Fund Stoles for SJSU's Black Joy Graduates

For 44 years, the Black Joy Celebration has brought SJSU graduates together with the families, friends, alumni, and community members who helped them get there. The ceremony began before the Black Leadership and Opportunity Center existed, as a way to honor the achievements of Black Spartans in their graduating year. This year we host the 45th.

At every celebration the BLOC has hosted, each participating graduate has received a culturally significant stole. Many of them feature kente cloth, a West African pattern traditionally worn during sacred ceremonies. Wearing it carries on a tradition of regalia that honors what the collective has struggled for and achieved.

The celebration is free for students, and we want to keep it that way. With rising costs, a high-quality stole for every graduate now depends on community support. 100% of what we raise goes toward these stoles, so each graduate can be honored the way this tradition calls for.

Our goal is $2,500, and our stretch goal is $3,500, which takes us even further toward high-quality stoles for our graduates. Help us celebrate our future Black Spartan alumni. Give by December 1!