Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary Celebration

Sonia Robena Banks and Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy at Harambee House at Wellesley College – April 9, 2016

I was delighted to attend the Harambee House 45th Anniversary Celebration at Wellesley College from April 9-10, 2016 with dear friend and fellow Wellesley alum Dr. Sonia Robena Banks (Class of ’84). Harambee House was established on Wellesley’s campus in 1970, with the goal of creating a home and cultural center for students of African descent. This weekend honored this significant historical milestone by bringing together students, accepted students, alumnae, faculty, and staff to celebrate.

As a Wellesley ’88 alum, it was wonderful to be back on campus. The Welcome Lunch was held at Tishman Commons in the Lulu Chow Wang Campus Center–a building that was not there when I was a student. The group of women I sat down with were from the class of 1968 and 1969. At that time, there weren’t many Wellesley students of African descent–just one in the class of ’68 and five in ’69. The stories of their experiences were fascinating. I was quite honored to be in their presence. We also learned about a Wellesley woman of color from the class of 1936. Imagine her (pre civil rights) experience!

In the afternoon, we were treated to two panel discussions. The first panel was moderated by Tracey Cameron Ph.D. (Assistant Dean of Intercultural Education and Director of Harambee House) and featured Michael Jeffries (Associate Professor of American Studies), Joy St. John (Dean of Admission and Financial Aid), Oscar Fernandez (Assistant Professor of Mathematics), and Nikki Greene (Assistant Professor of Art). They all seemed so young (or maybe that reflects my age). The innovative teaching approaches they shared made me want to be a Wellesley student again!

The second panel was like a talk show–witty bites of wisdom like from The View or The Talk. It was moderated by Karen Williamson ’69 (Principal Consultant at KEW Consulting, Former President of the WCAA Board of Directors and Co-Founder of Ethos). Janet Hill ’69 set the stage sharing her to-the-point secrets to life success including “marry well.” She is super impressive–Board of Directors of Wendy’s, Dean Foods, Carlyle Group; Trustee of Duke University, Kennedy Center and Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. She also happens to be the mother of basketball player, Grant Hill. The other panelists were younger but also inspiring. They included Ruth Wang’ondu ’07 (Internal Medicine-Pediatrics at Yale-New Haven Hospital), Nicci Page ’01 (Writer, Humorist, Entrepreneur, Lawyer, Content Creator, Co-founder of b.Girl Movement LLC) and Malika Jeffries-El ’96 (Associate Professor of Chemistry, Boston University).

In the evening, we finally got to spend a little time in Harambee House for a pre-gala Wellesley Alumnae of African Descent (WAAD) reception. It was nice to be in that space again–a touch of old-time home. We all seemed to linger just a little bit longer. Then, we all went over to the Ethos Black Excellence Gala held each year in honor of Kathleen Daly ’80 who died of an asthma attack during her senior year. My dear friend, and fellow Wellesley alum, Anne Simmons set up the honor. I was so impressed by all of the beautiful and smart women in the Wellesley student body. It gives me hope for the future of our world.

Finally, we closed everything out on Sunday with a networking brunch with current students and a keynote talk from Rev. Renita J. Weems Ph.D ’76. As a Biblical Scholar and Ordained Minister, she took us to church sharing her experiences as a Wellesley student and insights as a spiritual leader. It was a perfect weekend of fun and fellowship. I donated to Harambee House an autographed Hardcover version of my latest book, Dancing Light: The Spiritual Side of Being Through the Eyes of a Modern Yoga Master, on an incredible woman–97-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch. I hope the students enjoy it. Below are pictures from the event. Click on each image to make it larger.

Wellesley College-April 9, 2016

Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy at Wellesley College for Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 9, 2016

Sonia Robena Banks at Wellesley College for Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 9, 2016

Sonia Robena Banks at Wellesley College for Harmabee House 45th Anniversary-April 9, 2016

Wellesley College students at Harambee House in days past

Pamm McNeil at Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 9, 2016

Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 9, 2016

Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, Pamm McNeil, President Kim Bottomly, Sonia Robena Banks at Wellesley College – April 9, 2016

Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, with alums at Wellesley College for Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 9, 2016

Sonia Robena Banks at Wellesley College for Harambee House 45th Anniversary Celebration – April 9, 2016

Wellesley College President Kim Bottomly at Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 9, 2016

Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary Celebration - April 9, 2016

Karen Williamson, Wellesley College ’69, at Harambee House 45th Anniversary Celebration-April 9, 2016

Janet Hill, Wellesley College ’69, at Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 9, 2016

Associate Professor of American Studies Michael Jeffries at Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 9, 2016

Assistant Professor Nikki Greene at Wellesley College for Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 9, 2016

Dr. Ruth Wang’ondu, Wellesley College ’07, at Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 9, 2016

Assistant Dean Tracey Cameron, Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 9, 2016

Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Joy St. John, Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 9, 2016

Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 9, 2016

Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 9, 2016

Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary Celebration-April 9, 2016

Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 9, 2016

Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary Celebration – April 9, 2016

Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary Celebration-April 9, 2016

Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary Celebration – April 9, 2016

Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 9, 2016

Sonia Robena Bank and Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy at Harambee House at Wellesley College-April 9, 2016

Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy at Haramabee House at Wellesley College-April 9, 2016

Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy at Haramabee House at Wellesley College – April 9, 2016

Pamm McNeil at Haramabee House at Wellesley College – April 9, 2016

Sonia Robena Banks with fellow alum, Haramabee House at Wellesley College – April 9, 2016

Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, Sonia Robena Banks with fellow alum, Haramabee House at Wellesley College – April 9, 2016

Painting in Harambee House at Wellesley College

Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 9, 2016

Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary Celebration-April 9, 2016

Pamm McNeil and Sonia Robena Banks at Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 9, 2016

Sonia Robena Banks at Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary Celebration-April 9, 2016

Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary Celebration-April 9, 2016

Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy and Sonia Robena Banks with fellow alums at Harambee House Gala at Wellesley College – April 9, 2016

Rev. Renita J. Weems, Wellesley College ’76, at Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 10, 2016

Rev. Renita J. Weems and Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy at Harambee House Gala at Wellesley College-April 10, 2016

Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 10, 2016

Alums at Harambee House 45th Anniversary Celebration at Wellesley College-April 10, 2016

Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 10, 2016

Alums from Class of 1969 during Harambee House Anniversary Celebration at Wellesley College-April 10, 2016

Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary-April 10, 2016

Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy with fellow alum at Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary Celebration-April 10, 2016

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Wellesley College Harambee House 45th Anniversary Celebration

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