Members of UCI’s Umoja Pilot Program met to discuss strategies for success for Black transfer students on Tuesday, Oct. 4. Amongst those was coordinator Wiley G. Wilson Jr., a UCI sociology alumni, who led the small group in this week’s Porch Talk.
The goal of Porch Talks is to create an atmosphere where Black students can lead discussions regarding being Black at UCI while being unapologetically themselves. Topics of discussion were chosen on the spot by the students rather than being structured conversations from staff, which created a laid-back atmosphere. Staff and students then respond to these topics, ensuring that students get the most out of the conversation.
“Get used to this being unorthodox,” Wilson said to attendees.
Despite the intended lack of structure, the conversation covered many aspects of college, emphasizing scholarships and other financial resources, for Black students. Wilson explained that many scholarships for Black students are unclaimed or under-applied for.
In his previous years as coordinator, Wilson took an active role with his program members. He not only led students to resources but helped them utilize them as well. During the discussion, he offered to help students step-by-step through the scholarship application process.
Umoja also discussed a multitude of support groups meant for Black students. Groups like the Black Student Union, major-specific Black associations and places like the Black Student Center are known to be safe spaces for Black students.
However, not all topics discussed were entirely UCI-related. Students shared popular hangout spots and nearby Black salons. As the conversation progressed, students shared feelings of being overlooked and or discriminated against on campus. Some of these instances occurred during school-wide events such as rush week, where some attendees felt overlooked by sororities and fraternities.
The atmosphere in the room did not stay serious for long.
“I felt like when the Porch Talk started everyone was a little more reserved, but as we talked more and laughter came about, the conversations and the vibes started flowing,” fourth year psychological science student Summer Moss said.
Umoja holds regular Porch Talks, the next of which will occur on Oct. 18. More information can be found here.
Asia Boyd is a Campus News intern for the fall 2022 quarter. She can be reached at asiajb@uci.edu.