From the Nominator

The Inman Page Black Alumni Council and Brown University staff strengthened our collaboration as we planned Brown’s 5th Black Alumni Reunion. This year, for sustainability and efficiency, we established a long-term reunion-program and committee-planning structure. The reunion focused on the evolution of the Black experience at Brown, community building, and celebrating the community's creativity and agency. Programming deeply resonated with the alumni community, and this reunion shattered previous attendance and fundraising records, with 1,163 attendees and $538,829 raised. The themes of (Re)claim, (Re)imagine, and (Re)connect permeated the 25-event lineup. All Black students were invited for the first time, and special programming was aimed at fostering connections between students and alumni. The reunion also honored the history of the Black community at Brown, something that alumni have been deeply involved in; the “Building a Bridge Back to Brown” exhibition and oral history project was a special initiative developed for this event. And because Black alumni have deep connections to Brown's creative arts programs, events throughout the weekend spotlighted the artistic endeavors of alumni and faculty. Finally, the reunion hosted a plenary session on the impact of the Supreme Court ruling on race in admissions. The reunion deepened black alumni’s connections to the Brown community. As one attendee shared, “Being back on campus with friends and fellow alumni reignited my connection to and love for Brown.”

From the Judges

Brown University's commitment to making their alumni events financially accessible is commendable and positions them as leaders in defining inclusivity and accessibility standards. By offering unique experiences that encouraged greater participation, they fostered more buy-in from their alumni community. Additionally, their clear branding and messaging helped to pull the event together cohesively, enhancing the overall experience.