Our Story
AS FORMER STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA AND COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, BONDING WITH FELLOW CLASSMATES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH SIMILAR LIVED EXPERIENCES, WAS CRUCIAL. HAVING ATTENDED PREDOMINANTLY WHITE HIGH SCHOOLS, NEITHER OF US WERE STRANGERS TO BEING WITHIN THE RACIAL MINORITY. HOWEVER, OUR FAMILIARITY DID NOT STOP THE INEVITABLE DISPLAYS OF RACISM, PREJUDICE, AND DISCRIMINATION.
WE FELT AN ADDED PRESSURE OF DEALING WITH THIS WHILE ALSO STRIVING TO BE EXCEPTIONAL AT PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SHARED EXPERIENCE AMONG THE MAJORITY OF BLACK STUDENTS BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF THE IVY LEAGUE.
WITH THAT IN MIND, THE TWO OF US SPEARHEADED AN EFFORT TO BRING TOGETHER BLACK STUDENTS FROM ALL 8 IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS. WE COINED IT, “THE BLACK IVY VACAY,” AND DEDICATED 6 LONG MONTHS TO ORGANIZE. FINALLY, ON JAN. 5TH, 2022, OUR PLAN CAME TO FRUITION AS 30 BLACK IVY LEAGUE STUDENTS TRAVELED TO AKUMAL, MEXICO. OUR HARD WORK WAS MORE THAN WORTH IT.
TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF 28 FELLOW WORLD CHANGERS, WHO LOOKED LIKE US, WAS AN INCREDIBLY INVALUABLE, BEAUTIFUL, AND MOTIVATING EXPERIENCE! THIS GROUP MADE US FEEL ACCEPTED, LOVED, AND EMPOWERED.
OUR TIME IN MEXICO WAS SO IMPACTFUL THAT WE ASPIRED TO CONTINUE UNITING ALUMNI, ULTIMATELY PUSHING THE CULTURE FORWARD.
BLACKIVY ACCOMPLISHES THAT BY ESTABLISHING SPACES TO CELEBRATE OUR BLACK BEAUTY, CREATIVITY, AND EXCELLENCE. WE AIM TO BECOME THE BEST VERSIONS OF OURSELVES WHILE ALWAYS PAYING IT FORWARD TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
BLACKIVY MEMBERS INTENTIONALLY COMMIT TO THIS, STARTING BY ENHANCING THE WAY WE SOCIALIZE.