The Black Community Services Center

Over a 30 year span, our student population has grown and their needs have changed. Currently the BCSC provides academic advising and support, leadership development and training for approximately 25 Black Volunteer Student Organizations (BVSOs). The BCSC supports the African American Staff Group (AASG), community service outreach, and various cultural and educational programs.

Cultural Organizations

Black Student Union (BSU) - Stanford’s Black Student Union (BSU) is a social, cultural, and political organization primarily concerned with the continual improvement of life for Black students at Stanford. Originally founded in 1967, the BSU has been instrumental in spurring many imaginative changes in the Black community.
Candace Jones, Co-President candacej@stanford.edu
Girmay Zahilay, Co-President girmay@stanford.edu

Stanford African Students Association (SASA) - Stanford African Students Association (SASA) was founded in 1979 to foster unity among African students and to create awareness in the Stanford community of issues related to Africa.
Eugene Adogla, President eadogla@stanford.edu
Hileena Eshetu, Vice-President hileshet@stanford.edu

Caribbean Students Association (CSA) - The Caribbean Students Association (CSA) was revived on Stanford’s campus in 1991. CSA has embarked on an educational campaign to foster awareness and involvement in Caribbean affairs.
Valerie Bellande, Co-President valerieb@stanford.edu
Kimberly Mckinson, Co-President kimmck88@stanford.edu

Stanford Ethiopian Student Union (SESU) - The objective of SESU is to collect and disseminate information about Ethiopian history, culture, and politics in order to increase awareness about Ethiopia.
Harya Tarekegn, President haryat@stanford.edu

Nigerian Students Association (NAIJA) - NAIJA seeks to educate and celebrate the deep beauty of Nigeria's diverse culture and heritage to fellow Stanford students and neighboring communities.
Patrick Emelife, President pemelife@stanford.edu

Akwaaba - The goal of Akwaaba is enlighten the Stanford community about the rich heritage, culture, and current state (e.g. political and social climate) of Ghana.

Support Organizations

Black Recruitment Orientation Committee (BROC) - Established in 1976 as a committee of the Black Student Union, the Black Recruitment Orientation Committee (BROC) introduces prospective and incoming Black students to faculty, staff and students.
Kike Aluko, Co-Coordinador kcaluko@stanford.edu
Alexia Charles, Co-Coordinador alexiac@stanford.edu
Nthando Thandiwe, Co-Coordinator nthandot@stanford.edu

Black and Queer at Stanford (BlaQS) - Black and Queer at Stanford (BlaQS) is a support organization dedicated to the affirmation and advancement of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, questioning, and queer identified Black students, faculty, and staff at Stanford University.
Cory Quinn, Co-President cory.quinn@stanford.edu
Jay-Marie Hill, Co-President jhill55@stanford.edu

Black Men's Forum (BMF) - The Black Men's Forum is an organization started in recognition of a need for an inclusive, meaningful, and structured network of Black male students on Stanford's campus. The goal is to establish and foster a sense of unity, strength, and love among Black males and to direct it towards uplifting the community at large. It also aims to foster positive relationships for black men with others, to develop and highlight the leadership of black men in their communities, and to engage and affect the lives of others beyond the boundaries of Stanford's campus. Through the implementation of community service efforts, the BMF seeks to insure that the strengths, talents and experiences of Stanford black men are reinvested back into the community. Lastly, it seeks to both provide for the professional, academic and personal success of black men at Stanford and to intellectually engage the broad range of issues facing black men and boys.

Andrew Levette, Co-President alevette@stanford.edu
Marcus McLaughlin, Co-President marcusmc@stanford.edu

Sisters at Stanford Speak! (SASS) - Ruby Garret, Conact rubyg1@stanford.edu

Political Organizations

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) - The Stanford NAACP focuses on spreading political and cultural awareness throughout all communities, not just minority communities. This is done through such activities as voter registration and education drives, distributing information about the stances of candidates in impending elections, sponsoring lectures and other campus events.
Sheila Ongware, President osheilao@stanford.edu

Performing Arts Organizations

Kuumba Dance Ensemble - The Kuumba Dance Ensemble was created in the 1970's by a group of energetic students who wished to perform traditional African, African-American, and jazz dance as a small ensemble. They received the support from the Committee on Black Performing Arts to create their own student-operated group.
Erin Falker, Co-President benamay@stanford.edu
Victoria Kennedy, Co-President vkennedy@stanford.edu

JAM PAC'D - Before JAM PAC'D, there was no outlet for Black or Urban Jazz dance at Stanford. The jazz classes in the Dance Department weren't geared towards an African American style of dance, and Kuumba was strictly African...
Wade Ray, Co-Director wiray@stanford.edu
Chad David, Co-Director chad116@stanford.edu

Stanford Gospel Choir (SGC) - The Stanford Gospel Choir is a biblically based organization whose purpose is to minister through various forms of gospel music. The Stanford Gospel Choir has been bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ through song to the Stanford community and surrounding Bay Area since 1978. Though this unique cultural ministry of gospel music is deeply rooted in the African American tradition, the choir includes a diverse group of believers from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The SGC is open to all students, staff, and faculty with no membership requirements or try-outs.
Tiana Seymore, Co-President dreamyj@stanford.edu
Michelle Park, Co-President sgbent3@stanford.edu

Catch a Fiyah - Catch A Fyah is Stanford’s first and only Caribbean dance group that brings a unique style, energy and flavor to the dance culture at Stanford University. It was founded in 2006 by Kamila McDonald and Shakisha Oconner with the mission to educate the Stanford community about the rich and exciting culture of the Caribbean through the art of dance and music. Catch A Fyah places an emphasis on producing unique and vibrant performances with surprising choreography and colorful costumes, saturated with Caribbean flavor. Check them out because it will be the closest you will ever get to being in the Caribbean here on campus. One Luv.
Kamila McDonald, Director kamila@stanford.edu

Stanford Steppers - The Stanford Steppers is a performance group comprised of undergraduate students at Stanford. The team was founded by two students in October of 1998, with the goal of perfecting the unique African-American art of stepping.
Alexia Charles, Co-Director alexiac@stanford.edu
Vivian Wang, Co-Director vywang@stanford.edu

Black Greek Letter Organizations

African-American Fraternal & Sororal Associaton (AAFSA) - The African-American Fraternal & Sororal Association (AAFSA) is the governing body of the historically Black Greek Letter Organizations at Stanford. It is an opportunity for the various members to come together to create a yearly program schedule while serving as an open forum for collaboration.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Xi Beta Chapter - In 1908, at Howard University in Washington D. C., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority became the first organization of its kind established by and for Black women, providing emotional, intellectual, and social support for college women. Ninety years later, the tradition continues and has expanded.
Marissa Mcgee, President marissa.mcgee@stanford.edu

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Nu Sigma Chapter - On the Stanford campus the Nu Sigma chapter was founded in 1978. It continues the national tradition of tight fraternal bonds, ground-breaking innovation, and service to the African-American community and humankind as a whole. The chapter brothers can frequently be seen together throughout campus - at cultural events, parties and community service events.
Obinna Emenike, President obiem@stanford.edu

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Omicron Chi Chapter - The Omicron Chi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was chartered in 1983. It is a city-wide chapter encompassing women from Stanford University, Santa Clara University, and the College of Notre Dame. Since Omicron Chi's inception, the women of the chapter have involved themselves in projects that help empower and uplift the African American community.
Brittany Clark, President bdclark@stanford.edu

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Lambda Nu Chapter - Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. was founded on the evening of January 5, 1911 by ten Black men on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. The organization fosters brotherhood among Black men on a hostile white college campus, and encourages honorable achievement among members.
Peter Griffin, President pgriff@stanford.edu

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Alpha Mu Chapter - The brothers of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc the seek to uphold the fraternity's cardinal principles of Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift, through community service and involvement, in an effort to bring about the betterment of the Black community.
Darren Moore, President biggen15@stanford.edu

Pre-Professional Organizations

Society of Black Scientists and Engineers (SBSE) - SBSE has continued a long tradition of programs on Stanford's campus geared towards the successful recruitment, retention, and graduation of talented and enthusiastic Black scientists and engineers. Some of these programs include college tutorial sessions, and weekly "Study Jams".
Mike Woodward, President cmikew@stanford.edu

Black Psychology Student Association - The Stanford Psychology Association (BPSA) provides an academic network of Professors who provide mentorship to students who pursue psychological studies/interests issues that pertain to African Americans.
Aaron Jackson, President atj87@stanford.edu

Stanford Black Pre-Business Society (BPBS) - The Stanford Black Pre-Business Society (BPBS) is concerned with the issues of Blacks in the business world. BPBS seeks to enhance the political, cultural and social awareness of its members surrounding the relationship between the business world and the Black community.
Deron Brown, Co-President ricnored@stanford.edu
Rachael Menson, Co-President rachtm@stanford.edu

Stanford Black Pre-Medical Society (SBPO) - The Black Pre-Medical Organization (SBPO) was founded in 1971 by a group of African-American students facing similar difficulties in pre-med classes. Subsequently, they developed a study group and found strength in their unity, which has improved their academic performance.
Asha Morrow, President atm4@stanford.edu

Black Pre-Law Society (BPLS) - The Black Pre-Law Society's (BPLS) purpose is to assist Black students in their preparation for legal careers and to provide valuable educational and social services to the Black community as a whole.
Ashley Anderson, President schic101@stanford.edu

Black Society of Sociology Students (BSOSS) - The Black Society of Sociology Students was founded in 2007 as an organization which seeks to embrace and highlight the diverse population of Sociology students at Stanford. We would also like to spread awareness of the advantages that the major has to offer all students.
Cherrie Randle, President ckrandle@stanford.edu
Akima Edwards, President akima@stanford.edu

Publications

En!gma - En!gma is a literary publication, widely known as "Stanford's Journal of Black Expression," sponsored by the Black Community Services Center. En!gma features a mixture of poetry, short stories and artwork from Stanford's talented students.

Real News - The Real News is a political, social, and cultural newspaper. It also serves as an international source for the Black community at Stanford, the general Stanford community, and peoples throughout the world...
Ryann Blackshere, Chief Editor ryannb@stanford.edu

Soul Sistah Magazine - Soul Sistah Magazine provides a literary outlet for a forum in which the spiritual aspects of life can be expressed along with racial, sexual and identity issues.

Graduate Student Organizations

Black Graduate Students Association (BGSA) - BGSA traditionally supports the continued academic excellence of Black graduate students at Stanford through a variety of praised and highly effective forums, such as the Ph.D. Forum, Journeys and Visible Men. BGSA is programming explores the complex meaning of Blackness.
Donna Winston, President dwinston@stanford.edu

Black Business Students Association (BBSA) - The mission of the Black Business Student's Association (BBSA) is to promote diversity and cultural enrichment at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business (GSB); to assist in the development of Black business professionals; to assist in the recruitment and retention of minority.

Stanford Black Law Student Association (BLSA) - BLSA provides a strong support system for each other as well as for other black students on campus. The goal is to remain a positive and leading force in a predominately white academic environment. As many challenges lay.

Student National Medical Association (SNMA) - The Stanford chapter of the SNMA is used as a framework to organize African-American students at the School of Medicine. Recent projects of the chapter include a health education curriculum at the Free At Last recovery clinic in East Palo Alto and a mentor program.