6th Annual Black Alumni Weekend 2026 - Virtual and In Person
The Society of Black Alumni invites you to join other alumni, students, and friends for this year's Black Alumni Weekend Program. Everyone is welcome and we hope you'll participate in one or more of the programs offered this year, virtually and in person. Check out the programs below. We hope to see you in September!
Saturday, September 12th
2:00 - 6:00 PM
8th Annual Jazz in the Square Concert
Billie Holiday Center for Liberation Arts
Kick-off the celebration with the Billie Holiday Center for Liberation Arts for their annual Jazz in the Square concert. A community-focused event featuring acclaimed musicians and vocalists in the historical Lafayette Square Park.
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/8th-annual-billie-holiday-jazz-in-the-square-concert-tickets-1993488322235
Monday, September 14th
6:00 - 7:30 PM
Virtual
Society of Black Alumni Health Equity Discussion Group
Join the Health Equity Discussion Group for a virtual dialogue. Dr. Jack Needleman, of the Department of Health Policy and Management at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Fielding School of Public Health will share his research and examine the challenges and opportunities of minority-serving hospitals and their evaluation.
Tuesday, September 15th
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Re-Reading the News: The Baltimore Orphan Girl Who Changed a Nation
Presented in partnership with John Hopkins Society of Black Alumni, Sheridan Libraries, and the Graduate Film & Media Program, this Afro Charities' signature program will feature acclaimed historian Dr. Martha S. Jones, Society of Black Alumni Presidential Professor, whose pioneering research traces the journey of Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, while uncovering the history of the Johns Hopkins Colored Orphans Asylum, an institution that cared for Black children in Baltimore for nearly forty years.
Together, these intertwined stories reveal how one woman's life and one institution's legacy offer a deeper understanding of Baltimore's past and its lasting influence on the nation. Guests will also enjoy an exclusive preview of the forthcoming documentary "Hard Histories", which explores this incredible story.
Wednesday, September 16th
6:00 - 8:00 PM
4th Annual Society of Black Alumni & Future Fest
This annual Future Fest and SOBA gathering is more than a conversation about careers. Come together with other alumni and current students to cultivate community and learn from one another, through a dynamic moderated alumni panel of candid storytelling and small group discussion. Explore what it truly takes to thrive, navigate uncertainty, build authentic connections, and grow through adversity.
Friday, September 18th
4:00 - 8:00 PM
Society of Black Alumni Black & Blue Social
Cap off the week's celebration with Society of Black Alumni's traditional Black & Blue Social hosted at Shanklin Hall 2325, a DC cornerstone social and cultural club. Keep the energy going with alumni, students, and friends with light fare and drinks, connection making, and music.
*The Alumni Association strives to make our events and activities as inclusive and equitable as possible. Please reach out to Amel Jones if there are financial barriers to your participation, and we will do our best to assist you.
