Former Boston University students overtook campus this weekend for the annual Alumni Weekend, and a small group of alumni and students alike gathered into the BUild Lab Saturday to explore ways to connect the two groups while focusing on diversity.
“Diverse Voices of Innovation: Lightning Talks from Millennial Terriers” was hosted by Innovate@BU and BU Young Alumni of Color, which provides a diverse network of alumni that exchanges ideas and supports current students. The weekend included many celebrations, including a 50th reunion for BU’s class of ‘68 and a celebration of black alumni.
Farrah Belizaire, who graduated from Sargent College in 2011 and from Metropolitan College in 2013, helped organize the event.
“Our main vision and goal is providing an opportunity for our recent graduates that represent our black and brown communities to connect, engage and stay informed as far as new developments happening at the university,” Belizaire said in an interview.
Ahmed Ahmed, who graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences in 2010, prefaced the lightning talks with an message on the importance of innovation and exchange of ideas among alumni and students.
“When we’re talking about innovation, we’re talking about change,” Ahmed said. “We’re talking about ideas that take root, ideas that move forward. That doesn’t just happen with a room of people who have the same experiences.”
The diverse lineup of speakers included alumni and students from different backgrounds, graduation years and colleges within BU. Speakers discussed a range of topics from interior design in education to “The Medici Effect.”
Shiv Bhadola, who graduated from CAS in 2014 and is currently a medical student at the University of Massachusetts, was invited to speak on the impact of implicit bias in medicine. Bhadola described the reality of bias affecting physicians’ treatment of certain patients.
“Unfortunately, there is implicit bias in medicine,” Bhadola said. “Both black and Hispanic patients, when they are in the [emergency department], receive less pain medications than white patients do.”
Bhadola said that his time at BU influenced his decision to apply to medical school after participating in undergraduate opportunities in medicine.
“When I was a student at BU, I was involved in all these different groups and interacted with so many different people,” Bhadola said. “That helped me realize that those are the people I want to serve in the future through medicine.”
At the lab, tables with alumni also represented the business field and new innovations from BU or the Boston area, including an eyewear company. Another table promoted a recent documentary about the impact of community mentors on young men involved in gang activity.
Representatives for Charcoal Magazine, a Boston publication focusing on showcasing young people of color and their art, were also in attendance.
Adia Turner, a senior in CAS, co-founded Charcoal and is currently the magazine’s executive editor.
“We have been working with the BUild Lab for a long time now, and they have been one of the biggest supporters of Charcoal,” Turner said. “They asked us to be here, and it’s actually great for networking and getting people to know about [Charcoal].”
Some attendees had not been on campus for more than two decades, while others live within earshot of the BUild Lab.
Jenna Kluger, who graduated from CAS in 2015, lives in Cambridge and works for EverTrue, an online platform that aids in fundraising campaigns. Kluger said she is a part of the BU Young Alumni Council, which is a newly formed group within the BU alumni community focused on finding better ways to engage young alumni.
BU Young Alumni Council hosted its first meeting this weekend on campus, according to Kluger.
Kluger said she was excited to be back on campus and was drawn to the lightning talks because they seemed like a good opportunity to learn. She added she has recently been opening up to the world of entrepreneurship and innovation, so the knowledge shared at the talk was invaluable.
The lightning talks helped spruce up the annual weekend and hone in on Kluger’s interests, she said.
“I think what I’m excited about is to change the status quo and rethink how we do Alumni Weekend,” Kluger said, “and this is an awesome place to start.”
Victoria is studying Economics and International Relations in the College of Arts and Sciences in the Class of 2022. Aside from The Daily Free Press, they're involved in WTBU Radio and Greek life on campus and are a Dean’s Ambassador in the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies. When Victoria's not writing or editing, they're listening to podcasts and trying new coffee. Find them on twitter at @victoriagbond
