to build your network, seek mentorship, and discover pathways for your own journey beyond Yale.”
Ivuoma “Ivy” Onyeador ’11, who has attended every AFAM anniversary since her junior year as a student, attested to the value of returning to campus and reaffirming the distinctive connections and affinity that alumni have for Yale.
“It is invaluable to stay connected and to reconnect every five years,” she said. “It is so gratifying to be with both our predecessors and successors and see the thread that links us across generations and that the commitment and love we poured into and received from the House community spreads to our spheres of influence as we pursue our life paths.”
She added that gatherings like AFAM55 play an important role in galvanizing alumni toward purposeful action.
“There is a lot of energy to be harnessed! I look forward to seeing how this energy can be directed to bolster institutions like the House and its resident groups, Black Studies, and the Yale Black Alumni Association.”
Recognizing the particular challenges that current students face, Onyeador offered a heartening message.
“Keep the faith,” she said. “Our predecessors built the House through activism, courage, moral clarity, and strategy. As a result of their efforts and the love that has been poured into the House for decades, the community has stood the test of time. Despite the many challenges, the light and truth of the House and its community remain.”
Jennifer Madar ’88, chair of the Yale Alumni Association Board of Governors, noted how impressed she was with the excitement and thoughtfulness that she witnessed at AFAM55.
“So much of the energy came from younger folks who embrace the work of those who came before them while also building on that work in truly innovative ways,” she said. “A really nice mix of respecting one’s elders while adapting for the present and future.”
Madar lauded the welcoming atmosphere and inclusiveness of the event.
“As the immigrant daughter of a Barbadian mother and Nigerian father, I very much appreciated and enjoyed the celebration of all members of the African diaspora, regardless of their origin story,” she said. “This event is a confirmation and reinforcement of the fact that ours is a truly vibrant community, made all the richer and stronger by both our similarities and differences.”
She emphasized that the strength of the alumni and student community was grounded in unity, trust, and support.
“Be there for one another now and be there for future students after you graduate—don’t ever feel you need to go it alone, and don’t let others go it alone, either.”
All photos provided by Henry Kwan ’05 MA
