Umoja Celebration Seeking Volunteers

Illinois State University's Umoja: Celebration of Black Graduates is looking for faculty and staff volunteers.

The event, a pre-commencement celebration, will be at 7 p.m. May 7, in the Center for Performing Arts. Umoja honors African American and other students of color who have successfully completed undergraduate and graduate degrees from Illinois State in 2015. Primarily, Umoja seeks to create a unique and culturally rich space that celebrates the successful completion of degrees to graduates with the support of their families, faculty and staff.

“Umoja serves as a unifying symbol of perseverance in the recognition of a shared sociocultural, political, and educational history,” said Pamela Hoff, a member of the steering committee.

The event is free and open to the university and surrounding Bloomington-Normal community. All are welcome. The theme for Umoja 2015 is Sankofa: Lifting as WE Climb.