ABC INSTITUTE

 

PURPOSE

  • Meet the Black student leaders in the 2024-25 ABC Central Committee. Leaders join us from across the state of California and Las Vegas.

  • Learn more about ABC Institute’s 2024-25 program schedule.

  • Due to the generosity of our funding partners, ABCI is provided to BSU Presidents within the Afrikan Black Coalition at no charge.

The Afrikan Black Coalition Institute (ABCI) is a program uniquely dedicated to training and developing Black student organizational leaders on college campuses.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The ABC Institute caters exclusively to Black Student Union Presidents who are part of member campuses within the Afrikan Black Coalition. This institute offers a year-long fellowship program tailored to BSU leaders. This program centers the origins of BSUs, explores the history of the Afrikan/Black movement, fosters coalition building, and bridges the gap between theory and practice. The primary objective of ABCI is to cultivate proactive, self-disciplined, and socially conscious BSU leaders who can effectively engage within universities, communities, and various organizations. Learn more about the ABC Institute’s 2024-2025 program schedule.

“Drawing inspiration from teacher residency programs, which intentionally recruit, coach, mentor, and place aspiring educators on a trajectory to become highly effective teachers in school districts predominantly serving Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities, ABC takes a similar approach for aspiring Black leaders. We develop and train current Black student leaders by equipping them with the skills, voice, and platform necessary to foster community and drive change on their college campuses. Our ultimate goal is to cultivate and invest in the next generation of Black leadership and develop leaders who are committed to improving the material conditions of all Black and oppressed people worldwide across various sectors of society.”
— Dr. Ma'Ronda X, Executive Director

PROGRAM meeting DETAILS

The ABC Institute consists of ten months of in-person gatherings, virtual sessions, community-building retreats, executive lunches, and one-on-one coaching.

Statewide Sessions (Virtual)

Our State of the Union calls serve as our statewide sessions that include all BSU Presidents. Sessions are hosted virtually at 6:00 pm PT on the third Wednesday of each month, lasting approximately 75-90 minutes. Sessions will center around essential topics that assist leaders in identifying and implementing innovative strategies for building power and fostering community.

Regional Gatherings (In-Person)

Regional convenings offer presidents the chance to strengthen their networks and connections within their specific regions (Northern California, Central California, and Southern California). During these gatherings, they participate in team-building exercises, power-building discussions, and cross-campus collaboration.

  • Black Student Leadership Training (BSLT):

    • Northern California

    • Central California

    • Southern California

  • Camp Uhuru:

    • Oakland, California

    • Los Angeles, California

Overnight Retreats

Chair’s Retreat: The Chair’s Retreat will occur from August 30-September 1, 2024.

End of the Year Retreat: The End of the Year Retreat is scheduled for April 2025 in Sacramento, California, coinciding with our Black Student Advocacy Day programming.

Executive Lunches

Depending on available resources, a semiannual executive lunch will be held in Oakland, Los Angeles, or virtually. This provides leaders with an opportunity for professional development, networking, asking questions, or engaging in informal discussions with community leaders, activists, executives, and/or high-ranking professionals.

*Dates are subject to change*