Hello Fellow Alumni,

2011 began with a slight change in leadership and a renewed sense of purpose. Our 2010 President Christopher Vaughn stepped down and I stepped up to fill the vacency. While our resources are limited our passion and committment are not.

Our activities for the year began with our Networking Social on January 21st. Approximately 15 people attended. We met at FlatTop Grill on Washington where we stir fried our imagination, renewed friendships, and developed new connections.

As 2011 continues we're looking forward to an active and productive year. This year we have numerous activities including the 21st Annual Blues Cabaret with Byther Smith and UIC Black History Makers 2011 Reception which occured in February; the 2011 African American and Latino Research Forum and Spoken Word and Alumni Mingle which occured in April; and the African American Academic Network's 2011 Convocation and our annual Alumni Night at the Races which will occur in the upcoming months. We're also hoping to plan an Bingo event and possible an alumni barbeque. Some of these activities are spearheaded by BAAC and others will be coorporative efforts to connect with the campus and community events.

You are invited to join us throughout the year. In addition to attending meetings and activities, feel free to step up and plan your own activities. We're happy to work with you to make it a reality, just keep in mind that we have very limited financial resources. Also if you know of an activity, job posting, or resource that may be beneficial to Black Alumni, feel free to inform us at baac@uicalumni.org. We want to make this website a dynamic resource for the UIC Black community.

One way that you can make 2011 our best yeat yet, is to assist with a committee that meets your skills and interests, descriptions of our committees may be found under our About Us section. Please emails us at baac@uicalumni.org or join us at an upcoming meeting and we'll move forward from there.

Of course you are always welcome to contact me directly at president@uicbaac.org. I look forward to working with YOU, yes you, as we make 2011 one of the most dynmaic for the UIC Black Alumni Advisory Council.

Best regards,

Katherine A Battee-Freeman (Kathyy)
2011-2012 President
UIC Black Alumni Advisory Council