Event: Portland State University's Black Graduation Ceremony

Location: Gateway Discovery Park, Portland, Oregon

Role(s): Digital Engagement Coordinator and Event Organizer

I was assigned the role of social media manager and content creator for the Black Student Union at Portland State University from 2019 to 2021.

In the heat of COVID-19, we decided to continue the legacy of Portland State University's Black Graduates ceremony. The ceremony became necessary to acknowledge and highlight Black students graduating from Portland State University (a campus with only 4.3% African American students). I volunteered as a solo digital engagement coordinator and event organizer for PSU's annual Black Graduation.

Mass e-mail outreach to students

Digital flyers

Social media marketing via Instagram and Facebook

Word of mouth throughout the campus

Word of mouth throughout the city of Portland

Contacting local restaurants and businesses

Communicating with the Black Studies department and the Pan African Commons

Portland State University's 2021 Black Graduation Ceremony brought together students, professors, and community members to honor and celebrate the Black graduates for the classes of 2020 and 2021 respectively. The ceremony included food from a local Black-owned restaurant, desserts, a keynote speaker, great endless music, the community, and our ancestors. Through adversity, we were able to organize a successful event and ceremony for Black graduates.